GREENSBORO, N.C. — It’s April Fool’s Day, and we don’t want you to be fooled by common misconceptions about your health. Dr. Patrick Wright with Cone Health Community Health & Wellness Center debunks some common health myths and sets the record straight.
- Myth #1: Food package labels that say "all-natural," “low-fat” or “organic” are healthier options.
"I teach my patients to look at nutrition labels and I also teach my patients to shop around the edges of grocery stores to the fruit and vegetable section," explained Dr. Wright. He also encourages you to look at the small print for the added sugar, salt, and corn syrup. He says processed foods can have hidden toxins that can increase your blood pressure and make you a pre-diabetic.
- Myth #2: Eating healthy is expensive.
Dr. Wright suggests keeping an eye on deals grocery stores typically have on fruits and vegetables. Cone Health can help you learn about healthy eating by setting you up with one of our registered dieticians.
- Myth #3: You have to do intense exercise workouts to see results.
Dr. Wright suggests starting slow and working your way up. Start with 10-15 minutes of walking 2- 3 days a week. Then, build up to 4-5 times 30 minutes of exercise, including mowing the lawn, heavy cleaning, or cycling.
- Myth #4: You need to walk 10,000 steps a day to get any health benefits from walking
Dr. Wright says a new study finds that starting at 2,600 steps a day can lower the risk of mortality and cardiovascular disease. He recommends his patients get anywhere between 7,500 and 9,000 steps a day. Overall, its the amount of time you walk- not the number of steps.
Check out the Walk with a Doc program:
- Myth #5: You only need a primary care provider when you’re sick or have a chronic condition.
Here's more information about Primary Care and How to make appointments.
- Myth #6: If you feel healthy and don't have any symptoms, you don't need cancer screenings.
Information on Cancer Screenings.
- Myth #7: Heart disease only affects older adults.
Everyone at every age needs to be aware of heart health.
- Myth #8: It's better to wait and see if symptoms improve on their own rather than seek appropriate care
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