iStockphoto
Some people on social media are claiming the the total solar eclipse of April 8th is causing them to suffer strange symptoms like feeling sick, having headaches, and suffering from insomnia.
In the United States, the 100 percent total solar eclipse will begin in Texas at 1:27 p.m. local time and will end in Maine at 3:35 p.m. local time. It will last approximately 4 minutes and 27 seconds.
For the rest of the nation located outside the path of totality, people will be able to view various degrees of a partial eclipse.
While this is definitely a unique event for North America, they actually happen from two to five times every year and a total eclipse occurs somewhere on the planet approximately once every 18 months.
It is just rare that it follows a path that can be seen by so many people, as it will on April 8th.
Despite the regular occurrence of solar eclipses, there is no shortage of conspiracy theories and people claiming that it causes them some sort of health issue.
For example, the Mirror reports people on social media claiming to be feeling physically sick, experiencing headaches, feeling “wiped out” or “weird,” suffering from insomnia, having no appetite, and suffering from other maladies they are blaming on the eclipse.
However, according to NASA, “There is no physical relationship between a total solar eclipse and your health, any more than there is a relationship between your health and a new moon.”
Other misconceptions NASA has tried to debunk include a rumor that pregnant women should not watch an eclipse because it can harm their baby, that it will poison any food that is prepared during the event, that solar eclipses foretell major life changes and events. and that solar eclipses six months after your birthday or on your birthday are a sign of impending bad health.
None of those are true. So just go ahead and enjoy your eclipse-viewing and quit worrying.