Are You Sure About That?

Teaching hospitals are more dangerous in July. TRUE. A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reviewed 39 studies from 1989 to 2010 that looked at hospital turnover and its effect on patient care. Researchers found that in July patients were likelier to die or receive poorer care. The "July Effect" occurs when experienced residents leave and the new trainees have little clinical experience, may be inadequately supervised and don't yet have a working knowledge of the hospital system. If possible, postponing hospital treatment until August might be a "hot" idea.

Food is addictive. TRUE. A study done at Toronto's York University had 72 obese people, ages 25-45, complete a questionnaire about food that was designed to identify drug or alcohol addiction. It focused on 7 symptoms of addiction – such as unsuccessfully trying to quit and stopping social activities. Eighteen participants fit the criteria for addiction. About 66% of the participants were women, as were 66% of the food addicts. The food addicts were also likelier to have other psychological issues – binge-eating, depression and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The definition of food – substances consumed to maintain life and growth – doesn't "fit" everyone.

Beer is less intoxicating than liquor. FALSE. Standard drinks – 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine and a drink containing one shot of 80-proof liquor – produce the same level of intoxication. That's according to Dr. Scott Walters, professor of social and behavioral sciences at the University of North Texas. Also, once alcohol is in the bloodstream nothing can increase the rate the liver processes it – which is about 1 drink per hour. However, alcohol mixed with food takes longer to absorb. Light colored drinks – such as white wine and vodka – produce fewer hangover effects. Considering 63% of Americans drink, this information shouldn't be "hard to swallow".

Too much salt is bad. TRUE … HOWEVER, a 14-year study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found too much salt and too little potassium is worse. Researchers asked more than 12,000 U.S. adults what they ate the previous day and calculated their salt and potassium intake. Those eating lots of salt and little potassium were more than twice as likely to die from heart attack. The average woman gets less than half the recommended 4,700 milligrams of potassium daily. Men get slightly more. Spinach, bananas and broccoli are good sources of potassium. "In the long run", so are prunes.