Christian Marlberg is a freelance writer with a passion for travel, nature, and the most exotic culinary adventures. From cooking with nettles to downing live ants and limpets, he’s always on the hunt for the next wild bite – especially quality fried eel. In this roundup we dive into the world of the 10 disturbing foods that might harm you, spotlighting dishes that are as dangerous as they are daring.

Why These 10 Disturbing Foods Are Dangerous

When we think about what lands on our plates, we often assume it’s safe, familiar, and maybe a little bland. Yet across the globe, daring eaters indulge in meals that can cause organ strain, poisoning, or even death. Below you’ll find a countdown of the most unsettling dishes, each with a back‑story that will make you think twice before ordering.

1 Hákarl (Fermented Greenland Shark)

Greenland sharks are a peculiar creature – they can’t urinate, so waste products like ammonia and trimethyl‑oxide accumulate in their tissues. Indigenous hunters have turned this challenge into a culinary tradition called hákarl. The shark flesh is buried, left to ferment for months, and then hung to dry. The result is a slab of meat with a smell that can clear a room and a taste that many describe as “cheese‑like” but far more pungent. Consuming hákarl can lead to organ strain, intoxication, and sickness because the toxins never fully break down during the aging process.

2 Kivaq (Fermented Seabird)

Kivaq is an Icelandic delicacy that takes the concept of fermentation to an extreme. Small seabirds – puffin relatives such as murres and gulls – are caught, then sewn into seal skins and buried for up to three years. In the cold Arctic tundra, the birds slowly marinate in seal oil, turning into a putrid, yet revered, dish. The final product is a soft, almost mushy meat that can harbor botulism, making it potentially lethal. Legend has it that a renowned biologist met his end after a final, fatal spoonful of Kivaq.

3 African Poison Bullfrog

In Namibia, the African bullfrog (Pyxicephalus adspersus) is considered a delicacy, yet its flesh hides a potent toxin known as Oshiketakata. This poison can cause kidney failure, muscle damage, and even death. Traditional preparation involves lining the cooking pot with special wooden planks believed to neutralize the toxin, and timing the harvest to seasons when toxin levels dip. Even with these precautions, diners are warned: “We cannot guarantee you won’t croak after the meal.”

4 Asian Bat Soup

Perhaps the most unsettling of all is Asian bat soup, where an entire bat is boiled in chicken broth, then dissected at the table. Diners eat the broth alongside the bat’s innards, hair, and wing membranes. While some claim the soup is delicious, the sight of a whole bat bobbing in the bowl is enough to make many lose their appetite. Bats are known carriers of zoonotic diseases, and conservationists argue the practice is unsustainable and risky.

5 Star Fruit (Carambola)

Star fruit looks like a work of art – sliced crosswise, it displays perfect five‑pointed stars. Yet beneath its beauty lies a hidden danger. The fruit contains oxalic acid and neurotoxins that can cause severe kidney damage in those with pre‑existing kidney issues, even leading to death. Consumers report a “star‑burst” sensation in the head after eating too many, a reminder that even the most innocent‑looking foods can be hazardous.

6 Live Octopus (Sannakji)

In certain Japanese and Korean eateries, diners can order sannakji – tiny octopus cut into bite‑size pieces and served still writhing on the plate. The tentacles retain reflexive movement, gripping and squeezing as they are eaten. Because the octopus’s nervous system is decentralized, the muscle activity continues even after the creature is dead. There have been tragic cases where the suction cups blocked a diner’s airway, leading to choking and death.

7 Snail Caviar

While caviar traditionally comes from sturgeon, a daring new trend swaps fish for land snail eggs. Known simply as snail caviar, the tiny, gelatinous pearls are served raw atop quail eggs or alongside roasted vegetables. The raw eggs can harbor parasitic brain worms, and several documented fatalities have occurred after consumption. The flavor is described as earthy and mineral‑rich, but the health risks make it a truly disturbing delicacy.

8 Cobra Burger (Snake Meat)

Rattlesnakes and cobras have found a place on the menus of the American Southwest and Southeast Asia. Proponents argue that snake flesh is biologically similar to chicken, making it a lean protein source. The venom, however, is not distributed through the muscle tissue, so the meat is safe once the snake is properly filleted and cooked. Gourmet chefs serve these snakes as “snake burgers,” often deep‑fried to a crisp. The novelty factor is high, but the visual of a slithering reptile on a bun can be unsettling for many diners.

9 Chitterlings (Pig Intestines)

Offal lovers may gravitate toward chitterlings – the cleaned intestines of pigs. Often boiled, fried, or stewed, they carry a reputation for being both flavorful and fraught with health hazards. Improper cleaning can lead to deadly parasite infections, and regulations have tightened around their preparation. Across Europe, similar dishes feature lamb testicles and bull testes, breaded and marinated, but the pig intestines remain the most notorious of the “nose‑to‑tail” cuisine.

10 Crow Pie

In Lithuania, crow pie is a traditional dish made from the meat of carrion crows. Young crows are hunted, then deep‑fried and served alongside roasted vegetables. Some locals claim the meat has aphrodisiac properties, and the dish is promoted as a method to manage crow populations. However, crows are scavengers and can carry diseases, making the consumption of their meat potentially hazardous. The dish is also non‑Kosher and non‑Halal, adding another layer of cultural controversy.

Whether you’re an adventurous foodie or a cautious eater, these ten unsettling dishes remind us that culinary curiosity can sometimes come with a side of danger. Proceed with caution, and perhaps keep a glass of milk handy – you never know when you might need it.

10 times tainted medical products have left a grim legacy, reminding us that even life‑saving devices can turn dangerous when safety slips.

Why These 10 Times Tainted Cases Matter

10 Resistant Duodenoscopes

Duodenoscopes are sophisticated instruments designed to drain fluid from the pancreas and bile ducts. Their unique elevator‑like mechanism lets them maneuver inside the body, but that same complexity makes thorough cleaning a daunting task. Many healthcare facilities assumed standard sterilization would suffice, yet the intricate design often left hidden pockets where bacteria could linger.

In 2016, two patients in the Chicago region succumbed to a lethal bacterial infection that had been surfacing across the United States. From 2012 through 2015, roughly 250 individuals contracted the same illness, traced directly back to a flaw in the duodenoscope’s design and cleaning protocol.

The manufacturers—Olympus, Pentax, and Fujifilm—never validated the device’s cleanability under real‑world conditions. This oversight allowed a superbug to thrive on inadequately sterilized equipment, turning a routine procedure into a deadly exposure.

The culprit was carbapenem‑resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), a family of bacteria that kills about half of those it infects and resists even the most potent antibiotics. Outbreaks of CRE and similarly resistant E. coli appeared not only throughout the U.S. but also in France and Germany. After the scandal broke, the FDA launched investigations, and hospitals received urgent warnings to stop using the affected scopes.

9 Laced Diet Supplements

In 2013, the FDA tested a dietary supplement marketed as Dr. Larry’s Tranquility pills, which claimed to promote natural sleep using ingredients like figwort root and licorice. The testing revealed a shocking truth: the pills contained powerful prescription‑grade drugs far beyond the advertised botanicals.

Two potent sedatives—Thorazine, an antipsychotic, and doxepin, an antidepressant with strong sleep‑inducing properties—were discovered hidden inside the capsules. The mastermind, Larry LeGunn (who went by “Dr. Larry”), was not a physician at all; he was a disgraced chiropractor whose license had been revoked in 2010 for grand theft and insurance fraud.

LeGunn wasn’t alone in this illicit practice. Jeffrey Bolanos, a former crack‑cocaine and methamphetamine user, headed Arizona’s Beamonstar Products and infused sexual‑enhancement pills with tadalafil, the active ingredient in Cialis. Those products were later recalled after the adulteration came to light.

In 2009, another firm, Kilo Sports, marketed “natural” performance‑boosting supplements that, in reality, were laced with anabolic steroids. A 2010 analysis uncovered anti‑estrogen compounds in one of their products. The company’s founder, Martin McDermott, had a criminal history involving possession of testosterone, boldenone, and human growth hormone, which he allegedly used to spike his supplements.

8 Bayer’s HIV Blood Plasma

In 2003, following a deep‑dive investigation by The New York Times, it emerged that Cutter Biological—a division of Bayer—had engaged in risky practices during the 1980s that spread HIV among hemophiliacs abroad. When complaints arose about a medication, Cutter introduced a safer formulation in 1984, but the older, unsafe version continued to be shipped to several overseas markets.

The product, known as Factor VIII Concentrate, was derived from the plasma of roughly 10,000 donors to treat hemophilia. At the time, HIV testing of donor plasma was not yet standard, leaving the product vulnerable to contamination.

Although the new formulation hit the market in February 1984, internal records show that Cutter kept selling the tainted version in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, and Argentina, citing customer doubts about the new drug’s efficacy and a shortage of plasma for production.

When distributors in Hong Kong in late 1984 requested the product, Cutter instructed them to use the infected batch before transitioning to the newer one. This decision led to about 100 hemophiliacs contracting HIV, sparking accusations of racial discrimination because the dangerous product was still marketed in less‑developed regions.

Eventually, Bayer quietly settled foreign lawsuits related to the scandal and, in October 2003, sold off its blood‑plasma business, ending its direct involvement in the controversy.

7 Metal‑Tainted Children’s Medication

In May 2009, Johnson & Johnson began fielding complaints about tiny black specks appearing inside bottles of its liquid children’s medicines, including Children’s Tylenol and Children’s Motrin. The products were manufactured at McNeil’s Fort Washington, Pennsylvania plant. Laboratory analysis identified the specks as fragments of nickel, iron, and chromium.

These liquid formulations posed a severe health risk. By April 2010, Johnson & Johnson voluntarily recalled the affected batches. The FDA later traced the contamination to machinery used during production, a problem that had plagued the McNeil plant since 2009.

Despite discovering the metal particles, the company continued manufacturing and selling the liquid medicines for several months. Tragically, a four‑year‑old boy named Joshua Arndt died after receiving a single dose of the tainted Children’s Tylenol. Emergency care could not reverse the fatal outcome.

In 2012, Joshua’s father filed a lawsuit, which was dismissed in 2014 due to the two‑year statute of limitations. Nevertheless, Johnson & Johnson faced criminal charges in 2015 for knowingly distributing the dangerous medication after learning of its contamination.

The settlement required the company to pay $25 million, and the entire McNeil plant was demolished and rebuilt to prevent future incidents.

6 Deadly Heparin

By 2008, the United States was consuming roughly 300,000 doses of the blood‑thinner heparin each day. To meet this staggering demand, several Chinese manufacturers resorted to dubious shortcuts, shifting from the traditional pig‑intestine source to cow and sheep intestines—a change that introduced new pathogens.

Patients who received the adulterated heparin exhibited dangerously low blood pressure, a symptom that surfaced across numerous hospitals nationwide. By late 2008, 81 deaths had been linked to the contaminated product.

When Baxter International, responsible for about half of the U.S. heparin supply, uncovered the issue, it issued an immediate recall. Initial assumptions suggested the problem was confined to the United States, but soon eleven other countries reported similar adverse events.

The contaminant was identified as oversulfated chondroitin sulfate, a synthetic compound derived from non‑pig animal tissue. Despite denials from Chinese officials, the FDA traced the tainted batches back to twelve Chinese producers, prompting reforms across the industry.

The FDA had expressed concerns about Chinese heparin practices since 2007, but it wasn’t until 2012 that comprehensive guidelines were established. To date, roughly 246 deaths have been attributed to the contaminated heparin, and experts believe some tainted product may still be circulating years later.

5 Bacteria‑Infected IV Bags

In March 2011, six Alabama hospitals reported a cluster of 19 patients falling ill after receiving intravenous nutrition bags. Laboratory testing pinpointed the culprit: Serratia marcescens bacteremia, a serious bloodstream infection that can be fatal for vulnerable patients.

Most of those affected were already high‑risk individuals who relied on IV feeding because they could not eat on their own. The outbreak claimed nine lives, while the remaining patients eventually recovered after aggressive treatment.

A separate series of incidents unfolded in Minnesota, where nurses pilfered painkillers and inadvertently administered contaminated saline solutions to patients at St. Cloud Hospital. This mishap led to bacterial infections in 25 patients, six of whom required intensive‑care treatment, and one death. The responsible nurse, Blake Zenner, was apprehended in 2012 after a two‑year investigation.

4 Meningitis And Mold Steroid Shots

In 2011, the New England Compounding Center shipped out batches of steroid injections that were contaminated with both a rare fungus and bacterial meningitis. The CDC estimated that within a year, about 14,000 patients nationwide had been exposed to the tainted medication.

The steroid, a methylprednisolone formulation for injection, became a vector for the black mold Exserohilum rostratum, a plant pathogen rarely seen in humans. The outbreak resulted in 268 cases of fungal meningitis, three fungal joint infections, and 21 deaths.

While most infected individuals displayed symptoms within weeks to two months, the fungus could incubate for several months, meaning patients remained at risk even after the recall of the product.

A similar fungal meningitis outbreak occurred in 2002 involving the same type of steroid, underscoring the critical need for stringent manufacturing controls.

By 2013, the total number of fungal meningitis cases had risen to 751, with 64 fatalities, and many survivors continued to receive long‑term treatment well after the initial crisis.

3 Deadly Dirty Syringes

Standard practice dictates that syringes be single‑use and never shared. However, in 2007, a batch of pre‑filled saline syringes produced by a single manufacturer was found to be contaminated, leading to over 100 patients developing bacterial infections.

An FDA inspector examined the syringes in October 2007 and noted black, brown, and red particles inside the devices. The inspector dismissed these findings as harmless “rust” and recorded that the factory had a remediation plan in place.

Complicating matters, the factory had recently switched to an unreliable sterilization technique, a change that the inspector failed to document. One week later, a distributor recalled 1.3 million syringes, but due to staffing shortages, the FDA did not launch an immediate follow‑up inspection.

When the agency finally conducted a thorough review, it discovered the facility fell far short of safety standards and shut it down in January 2008. By then, the contaminated syringes had already caused illness in more than 100 patients, resulting in six deaths.

In 2016, B. Braun, the company that marketed the syringes, agreed to a $7.8 million settlement to resolve the damages caused by the outbreak.

2 Bacteria‑Infected Ultrasound Gel

In early 2011, physicians at Beaumont Health Center near Detroit observed a surge of patients testing positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa following cardiovascular surgeries. All 16 affected individuals shared a common factor: the use of ultrasound gel during their procedures.

Ultrasound gel, designed to improve imaging clarity, became a vehicle for bacterial contamination. A 2008 European study had already highlighted that many gel bottles harbored bacteria when cultured, warning manufacturers of the risk.

Researchers presented their findings at the 18th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, urging tighter production controls. Unfortunately, U.S. manufacturers ignored the warnings, and subsequent testing of the gel used in the U.S. outbreak confirmed the presence of the same bacterial strains.

Law enforcement raided Pharmaceutical Innovations, a New Jersey‑based company producing the gel, seizing the contaminated products. The FDA issued an urgent safety alert, emphasizing that once the gel contacts a patient’s skin, the bacteria can quickly infiltrate the respiratory tract.

No further outbreaks have been reported since the alert, and new industry standards now require more rigorous sterility testing for imaging gels.

1 Toxic Cough Syrup

The most heartbreaking episode involves cough syrups sold in developing nations, where manufacturers in China substituted glycerine—a harmless sweetener—with the poisonous industrial solvent diethylene glycol to boost profit margins.

Diethylene glycol, commonly found in antifreeze, is highly toxic. Ingesting it can cause acute kidney failure, paralysis, and ultimately multi‑organ collapse.

While the United States experienced a series of diethylene glycol‑related deaths in the 1990s—prompting the FDA to tighten regulations—many low‑income countries continued to receive tainted syrups for decades.

These contaminated products have sparked at least eight massive poisoning events. One outbreak in Panama alone claimed 365 lives, and conservative estimates suggest the total death toll runs into the thousands across Bangladesh, Haiti, and other nations.

The first documented instance of diethylene glycol poisoning in cough syrup occurred in Bangladesh in 1992, where children died after consuming counterfeit preparations. A later tragedy in Haiti saw 88 children lose their lives.

Investigations revealed that the tainted chemicals often passed through multiple layers of inspection, with counterfeit certificates masking the true composition. It wasn’t until 2007 that the World Health Organization reported the shutdown of roughly 440 counterfeit operations in China’s Yangtze River delta—an area notorious for chemical manufacturing.

When you hear the phrase 9 horrifying ways, you might picture monsters under the bed, but the true terror often lives on the kitchen counter or in your bathroom cabinet. Ordinary products that promise convenience can sometimes flip the script, turning helpful tools into hidden hazards. From cosmetics that can induce a coma to dental creams that lead to permanent paralysis, the everyday world holds more danger than most of us realize.

9 Higher Blood Pressure

Most of us learned about mouthwash from a snappy TV ad that promised a fresh smile and a clean mouth in seconds. The commercial’s message is simple: swish, spit, and all the bad bacteria are gone. However, a 2019 study raised a red flag. Researchers wondered whether eradicating all oral microbes might have unintended consequences.

To test the idea, volunteers jogged on a treadmill for thirty minutes, then immediately rinsed with either a commercial mouthwash or a placebo. Those who used the mouthwash didn’t enjoy the usual drop in blood pressure that comes after exercise, while the placebo group saw the expected decline. The discrepancy pointed to a hidden physiological link.

The culprit is nitric oxide, a molecule produced during physical activity that relaxes blood vessels and lowers pressure. Normally, nitrate—produced as a waste product—gets converted into nitrite by specific oral bacteria, and nitrite then helps generate nitric oxide. When mouthwash wipes out those helpful microbes, the conversion stalls, leaving blood vessels tighter and preventing the blood‑pressure‑lowering effect of exercise.

8 Werewolf Syndrome

Picture a typical pediatric visit: a concerned parent gives their infant a spoonful of prescribed syrup to soothe acid reflux. In Spain, 2019 saw a bizarre twist on this routine—seventeen babies began sprouting an abnormal coat of hair, resembling little werewolves. One toddler even sported eyebrows thick enough for an adult.

The condition, medically known as hypertrichosis or “Werewolf Syndrome,” is usually congenital. Yet these children displayed an acquired form, developing excessive hair growth after birth. Health officials traced the common denominator to a reflux syrup that contained the drug omeprazole, which by itself has never been linked to such side effects.

Investigators discovered the syrup’s manufacturing plant had mislabeled batches. While the bulk shipment of omeprazole was pure, the factory repackaged smaller bottles and mistakenly affixed the omeprazole label to a different product that contained minoxidil—a medication that actively promotes hair growth. Fortunately, doctors expect the extra fuzz to thin out as the children age.

7 Explosions And Burns

Hoverboards burst onto the scene in the 2015‑2016 holiday season, promising a futuristic gliding experience. In reality, many of those two‑wheeled scooters harbored a serious flaw: poorly designed battery packs that could overheat, catch fire, and even explode while riders were in motion.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission logged 99 complaints, 18 of which involved injuries—mostly burns to hands, arms, and necks. The danger was so severe that campuses, railways, and airlines banned the devices outright. Ultimately, over half a million hoverboards across ten manufacturers were recalled.

6 Permanent Paralysis

In 2017, a 62‑year‑old man from the United Kingdom began feeling a tingling sensation in his fingers, followed by numbness and pain that crippled his legs. Within six months he relied on a cane, and eventually became housebound. Doctors initially suspected a neurological disorder and ordered an MRI.

The scan revealed copper‑deficiency myelopathy, a rare condition where insufficient copper damages the spinal cord. Such a severe deficiency is unusual, prompting doctors to hunt for an external cause. The culprit turned out to be an excess of zinc, which interferes with copper absorption.

The source of the zinc overload was the man’s denture cream. He had been slathering up to four tubes a week for years to improve the fit of his false teeth. Once the cream was discontinued and copper supplements introduced, the condition could not be reversed, leaving him permanently wheelchair‑bound.

5 Pierced Lungs

Acupuncture enjoys a reputation as a gentle, needle‑based therapy, yet not all points are created equal. One such spot, Gallbladder 21, sits near the shoulder and, if mishandled, can jeopardize the lungs. In 2019, a 33‑year‑old New Zealander sought treatment for an arm injury that impaired her breathing.

During the session, the practitioner inserted a pair of needles into the Gallbladder 21 point. The patient felt sharp pain and sensed the needles were too deep. After thirty minutes, she reported an odd, airy sensation around her chest. The acupuncturist advised rest, but the woman soon experienced worsening discomfort.

That night her husband rushed her to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed bilateral apical pneumothoraces—both lung tops had been punctured, causing partial collapse. Studies show that Gallbladder 21 is responsible for roughly 30 % of acupuncture‑related lung injuries.

4 Second‑Degree Burns

When actress Gwyneth Paltrow championed vaginal steaming as a wellness trend, many followers eagerly tried the practice—hovering over a pot of herbal steam in hopes of “cleansing” the vagina. In 2019, a 62‑year‑old Canadian woman with a diagnosed vaginal prolapse turned to steaming as a remedy.

Instead of relief, she arrived at the emergency department with second‑degree burns covering her vaginal walls and cervix. Scientific reviews have found no health benefits from vaginal steaming; the procedure actually disrupts the natural bacterial flora and poses burn risks.

Because of the injuries, the woman’s scheduled prolapse surgery was postponed while she recovered, underscoring the danger of unproven, celebrity‑driven health fads.

3 Skull‑Eating Infection

A 37‑year‑old woman, identified only as Jasmine, visited her doctor because she struggled to hear properly. An examination revealed an infection, and she was prescribed antibiotics, yet her hearing did not improve.

Jasmine habitually cleaned her ears with cotton swabs daily. One night she noticed blood on the swabs. A specialist, shocked by her routine, ordered a CT scan that exposed a terrifying sight: cotton fibers had accumulated in her ear canal for up to five years, fostering a bacterial infection that was literally eroding the bone behind her ear. The infection had thinned the skull to a paper‑thin layer.

She underwent a five‑hour surgery to excise the infected tissue and reconstruct the ear canal. While the operation cleared the infection, the damage to her auditory nerve was permanent, leaving her with lasting hearing loss in the affected ear.

2 Blue Blood

In 2019, a 25‑year‑old woman walked into a Rhode Island emergency room declaring, “I’m blue.” Her skin had taken on a faint azure hue, and a quick blood draw revealed a dark navy‑blue liquid. Doctors diagnosed methemoglobinemia, a condition where hemoglobin can’t carry oxygen effectively.

The patient’s oxygen saturation had fallen to a dangerous 67 % (below the 70 % safety threshold). She explained that the night before she had used a generous amount of a benzocaine‑containing tooth‑numbing gel to soothe a toothache.

Benzocaine can oxidize the iron in hemoglobin, preventing it from binding oxygen and turning the blood a striking blue. Prompt treatment with methylene blue restored her blood’s normal color and oxygen‑carrying capacity, saving her life.

1 Coma

In 2019, a 47‑year‑old mother of five from Sacramento followed her usual beauty regimen, slathering on a favorite anti‑wrinkle face cream twice daily. This time, after applying the lotion, she suddenly felt her extremities go numb, struggled to speak, and lost the ability to walk.

She was rushed to the hospital, where she slipped into a semi‑comatose state. Blood tests revealed a staggering mercury concentration of 2,630 µg per liter—far above the typical 5 µg per liter found in healthy adults. The mercury was present as methylmercury, a highly toxic form often used in industrial applications.

The cream, imported from Mexico and sold informally, contained this dangerous ingredient. While the exact reason for its inclusion—whether accidental contamination or intentional addition—remains unclear, the incident marks the first known case of mercury poisoning from a cosmetic product in the United States.

Doctors are uncertain whether the woman will ever fully recover from the coma, highlighting the severe risks of unregulated beauty products.

We laugh at urban myths and legends, often to joke about how stupid or ridiculous people are. It can be amusing to think about what insane things people can be led to believe, but sometimes it really isn’t a joke, and it isn’t funny at all. Many urban legends or conspiracies that are spread around cause people to try to self treat problems for which they should really see a doctor, distrust medicine in general, or take part in dangerous activities or practices that they have been led to believe are safe. It is important to always research what you are being told, especially when it comes to matters of health or safety, and inform others you know when they believe something false that could put them in a dangerous situation or endanger their health.

10. A Conspiracy Theory About AIDS Has Helped It Spread Further

For many years a conspiracy theory has proliferated among the black community: that the government actually created HIV and AIDS, and distributed it among those in the inner city to kill people of color. President Obama, then a Senator, actually went on television telling of the theories of his pastor Jeremiah Wright, who believed in such nonsense. The belief is so widespread that many black people today, and plenty of non-black people as well, believe this theory.

Of course, we know that AIDS was not a man made creation, but this hasn’t stopped the belief from causing great harm. The best way to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS is to catch it early and give people the right drugs for treatment and control of the condition, and for them to be informed of what they have. However, people are unlikely to go get treatment if they believe that the government caused it on purpose and wants them to suffer and die. This means people distrust the government and don’t go get checked when they suspect they may have it, causing it to spread further and further still. The best way to counter this kind of theory is with education – the government did not create such a deadly disease, and treatment options today are actually very good, especially if it is caught early.

9. The Myth About “Safety Belts Costing More Lives Than They Save”

Some people will go on about how they heard some cop somewhere claim that seat belts actually cost more lives than they save. Their theory generally goes that the seat belt could trap you in the car when it is on fire or something similar, with no way for you to get out. Experts in law enforcement who tend to deal with a lot of accidents have pointed out, though, that while you could have a rare situation where a seat belt makes it harder for someone to get out, that unconcscious people don’t even have a chance to try, and people without seat belts invariably end up unconcsious after a major accident. One policeman who dealt with a lot of accidents was once quoted as saying that he “never unbuckled a dead man.”

In other words, while someone may be able to find a strange, occasional case where a seatbelt caused someone to die in an accident, the vast majority of the time, the seat belt will greatly decrease your risk of fatalities. Sadly, many people get thrown from their vehicles and die in accidents because they believed this ludicrous rumor, and wanted to ensure they didn’t get trapped in their car. The issue is that the whole point of a seatbelt is basically to trap you in your car in the event of an accident, so you don’t get thrown clear of the vehicle.

8. People Held Chickenpox Parties Because They Thought It Had Immunization Benefits

Not that long ago, it was a much more commonly held belief among many people that if a child became infected with chicken pox as a child, it was now impossible for them to get shingles – a version of the disease that can come back as an adult and be much more painful and often life threatening. It would also be impossible for chicken pox to return, as it can only affect you once, ever. To this end, when it was found out that a nearby child had chicken pox, people would have parties where they made sure their kids got into contact with the infected child, so that they could quickly get their kids the pox and get it over with.

Unfortunately, this was founded on complete bunk. Chicken pox actually comes from a similar family of disease as herpes, and as you know, herpes keeps coming back. What this actually means is that giving a kid chicken pox when they are young, instead of immunizing them against shingles later in life, actually increases the chances of it happening to them. The good news is that with modern media, this myth has been busted more and more commonly, and the amount of people setting up these insane parties has dwindled to a much smaller number.

7. Drinking Alcohol To Cure A Hangover Is Only Going To Worsen Your Overall Health

One of the most common ideas in the culture of drinking booze, is that if you get a hangover, you can speed up your recovery process by adding a bit more booze to your morning the next day. Now, this is so common in popular culture and in real life that there are common drinks designed pretty much just for this “hair of the dog” cure. The most popular, of course, are the many variations of the Bloody Mary, which is basically a mix of some form of tomato juice, vodka, various spices, and a bunch of unecessary garnishes that will probably be discarded, but make the drinker look temporarily like a healthy person who likes to enjoy their vegetables – after a night of destroying one’s liver, this is probably psychologically comforting.

Unfortunately, there is absolutely nothing to the idea that drinking will make your hangover go away quicker. The reason you sometimes feel better by drinking is because drinking alcohol dulls your senses in general, but this isn’t actually making you feel properly better or ending your hangover. At some point your body still has to finish processing out the toxins to get you better, and by using the hair of the dog method, you are actually just adding more toxins for your body to process.

6. Vaccine Deniers Really Are Bringing Back Deadly Diseases And We Should Be Worried

The MMR vaccine, which staves off measles, mumps, and rubella, and other vaccines, have been the source of controversy for a long time. However, in more modern times, a man named Andrew Wakefield is the biggest source of ill for the world of medicine in terms of vaccines. He published a paper back in the ’90s that was quickly discredited for awful methodologies and he had his medical license taken away. Unfortunately since then he has still given lectures and talks and done his best to stoke fear of vaccines all over the world.

In the United States, Measles has started to crop up seriously in Minnesota – an area Wakefield and his people have been laying their propaganda heavily. To make matters worse, we are seeing outbreaks of diseases we once thought we had beat all over the country, and they are all linked to vaccine deniers. These people spread ridiculous urban myths, some of which have been around since before Wakefield, that vaccines cause all kinds of crippling conditions for young children, including various forms of autism. Of course this has been entirely disproven, but many people still cling to the belief. Unfortunately many people find it easier to accept this idea that their child’s health problems are caused by vaccines, because life is easier when you have an obvious villain to blame for your problems, instead of trying to accept the sad truth that sometimes life just isn’t fair.

5. The Five Second Rule Has Probably Given Countless People Food Poisoning

Probably the most common health myth is the “five second rule.” Nearly everyone believes it, or some variation of it – some people believe in a one second or even ten second rule. However, while many people will chuckle about it as they say it, as if they sort of know it’s silly, many of us have seen people pick stuff up off the floor and then eat it citing the famous ‘rule’. The truth is that this rule did not come from anywhere official, and is purely an urban myth concocted perhaps by mothers with very clean floors who were trying not to waste food and convince their children it was alright.

However, the truth is that most floors, even those that look relatively clean, have a lot of germs and other bacteria. And the problem with this myth is that it really only takes a moment of exposure for those germs and bacteria to stick to whatever food item you dropped on the floor. It really doesn’t matter how long; if it touched the floor and you don’t know how clean it is, it would be smarter to simply throw the food away.

4. “Cough CPR” Has Possibly Caused The Deaths Of Heart Attack Sufferers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTdamYYqKxk

Cough CPR is a legend that has been spread around by pseudo-medical experts, which are a dime a dozen these days. Most of them have some random website that looks sort of official, and will talk about how evil big pharma is, while trying to sell you overpriced products that are basically placebo. This strange idea spread by the misinformed is very dangerous and could potentially be causing people who are suffering from a heart attack to think they can handle things on their own and not take the proper steps. The idea given by the people spreading this idea is that if the heartbeat is out of rhythm, you can cough forcefully to get it back to beating properly. The truth is that if you think you are having a heart attack, experts recommend taking some aspirin by chewing it and calling 911.

Now, this doesn’t mean that cough CPR is a completely useless idea; it actually does come from somewhere legitimate. It has just been horrifically misinterpreted by urban myth and medical fraudsters. Experts have said that theoretically a person who is experiencing certain issues where the heart is out of rhythm could keep themselves conscious for a short time by coughing, but it wouldn’t be much help and they would quickly pass out. However, after the emergency and the patient is stabilized for the most part, there are certain situations with cough CPR where, when the patient is guided by a medical expert telling them how and when to cough, it can help stabilize them further.

Remember though, cough CPR is only done guided by medical experts after the initial emergency and only in some situations. If you think you are having a heart attack, get 911 on the line and if you can, get the equivalent of some Advil. If there is anyone nearby, signal to them that you need help so they can assist you however they can. Do not just cough and try to get yourself through the emergency on your own.

3. Doctors Very Rarely Use The Defibrillator, And Never When A Patient Is Flatlining

This one may not cause a lot of harm, as most actual medical professionals know better than to think that what is on TV is real. However, some lay people are trained to be first aid, CPR, and AED (defibrillator) certified, and could potentially misuse this equipment. After all, first aid training is relatievely short and doesn’t have a lot of time to make an impression, but TV is constantly around us and it is difficult to escape the thrall of popular media and culture. And the issue here is that popular media has given us a completely incorrect idea of how defibrillator’s work.

Most people have this romantic notion in their head of a patient flatlining – all other hope is lost. There is only one, last, desperate option to bring the hero back to life. The doctor – or perhaps a random citizen who knows what they are doing – will grab some nearby defibrillator paddles, yell “CLEAR!” and then slam them down on the afflicted person’s chest like there is no tomorrow. After a few slams, a few more “CLEARS!” and often a couple shouts of “Don’t you die on me!” the person will gasp and the heart monitor will start pulsing in a nice steady rhythm again – the dead has been brought back to life.

Of course, anyone who knows how absurd this is, especially those who work in the medical field, are likely rolling their eyes to the back of their skulls every time they see a scene like this in a movie or television program. A defibrillator is actually used to shock a person’s heart rhythm back to where they are supposed to be when it is irregular, but it will do absolutely nothing for someone who is already flatlining and has no pulse – if a person is flatlining and the doctors believe they still have a chance they would continue to perform CPR and possibly use epinephrine; they would not shock them with the paddles.

2. Urban Legends About Organ Harvesting And Vaccinations Have Led To Killings Of Medical Volunteers

In some parts of the world, medical myths fly around even thicker and faster than they do in places like the United States or the UK. This is mainly because in many countries, they don’t have as much access to information, or as much education, so it is easier for paranoia and fear to take hold. In Pakistan a few years back, over a dozen Western medical volunteers were killed in about a year, and authorities believe it was because people were paranoid that they were actually trying to do harm under the guise of medicine. In Brazil, many people in the poorer slums will not go to the hospitals because they fear their organs will be stolen there, and fear of organ theft abounds in many third world countries.

Foreign medical volunteers will even become capable of speaking the local languages, and will act kind, but are often distrusted anyway. They will have tools the locals are not used to, and methods that they may not have seen before. Constant rumors make things worse and create further resistance and put the lives of those volunteering medical services at great risk. Unfortunately, trust in Western doctors was set back not long ago when it was discovered that the CIA had someone offering to give Hepatitis B vaccinations in Pakistan, in order to find DNA to locate and take out Bin Laden. While the vaccines were not harmful, they were also not proper medical treatment, and people are understandably now more leery of Western doctors coming to help them out.

1. The Rumor That Gum Stays In Your Digestive Tract For Years Has Caused A LOT Of Trash

To end on a lighter note, one of the most prolific urban legends you will ever hear is that if you swallow your chewing gum, it will stay in your digestive tract for seven years – and in some versions of the legend, even longer. For this reason, people tend to spit out their gum and just stick it anywhere – a wall, under a chair, under a table, the ground, the floor, a corner it will never come out of without industrial solvent, etc. This has led to a horrible mass of filthy, saliva encrusted, germ laden gum being stuck on surfaces all over the world, and providing a constant nightmare to cleaning people.

And it never needed to be this way in the first place. People can swallow their gum safely and without any real worry. While a small child could potentially choke on a larger piece, that is really just an argument for why a small child really shouldn’t be chewing gum in the first place. For anyone else, it doesn’t stay in your digestive tract, but actually just passes right through it when you excrete – this is what your body tends to do with anything it can’t properly digest. Now, if you ate a lot of gum over a short period of time you could get a little constipated, but that is really the worst you are going to go through. If you cannot find anywhere polite and proper to dispose of your gum, it won’t hurt you to swallow it once in a while and keep the world a little bit cleaner.