HEALTH ADVICE You SHOULD IGNORE (and What to Do Instead)

People love to swoop in and help when you're feeling poorly. But certain bits of commonly shared (and well-intentioned) advice that we get from friends, family and the Internet is actually flat-out false

-  LESLIE GOLDMAN

And it's not just us "regular" folks who are on the receiving end of questionable medical input-care providers and other top health experts have also heard their fair share. We asked them to reveal the nuggets of non-wisdom they hear most often- and what you should do instead to live your healthiest life.

MYTH: If you can walk on it. it's not broken.

"I hear this one all the time," says orthopedic surgeon Clifford L. Jeng, M.D., medical director of the Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. "When patients can still walk [after a foot or ankle injury], often they don't seek medical attention. Then they come in six weeks later because it's still hurting and we find a fracture." Delaying proper treatment for a broken bone (especially if you walk through pain just because you technically can) may extend and even complicate your recovery process. For instance, a cast or boot used right away might do the trick, but if you wait, you may need surgery or metal plates and screws to fix the problem. Also, improper treatment or none may cause the break to heal out of alignment, which could lead to issues like arthritis down the line.

DO THIS INSTEAD: If you're not in incredible pain and nothing looks obviously deformed, stay off your feet as much as possible and follow RICE protocol for a few days, says Dr. Jeng. That stands for Rest, Ice (20 minutes at a time, several times a day), Compression (with a light ACE bandage) and Elevation. But if pain and swelling stick around for more than a week or get worse, see a doctor, who can use X-rays or an MRI to check for fractures.

MYTH: It's fine to clean your ears with cotton swabs just don't dig.