Seat won't give you an infection
YOU DOCS | Saliva is another matter, so shake with care
Q. Can you get an infection from a toilet seat? -- Freda K
A. That's about as likely as your winning a $5 million lottery ... without buying a ticket. Most dried secretions lose their ability to infect you. To gain access to your body, the bacteria or viruses usually have to get into one of your holes (mouth, anus, urethra). The bad boys cannot jump from the toilet, so you're safe. A much more dangerous enemy is saliva, since people can contaminate you while coughing or by getting infections on their hands during a sneeze, then passing it along to you during a friendly handshake.
Q. Call me paranoid, but I refuse to use a microwave. Do they cause cancer? -- Lucy
A. No, but they do cause more than extreme pizza sogginess. About 90 percent of Americans have plastic residue in their urine because they microwave in plastic (that residue is called phthalates), and its chemicals can migrate into food, especially at high temperatures. Only plastic containers specifically designed for microwave cooking should be used. Discard them when they show any signs of breaking down.
Q. I've heard that drinking Diet Coke can cause or worsen multiple sclerosis symptoms. Do I have to stop drinking it? -- Emily
A. The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation has debunked this falsehood, as have the Food and Drug Administration and other organizations. The notion that Diet Coke can cause neurological disorders may be based on an observation years ago by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which found that, in some people, aspartame seemed linked to mild neurological problems, such as headaches and moodiness. However, the CDC found that these symptoms are mild and affect most people, not just diet soda drinkers.
Q. All my daughter does is play video games. Should I worry? -- Geri
A. It may seem like Mario and his brothers are as healthy as coconut-cream smoothies, but video games have social benefits, as long as you're making sure that she's swapping her laser fire with wholesome playmates. And your daughter may even be developing motor skills that could come in handy when she's robotically operating on hearts in a couple of decades. Most importantly, though, those controllers serve this valuable purpose: They're going to help keep her thin. How? With two hands on the buttons, there are no hands in the chip bags and cheese dips. Many studies show that watching TV is associated with obesity, while playing video games is not. Just make sure that your daughter gets at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day or that she plays with active games like Dance Dance Revolution or Wii Fit. That way, she'll get the best of both worlds.
Q. My son says there's nothing wrong with cracking his knuckles. I'm afraid he's going to get arthritis. Who's right? -- Anonymous
A. Cracking his knuckles makes him sound like a bowl of Rice Krispies and never goes over well in church. While it's painful for us to hear, he's not doing any harm to his joints, bones or muscles when he cracks, unless he feels pain when he cracks them. The noise is caused by the high-pressure suction of gas being expelled when your joints move apart. If it hurts when knuckles or knees crack, then he needs to see a doctor to see what kind of joint damage he may have.
Submit your questions at www.RealAge.com. Dr. Oz gives more advice in his podcast at suntimes.com.