KING

You've heard it before: Cell phones cause cancer, going on the pill can make you fat and cold weather can cause you to catch a cold.

True or false? Many medical rumors get their start on the internet.

Everywhere you go, people are on cell phones. Last year alone, Americans used more than 2 trillion cell phone minutes. But can all that time cause brain cancer?

"There's no evidence to show that cell phones cause cancer," said Vijay Reddy, oncologist. "The radiofrequency that the cell phones emit is much lower than some of the standard devices that we use everyday in our daily lives such as microwaves."

Another common belief is that once brain cells die, that's it. But contrary to that belief, we do grow new ones.

"What we think happens is that people who really keep their brains very active build up a cognitive reserve," said Cynthia Holzer, director of geriatric education at Roger Williams Medical Center.

The best ways? Exercise, reading or playing a musical instrument.

Fear of gaining weight is why many women won't take birth control pills.

"The modern birth control pills we have do not cause any weight gain, weight loss or any change in weight at all," said Dr. Ashley Hill.

Today's birth control pills have 20 to 30 micrograms of estrogen. In the 1960s, they had up to 150 micrograms.

With the cold season behind us, you'll probably be tossing out your old medicine. But is cold weather really to blame for your sore throat and runny nose?

"The fact that children get sick is a fact of life," said Vinny Chulani, pediatrician.

The only way to get sick is through direct contact with the virus, like by coughing or sneezing.

So next time you hear another one of these pesky rumors, be sure to check the facts.

However, sometimes strange things turn out to be true. For example, toothpaste can zap acne by absorbing oil, and eating poppy seed muffins can make you fail a drug test.