Credits: Social Media
Doctor shares three biggest ‘health scams’ including common cough medicine
There are all kinds of medicines and health products on the market, but not all of them are actually worth buying into.
A doctor has shared the three biggest “health scams” which he says you shouldn’t waste your time or money on.
Doctor shares 3 biggest ‘health scams’
“Here are three of the biggest health scams out there,” Dr Ahmed, a general practitioner based in the UK, said on TikTok.
“It’s your money, you can spend your money on whatever you want, but these are the three things that are doing you no good.”
1. Cough syrups
The first one is cough syrups, liquid medicines sold at all grocery stores and pharmacies which claim to relieve cough symptoms.
However, the medical professional said there is actually no evidence that they improve or get rid of a cough at all.
“Over-the-counter cough medicines for acute cough cannot be recommended because there is no good evidence for their effectiveness,” a review in the BMJ Journal says.
Instead, Ahmed recommended using honey and lemon in some warm water for a cough, which is a far cheaper and more effective alternative.
2. IV vitamin drips
Next up is IV vitamin drips, which are growing in popularity to infuse vitamins directly into the bloodstream.
“These can actually be quite dangerous because you are dumping a large amount of vitamins in a short amount of time,” he said.
Many say they feel more alert and awake after them, but that’s due to the hydration you are getting through the fluid, not the vitamins. You can hydrate yourself at home instead by drinking water, saving you loads of time and money.
The NHS recommends drinking six to eight cups or glasses of fluid a day to stay hydrated. Your urine should be a clear pale yellow colour.
3. Unicity
Finally, Dr. Ahmed said the “worst scam out there” is Unicity, a popular pre-meal supplement that claims to “support metabolic health”.
Some of the supposed benefits include supporting normal blood glucose levels and helping you manage your weight, but the doctor explained that all it really contains is fiber.
You can get the same amount of fiber from a small banana, so the nutritional product is “not worth the amount you are paying for it”.
Dr. Dra Ahmed (MBBS, MRCGP, BSc) is a private general practitioner based in the UK who works at Hamptons Hospital.
