Skeptics Stack Exchange
Skeptics Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [medical-science]

Use this tag for questions about the science of medicine and its practices. Use [medications] for questions about the actual cures that people take, and use [alternative-medicine] for claims about cures and practices which are claimed to be alternative to official medical science

Medical science is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness.

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Does mortality fall when doctors go on strike?

In a 2017 article arguing that inaction is sometimes better than action (the urge to do something often dominates the urge to do the right thing) Tim Harford makes the following comment (I've included the context as well as the key claim): It is a…
matt_black
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Is watching television in the dark harmful to your eyes?

This is obviously related to a few answered questions already here, namely: Does watching television damage the eyes? Is it harmful to your eyes to read in dim light? But the following question is more specific, and doesn't seem to be answered:…
Brian M. Hunt
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Does eating carrots improve your eyesight?

A common belief in Sweden is that carrot improve your eyesight and I was told many times when I was little to eat carrots. Although anecdotaly I have perfect vision without carrot-gluttony. Is there any supporting evidence for that claim? Related…
Kit Sunde
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Is spontaneous human combustion possible?

An article from Ireland dated January, 2011 shows that spontaneous human combustion (SHC) remains a hot topic among paranormalists. Spontaneous human combustion has been defined as: Spontaneous human combustion (SHC) is the alleged burning of a…
Monkey Tuesday
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Should I cut off black banana ending before eating?

I was always told that I should cut off the black ending of a banana before eating, because it would be dangerous. Sources for this claim can for example be found here (though that source is actually rebuking the claim, but I was not able to find…
Adam Stelmaszczyk
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Can you punch someone's nose into their brain?

A persistent tale in martial arts is that one can strike an unfortunate other on the nose in such a way that you drive the cartilege up into their brain. Is this possible? I think some points to consider are: Is there a path from the inside of the…
Grimm The Opiner
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Is water fluoridation harmful?

There’s a controversy going around whether the benefits of water fluoridation outweigh the potential harms. What is the evidence for the harm this may cause and what evidence supports the health benefits?
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Did Rudolf Steiner prove the contagiousness of varicella in 1875?

Pages like those from the National Vaccine Information Center NVIC or the Centers for Disease Control CDC make the following claim: In 1875, Rudolf Steiner discovered that chickenpox was infectious to others after he took liquid from the chickenpox…
LangLаngС
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Are chemicals in plastic causing a significant reduction in fertility?

This story in the Guardian quotes Shanna Swan, professor of environmental medicine and public health at Mount Sinai school of medicine in New York City. She makes a number of claims about the impact of chemicals used to modify the properties of…
Paul Johnson
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Does one remain conscious after decapitation?

Various articles online claim anecdotal evidence from witnesses that a man's guillotine severed head remains conscious for some time after decapitation (here's an example). Some cite sources that the author no longer remembers clearly, or provide…
luvieere
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Is CPH4 from science fiction movie 'Lucy' real?

In the science-fiction film Lucy, the titular character takes a drug called CPH4 that increases her brain capacity. The writer and director of the film, Luc Besson, claims in several interviews that this drug is based on a real chemical…
svick
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Can regular cold showers reliably improve health?

I have encountered anecdotal claims that the act of taking a cold shower fairly frequently (e.g. once a day) improves health, or at least, reduces susceptibility to illness. Is there any scientific evidence that this does indeed work, even if only…
user1802
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Does the G-Spot exist?

There's a lot of talk in magazines about a woman's G-Spot. But does it exist? Or is it a trick to keep men searching?
Carra
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Is Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity an actual illness or is it another trendy diet?

I've heard a lot of hype lately about Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity and seeing people buy plenty of "Gluten-Free" goodies at the local grocery store, I am wondering. Is Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity an actual illness or just another trendy diet?
wfoster
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Does sexual activity burn a significant amount of calories?

Are there any reviews out there of scientific studies conforming or invalidating the common claim that sexual activity is a good way to burn calories? Have quantitative measurements of work exerted (i.e., energy spent) during sex ever been…
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