Fyzical Therapy Balance & Hand Centers January 2019

Mom Really Does Know Best 3 Wives’ Tales Proven True

The Common Cold “Make a face like that, and it’ll stay that way forever.” You may have heard something like this from Mom’s book of wisdom. Maybe you never disputed the idea that mother knows best. But as you grew up, it slowly became clear that hair doesn’t grow back faster and thicker if you shave it, cracking your knuckles doesn’t cause arthritis, and gum doesn’t stay in your stomach for months after you swallow it. After a whirlwind of wives’ tales over the years, many common claims have been put under scrutiny. Wives tales have been known as pseudoscience and blind intuition, but even as many were disproved, some surprisingly proved to hold weight. Here are three wives’ tales that have proven to be true.

lessens the likelihood of getting a cold, so if you feel a tickle in your throat, try a clove before you open the medicine cabinet.

Heartburn Means a Hairy Baby It’s hard to list wives’ tales without

bringing up one about pregnancy. Many are solely based on intuition, but a few that sound odd are legitimate. In 2007, a study done by Johns Hopkins attempted to debunk the myth that heartburn during pregnancy would mean a hairy baby at birth. Instead of proving it wrong, they found that 82 percent of women with severe heartburn during pregnancy gave birth to hairy babies. Turns out the hormones that cause heartburn in pregnant women also affect fetal hair growth. Joint Pain Predicts the Weather Did you ever look at your mom with skepticism when she would predict rain because her knees hurt? If so, you might owe your mom an apology, because there is a scientific connection. The drop in barometric pressure that’s common during storm weather causes pain in arthritic joints. “I saw the difference in my aunt,” Virginia says. “I love working with geriatrics. That’s my life passion, and so I thought, ‘If [aquatic therapy] could help them, I would love to look into this more.’” Virginia hopes to continue her education and promote the healing power of aquatic therapy at Fyzical El Paso. Regardless of where her next educational venture takes her, healing will always be Virginia’s passion. “It’s very rewarding when someone tells you, ‘Thank you for helping me live again.’ […] That’s why I do my job. If I can help, I will help,” Virginia says. “Sometimes we take little things for granted. When you can’t use a limb, you start to appreciate things in a different manner. You learn things from the patients. For me, that’s my favorite.” When she isn’t guiding patients through our pool, Virginia is often watching movies or supporting the Dallas Cowboys with her husband, Ruben. The couple has been married for 15 years, and football season is a busy time in their house.

Garlic Cures Colds For decades, moms have professed the healing properties of garlic, suggesting it can cure colds and

help the body fight sickness. It turns out they were absolutely right. Garlic has antiviral properties that strengthen the immune system and nutrients that help combat illnesses. The effects of garlic can actually be more effective than over-the-counter flu medications. Some studies show that regular consumption of raw garlic

Our Passionate Director of Aquatic Therapy Meet Virginia Lopez!

Virginia Lopez worked as an administrative assistant for 15 years, but she always had a passion

for helping others. So, after nearly two decades of putting her dream aside, Virginia enrolled in college to

become a physical therapy assistant.

“I had to relearn how to learn. I had to relearn how to take a test. Your brain is not the same 20 years later,” Virginia says. “I almost quit, if it wasn’t for my husband. He kept on pushing me, saying, ‘You’re smart enough to do this. Take your time.’ If it wasn’t for him, I would’ve gone back to where I was working. He stood by me during the late nights I had to go to school. We made it through.” In February of 2012, Virginia began her dream job at Fyzical El Paso, but from a young age, she understood the power of physical therapy. Her aunt was in and out of hospitals for years. Virginia watched as physical therapists did aquatic therapy with her aunt, and she saw improvement in her aunt’s mobility. Because of this, Virginia sought certification in aquatic therapy in 2017, and she is now our aquatic therapy director.

We love watching you cheer on your patients, too, Virginia! Our clinic and our patients are lucky to have you.

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