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continued:
Health news: Going beyond the headlines
Are there red flags that a health story is really a sales pitch or even a scam?
The main thing to keep in mind is that just because something is in print or on the Internet doesn't necessarily make it scientific. Similarly, someone's opinion is not scientific evidence.
Beware of personal testimonials, especially if they're being used to sell a product. Scammers often target people who have serious medical problems, such as cancer or diabetes, with promises of a "miracle cure" or "revolutionary discovery." If those things were proved to be true, your doctor would know about them and discuss them with you. Remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Even one strong study may not be enough to warrant a treatment change. So how do advances come about in medicine?
Studies can — and often do — have conflicting results. That's why doctors usually don't rely on a single study but wait to see if additional studies arrive at the same conclusions. Progress in medicine happens in steps. Every step provides a clue to the final answer — and probably sparks some new questions as well.
People often bring stacks of pages from the Web to their doctors. Is this a bad idea, given the limited time available for most appointments?
Just because time is limited doesn't mean you shouldn't ask questions. But make the best use of the time by being selective about what you bring to your doctor's attention.
Ask yourself the three questions we talked about: Is it new? Is it true? Does it affect you? If the answer to all three is yes, by all means ask your doctor whether this development is news you can use.
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- Understanding risk: What do those headlines really mean? National Institute on Aging. http://www.niapublications.org/tipsheets/pdf/Understanding_Risk-What_Do_Those_Headlines_Really_Mean.pdf. Accessed Dec. 21, 2009.
- 'Miracle' health claims: Add a dose of skepticism. Federal Trade Commission. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/health/hea07.shtm. Accessed Dec. 21, 2009.
- Update on the methods of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force: Insufficient evidence. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstf09/methods/inevidup.htm. Accessed Jan. 20, 2010.
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