Hi there! I’m Ellie, and welcome to Mental Floss on YouTube. Today, we’re diving into some common misconceptions about diseases. Let’s clear up some misunderstandings and learn something new!
Many people think Ebola spreads easily from person to person, but that’s not true. The Ebola virus can only spread through direct contact with bodily fluids like blood, sweat, or urine. These fluids need to touch someone’s eyes, mouth, nose, ears, genitals, or an open wound to infect them. So, it doesn’t spread through the air or by casual contact.
Some believe that people who recover from Ebola might still spread the virus. According to the World Health Organization, once the virus is gone from their blood and body fluids, they’re no longer contagious. However, the virus can stay in semen for up to seven weeks after recovery and may linger in the eyes for a while.
There’s a myth that Alzheimer’s isn’t deadly, but it’s actually the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. As Alzheimer’s progresses, it can cause problems like difficulty swallowing, which might lead to pneumonia. People with Alzheimer’s often live about eight to ten years after diagnosis.
Many think Alzheimer’s is purely genetic, but other factors like environment, age, and lifestyle also play a role. The Alzheimer’s Society of Canada suggests that staying active, eating healthy, keeping your brain engaged, and managing stress can help reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
Rabies is often thought to be a common cause of death, but it’s actually quite rare. While 26,000 to 55,000 people die from rabies worldwide each year, 56 million die from cardiovascular disease. Most rabies cases occur in poorer regions of Asia and Africa, where vaccines are less available. In the U.S., rabies cases are rare due to effective vaccination programs.
Some people think celiac disease is extremely rare, but it’s more common than you might expect. Celiac disease is a condition where eating gluten causes problems in the small intestine. About 1 in 133 Americans, or roughly 1% of the population, have celiac disease.
There’s a misconception that eating sugar or being overweight directly causes diabetes. It’s important to know the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 is not preventable and appears early in life. Type 2 can often be prevented with a healthy lifestyle and usually develops later. While sugar and weight can influence diabetes risk, other factors like family history and age also matter.
Many believe heart disease mainly affects men, but it varies with age. Men are more likely to have heart disease between ages 20 and 59. However, by age 68, the risk evens out between genders. In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death among American women.
Some think measles is a mild disease like chickenpox, but it can be serious. Measles usually causes a rash and fever for about eight days. However, in 1 in 1,000 cases, it can lead to severe complications like brain infections. Thanks to vaccines, measles cases have dropped significantly worldwide.
There’s a belief that people can be immune to malaria, but no one is 100% immune. Some people may develop partial immunity after repeated exposure, which can reduce severe symptoms but doesn’t prevent infection entirely.
If you have any topics you’d like us to cover in future episodes, feel free to leave a comment. Thanks for watching Mental Floss on YouTube, and see you next time! Bye!
Imagine you’re a scientist studying Ebola. Create a simulation using role-play or a digital tool to demonstrate how Ebola spreads. Use scenarios where you decide who gets infected based on interactions and contact with bodily fluids. This will help you understand the specific conditions required for transmission.
Design a poster or digital presentation to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease. Include facts about its severity, causes, and ways to reduce risk. Share your work with classmates to educate them about the realities of Alzheimer’s.
Participate in a role-play activity where you act as health officials in a community with a rabies outbreak. Develop a plan to educate the public about rabies prevention and the importance of vaccination. Present your plan to the class.
Conduct research on celiac disease and its impact on daily life. Create a report or presentation that explains what celiac disease is, how it affects individuals, and the importance of a gluten-free diet. Share your findings with the class.
Organize a workshop to debunk common myths about diabetes. Work in groups to research different misconceptions, such as the causes of diabetes, and present the facts. Use creative methods like skits or infographics to make your presentation engaging.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hi, I’m Ellie, and this is Mental Floss on YouTube. Today, I’m going to talk about some misconceptions about diseases.
**Misconception Number One:** Ebola spreads through contact with other people. The Ebola virus can only spread via bodily fluids to mucous membranes or broken skin. In other words, someone with Ebola has the virus in their blood, sweat, and urine. One of those needs to come into contact with a non-infected person’s eyes, mouth, nostrils, ears, genitals, or an open wound for the virus to spread. It won’t spread through regular contact or through the air or water.
**Misconception Number Two:** People who have recovered from Ebola might still be contagious. According to the World Health Organization, people remain infectious as long as their blood and body fluids, including semen and breast milk, contain the virus. Once the virus is gone, they are no longer infectious. However, it’s worth noting that in semen, the virus can be transmissible for up to seven weeks after recovery, and it can also remain in the eyes for a long time after the virus is cleared.
**Misconception Number Three:** Alzheimer’s isn’t deadly. In the U.S., it is actually the sixth leading cause of death. As the disease progresses, people tend to have increased difficulty swallowing both food and liquids, which can result in pneumonia or aspiration problems. They may also forget to take their medication. People usually live an average of eight to ten years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
**Misconception Number Four:** Alzheimer’s is all genetics. In fact, environmental factors, age, and lifestyle may also have an impact. According to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada, there are several things you can do that may lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. These include being physically active, eating healthy foods (including fresh fruits, vegetables, and fish), keeping your brain challenged, reducing stress, monitoring blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels, avoiding traumatic brain injury, and staying socially active.
**Misconception Number Five:** Death from rabies is common. Rabies is actually fairly uncommon as far as diseases go, with about 26,000 to 55,000 deaths worldwide each year. In comparison, 56 million people die from cardiovascular disease each year. The problem is that 95% of rabies cases occur in poorer parts of Asia and Africa, where there are limited rabies vaccines, leading to a higher fatality rate. In the U.S., there were only two reported instances of rabies in 2010, thanks to effective vaccines. The World Health Organization is currently aiming to halve the number of rabies deaths each year.
**Misconception Number Six:** Celiac disease is extremely rare. Because gluten-free has become a diet trend, many people don’t take it seriously or realize its prevalence. Celiac disease is a digestive disorder in which eating gluten can cause issues in the small intestine. According to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, an estimated 1 in 133 Americans, or about 1% of the population, has celiac disease.
**Misconception Number Seven:** Eating sugar and/or being overweight causes diabetes. It’s important to distinguish between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Only 5 to 10% of people with diabetes have type 1, which appears early in life and is unpreventable. Type 2 diabetes can usually be prevented or delayed with a healthy lifestyle and typically develops later in life. While sugar and weight can impact diabetes risk, other factors also play a role. The majority of overweight people will never develop type 2 diabetes; 30% of overweight individuals are type 2 diabetic, and 85% of type 2 diabetics are overweight. Other risk factors include family history, high blood pressure, being over 45 years old, and giving birth to a baby who weighed over 9 pounds.
**Misconception Number Eight:** Heart disease primarily affects men. It actually depends on age. Men are more likely to have heart disease than women between the ages of 20 and 59, but by age 68, the genders start to even out. At that age, 70% of people have heart disease, and at 80 and older, women are actually more likely than men to have it. It’s also worth noting that heart disease is the number one cause of death in American women.
**Misconception Number Nine:** Measles is a mild disease, like chickenpox. Measles typically presents as a rash and fever, lasting about eight days. However, in 1 in 1,000 cases, the infection can spread to the brain, leading to serious complications. Fortunately, there has been a 75% worldwide drop in measles cases between 2000 and 2013, thanks to vaccines. It’s also important to clarify that chickenpox can lead to complications as well.
**Misconception Number Ten:** People can be immune to malaria. There is no such thing as 100% immunity to malaria, but some people may have what experts call partially protective immunity. After repeated exposure, a person may stop showing regular symptoms, but they can still be infected. This immunity may protect against severe symptoms and death.
If you have a topic for an upcoming misconceptions episode that you would like to see, please leave it in the comments below, and we’ll check it out. Thank you for watching Mental Floss on YouTube, and I’ll see you next week. Bye!
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Let me know if you need any further modifications!
Disease – A disorder or malfunction in the body that leads to poor health. – The spread of the disease was controlled by early detection and vaccination.
Ebola – A severe viral infection that causes fever and internal bleeding, often leading to death. – Scientists are working hard to develop a vaccine for Ebola to prevent future outbreaks.
Alzheimer’s – A progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions. – Alzheimer’s disease primarily affects older adults, leading to memory loss and confusion.
Rabies – A viral disease that affects the central nervous system, often transmitted through animal bites. – Vaccinating pets against rabies is crucial to prevent the spread of this deadly disease.
Celiac – A disease in which the small intestine is hypersensitive to gluten, leading to difficulty in digesting food. – People with celiac disease must follow a strict gluten-free diet to avoid health complications.
Diabetes – A chronic condition that affects how the body processes blood sugar (glucose). – Managing diabetes involves monitoring blood sugar levels and maintaining a healthy diet.
Heart – A muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the body, supplying oxygen and nutrients. – Regular exercise and a balanced diet are important for maintaining a healthy heart.
Measles – A highly contagious viral infection that causes a red rash and flu-like symptoms. – Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles among children.
Malaria – A disease caused by a parasite transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes. – Malaria prevention includes using mosquito nets and taking antimalarial medications.
Immunity – The ability of an organism to resist a particular infection or toxin. – Vaccines help build immunity by exposing the body to a harmless form of the disease-causing organism.
