Buzz
There could be creatures lurking in your closet, but not the kind you're thinking of – these are the ones you bought. While everyday products are meant to make life more convenient, some of them do quite the opposite. Cosmetic treatments can leave you in a coma or burn your insides, and dental items have caused paralysis and transformed people into blue beings. Not to mention exploding scooters and earbuds that allowed bacteria to consume a woman's skull.
9. Mouthwash – Could Raise Your Blood Pressure
Mouthwash advertisements are often the primary source of education for many people. The lesson is simple: use the product and say goodbye to your bacterial worries. However, in 2019, researchers began questioning this. Not all bacteria are harmful. Is there a hidden downside to eradicating all the microorganisms in your mouth? The results they found were concerning.
To investigate, they had volunteers exercise on a treadmill for half an hour. Afterward, they were given either mouthwash or a placebo. The findings were startling. Many people exercise to improve blood pressure and reduce the risks of heart disease or strokes. While the placebo group saw a positive change, those who used mouthwash saw their progress dramatically disrupted.
The reason for this is nitric oxide. When we exercise, our body produces this compound, which helps relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure. As it breaks down, it forms a waste product called nitrate. Recent research has revealed that specific bacteria in the mouth convert nitrate into nitrite. This transformation is essential for generating more nitric oxide. A study in 2019 showed that these bacteria are important to keep around. Without them, a lack of nitrite prevents blood vessels from expanding, and no amount of exercise can reduce blood pressure.
8. Acid Reflux Syrup – Werewolf Syndrome
Picture this: Your baby has acid reflux, and as a concerned parent, you follow the doctor's advice and give them the prescribed syrup. But before you know it, your little one develops an unusual amount of hair. This scenario occurred in Spain in 2019, where 17 families were stunned to find their babies growing thick, adult-like eyebrows and hair all over their faces and limbs.
The condition of excessive hair growth is known as hypertrichosis, or 'Werewolf Syndrome.' It is typically present from birth, but in this case, the children developed it after birth, around the age of two. The common factor discovered was that all the affected children had been using a specific acid reflux syrup. The syrup contained omeprazole, a medication that had never been linked to excessive hair growth before.
Investigators traced the syrup back to its source. The drug had originally come from India, and initial tests showed that the omeprazole was fine. The issue arose when the factory decided to repackage the medication into smaller batches for resale. Unfortunately, the labels for omeprazole were mistakenly placed on bottles that actually contained minoxidil, a substance known to promote hair growth and treat baldness. Thankfully, the children are expected to lose the excess hair as they grow older.
7. Hoverboards – The Dangers of Overheating and Explosions
The future is here, and people are zipping around on hoverboards. Although these devices don't truly hover, they function similarly to skateboards, powered by an internal energy source. Hoverboards were a huge hit during the 2015-2016 holiday season, but their popularity soon took a dangerous turn. Faulty battery designs led to overheating, causing some hoverboards to catch fire or even explode.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recorded 99 complaints about these two-wheeled scooters, 18 of which resulted in injuries. Most of the injuries were burns to the arms and neck. Consumers were not expecting this, especially after spending as much as $900 on a hoverboard. These devices were eventually banned from campuses, railroads, and airlines because of their safety risks. Not only did the riders suffer, but the fiery hoverboards also caused significant property damage. In total, over 500,000 units were recalled from ten different companies.
6. Denture Cream – The Paralysis Link
In 2017, a man from the United Kingdom began experiencing frightening symptoms. Initially, he felt a tingling in his fingers, but it quickly progressed to numbness and pain that weakened his legs to the point where he could only use a cane to move. Within six months, he was confined to his home.
Doctors initially suspected a neurological disorder and promptly transported the patient for an MRI scan. The results revealed an unexpected condition: copper deficiency myelopathy. It was puzzling because the body requires very little copper. To develop a brain condition from such a deficiency, something unusual had to be at play.
The cause was ultimately traced to a zinc overdose. Excess zinc is known to impair the body's ability to absorb copper. The source of the zinc was found in the man’s dental cream, which he had used excessively due to poorly fitting dentures. For the past fifteen years, he had been consuming up to four tubes a week. The cream was discontinued, and the man was given copper supplements. Unfortunately, the nerve damage was beyond repair, leaving him confined to a wheelchair.
5. Acupuncture – Risk of Lung Injury
Although acupuncture’s efficacy is not universally proven by science, it remains a popular alternative therapy for those seeking less invasive treatments. This ancient practice, however, is not without risks. One point, Gallbladder 21, has long been known to be particularly hazardous if manipulated incorrectly. Improper use of this point can result in severe complications, such as punctured lungs. Shockingly, many patients are not fully aware of these dangers.
In 2019, a woman from New Zealand experienced this risk firsthand. The 33-year-old sought acupuncture for an arm injury that was impacting her ability to breathe. The acupuncturist inserted two needles into Gallbladder 21, a point located near the shoulder despite its name. As the needles were inserted, the woman felt intense pain and a sense that the needles were too deep. After 30 minutes, the needles were rotated and removed. Almost immediately, she began feeling discomfort and reported a strange sensation around her lungs—airy and painful. The acupuncturist advised her to rest at home.
That evening, her husband rushed her to the hospital, where she received urgent medical attention. Doctors diagnosed her with bilateral apical pneumothoraces. The condition was as frightening as it sounds. The needles had punctured the top of one lung, leading to the collapse of both lungs. Punctured lungs are a common complication of acupuncture. A 2010 study revealed that Gallbladder 21 was responsible for 30 percent of such cases.
4. Vaginal Steaming – Severe Burns
Actress Gwyneth Paltrow promoted vaginal steaming, and predictably, it became a trend. Allegedly, it helps cleanse the vagina. The process is simple—just sit over a steaming bowl of herbs. In 2019, a painful incident highlighted the dangers of celebrity-endorsed advice. A 62-year-old Canadian woman, diagnosed with vaginal prolapse, was advised to try steaming. Instead of finding relief, she ended up in the emergency room with second-degree burns to her vaginal membranes and cervix.
The unfortunate reality is that this trend is entirely unfounded. Research has found no health benefits, only risks. Biologically, the vagina has the ability to cleanse itself naturally, making herbal steaming unnecessary. Furthermore, the practice disrupts the beneficial bacteria that protect the vagina. The woman’s prolapse required surgical intervention, but the surgery had to be postponed until she healed from the burns.
3. Face Lotion – Induced Coma
In 2019, a woman from Sacramento followed her usual skincare routine. She applied her trusted face cream, a product she had been using daily for years. However, this time something went terribly wrong. She suddenly experienced numbness in her limbs and lost the ability to walk or speak clearly. The 47-year-old was rushed to the hospital, where her condition worsened, and she fell into a semi-comatose state. Initially, she responded to the staff when spoken to, but eventually, the mother of five fell completely unresponsive.
Blood tests revealed the cause of her condition. Normally, people carry about 5 micrograms of mercury per liter of blood. In her case, however, the level was shockingly high—2,630 micrograms per liter. To make matters worse, it was methylmercury, a dangerous form of mercury. Experts could not determine if this toxic substance had been added to the cream by accident or malicious intent. Methylmercury is often found in creams marketed to reduce age spots and blemishes.
This particular brand of cream, however, had a reputation for being risky. Imported from Mexico and sold through unofficial channels, the woman's son explained that his mother adored the anti-wrinkle product because it worked better than anything available at pharmacies. Tragically, this was the first known case of mercury poisoning caused by such a product in the United States. The medical team is uncertain if or when she will regain consciousness.
2. Tooth Gel – Blue Blood
In 2019, a woman arrived at a Rhode Island hospital emergency room, telling doctors, 'I’m blue.' She wasn’t referring to sadness or making a joke; her skin had taken on a peculiar blue tint. The medical team quickly drew blood, only to find that it was an unusual dark navy blue color.
The diagnosis was methemoglobinemia, a condition where oxygen levels in the blood drop dangerously due to an abnormality in iron. The patient was already in a critical state, with blood oxygen levels at 67 percent—just under the 70 percent threshold where serious tissue damage begins. Treatment was quick and effective. She was administered a remedy called methylene blue. After two doses and a night in the hospital, the woman recovered and regained her healthy, pink complexion.
So, what caused her to turn blue? When questioned, the patient revealed she had a toothache the night before and used an excessive amount of a numbing medication containing benzocaine. This seemingly harmless product can interfere with the iron in the blood. Benzocaine alters iron to the point where it can no longer bind with oxygen. Once this bond is broken, blood circulation is compromised, turning the blood, skin, and nails a blue hue.
1. Cotton Swabs – Skull-Eating Infection
A woman named Jasmine sought medical help due to hearing loss. Upon examination, the doctor diagnosed her with an ear infection. She was prescribed antibiotics, but her hearing issues persisted.
In 2019, Jasmine cleaned her ears regularly with cotton swabs. One evening, however, she noticed blood on the swabs. Concerned, she consulted a specialist, who was horrified by her ear-cleaning routine. A CT scan revealed a shocking and severe skull infection caused by the cotton swabs. The cotton fibers had accumulated in her ears for up to five years, leading to a bacterial infection that was slowly eating away at the bone behind her ear. The area around her skull had become dangerously thin.
The 37-year-old underwent a five-hour surgery to remove the infected tissue and reconstruct her ear canal. While the operation successfully eliminated the infection, the hearing loss in her left ear was permanent.
