Q: I crack my knuckles all the time. Is this bad for them? I also crack my neck, back, toes, knees and ankles. I heard that it can give you arthritis, but then I heard from someone else that it releases oils into your joints and lubricates them. Is either of these stories true?
A: There’s no scientific evidence that cracking knuckles or other joints makes those joints bigger or leads to arthritis. When you pull on your finger, for example, you break the vacuum seal created by the fluid in your joint, and the breaking of that seal causes the popping sound. There is some evidence that excessive joint cracking (50 times a day) might make that joint weaker. The biggest problem is that the sound is annoying to everyone around you.
Q: I recently walked into a vitamin shop that was selling an item that supposedly made a girl's breasts grow. Is there a pill that can do that? Will it make one gain weight in other areas or only the breasts?
A: There are no herbal pills, creams, lotions or exercises that increase your breast size. While there are many products that claim to do this, none of them can show you a scientific study that proves their claims. You end up spending a lot of money for nothing.
The only way to change the size of your breasts is to have plastic surgery, but this is very expensive and has other possible complications. Many women find that their breast size changes with age, maturity and childbearing. For now, however, you could try using a push-up or padded bra, but better than that, be thankful for the way God made you. He thinks you’re beautiful no matter your cup size.
Q: Sometimes I like to shop at consignment stores because of the good bargains, but I’m afraid. Is it possible to get an STI (sexually transmitted infection) from wearing a pair of pants that someone else wore who had an STI? If so, can you get rid of the "germs" by putting the pants in the freezer or by washing a certain way?
A: Most STIs are spread through direct sexual contact with body fluids such as blood, saliva, semen or vaginal fluid or direct skin-to-skin contact with someone who’s infected. The organisms that cause STIs are very sensitive and can’t survive outside the body.
However, pubic lice (commonly know as “crabs”) can be spread sexually but also can be spread through clothes, sheets or towels that have been used by someone who’s infected. Clothes and bedding should be washed in hot water and dried in a hot dryer to prevent infestation.
