Summary
- Consider the source.
- Understand research basics.
- Be aware of potential bias or error.
Whether it's what to eat and drink or how much to exercise, health tips are always in the news. It can be hard to make choices when health tips change all the time. Adding to the confusion, the tips differ from source to source. First, consider some reasons why health news might conflict so often:
- What was known to be true yesterday may be disproved today through scientific research.
- Some studies are poorly designed.
- Partial or even false information might be presented to help sell a product.
- Anyone with access to the internet can publish health claims. There are no guarantees of their validity.
So how do you tell truth from fiction when you read about the latest claims concerning your health?
Consider the source
Your first step is to identify the source of the health news. It should refer to research studies to back the claim. Look for references to controlled experiments or clinical trials. Valid controlled experiments and clinical trials often involve the following:
- A control group—a certain number of people who do not receive the experimental drug or other treatment for comparison to those who do receive the treatment
- Randomization—a mix of race, age, ethnicity, etc.
- Blindness—either just the subjects or both the subjects and the testers do not know who receives the real treatment and who is in the control group
- Duplication—several studies by different agencies have produced the same findings
As you read about the research, other factors might help you determine how realistic the claim is, such as:
- Number—the more people in a study, the greater its validity.
- Quantity of a substance—it’s important to know how much of a target drug or substance is used in controlled experiments. Perhaps an unreasonably high amount of any substance could cause health problems over time.
Where did you read it?
It’s also important to consider where you found the information. Well-known medical journals are more likely to include research details. Brochures funded by drug companies or political groups may present partial findings or uncontrolled studies to support their claims. If you cannot find support for a health claim in a reputable medical journal, remain skeptical as you look for more proof.
A few more cautions
Still confused about a particular drug or health claim? Don’t ignore symptoms or try a new treatment based on reading one health claim. Be sure to ask your doctor what he has read about the latest medical news that concerns you. Choosing the exact number of minutes to exercise based on medical news is not likely to be a problem for you, but stopping a medication without consulting your doctor could be. You just might also have to trust your instincts. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Resource
American Medical Association
www.ama-assn.org
The New England Journal of Medicine
www.nejm.org
Summary
- Consider the source.
- Understand research basics.
- Be aware of potential bias or error.
Whether it's what to eat and drink or how much to exercise, health tips are always in the news. It can be hard to make choices when health tips change all the time. Adding to the confusion, the tips differ from source to source. First, consider some reasons why health news might conflict so often:
- What was known to be true yesterday may be disproved today through scientific research.
- Some studies are poorly designed.
- Partial or even false information might be presented to help sell a product.
- Anyone with access to the internet can publish health claims. There are no guarantees of their validity.
So how do you tell truth from fiction when you read about the latest claims concerning your health?
Consider the source
Your first step is to identify the source of the health news. It should refer to research studies to back the claim. Look for references to controlled experiments or clinical trials. Valid controlled experiments and clinical trials often involve the following:
- A control group—a certain number of people who do not receive the experimental drug or other treatment for comparison to those who do receive the treatment
- Randomization—a mix of race, age, ethnicity, etc.
- Blindness—either just the subjects or both the subjects and the testers do not know who receives the real treatment and who is in the control group
- Duplication—several studies by different agencies have produced the same findings
As you read about the research, other factors might help you determine how realistic the claim is, such as:
- Number—the more people in a study, the greater its validity.
- Quantity of a substance—it’s important to know how much of a target drug or substance is used in controlled experiments. Perhaps an unreasonably high amount of any substance could cause health problems over time.
Where did you read it?
It’s also important to consider where you found the information. Well-known medical journals are more likely to include research details. Brochures funded by drug companies or political groups may present partial findings or uncontrolled studies to support their claims. If you cannot find support for a health claim in a reputable medical journal, remain skeptical as you look for more proof.
A few more cautions
Still confused about a particular drug or health claim? Don’t ignore symptoms or try a new treatment based on reading one health claim. Be sure to ask your doctor what he has read about the latest medical news that concerns you. Choosing the exact number of minutes to exercise based on medical news is not likely to be a problem for you, but stopping a medication without consulting your doctor could be. You just might also have to trust your instincts. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Resource
American Medical Association
www.ama-assn.org
The New England Journal of Medicine
www.nejm.org
Summary
- Consider the source.
- Understand research basics.
- Be aware of potential bias or error.
Whether it's what to eat and drink or how much to exercise, health tips are always in the news. It can be hard to make choices when health tips change all the time. Adding to the confusion, the tips differ from source to source. First, consider some reasons why health news might conflict so often:
- What was known to be true yesterday may be disproved today through scientific research.
- Some studies are poorly designed.
- Partial or even false information might be presented to help sell a product.
- Anyone with access to the internet can publish health claims. There are no guarantees of their validity.
So how do you tell truth from fiction when you read about the latest claims concerning your health?
Consider the source
Your first step is to identify the source of the health news. It should refer to research studies to back the claim. Look for references to controlled experiments or clinical trials. Valid controlled experiments and clinical trials often involve the following:
- A control group—a certain number of people who do not receive the experimental drug or other treatment for comparison to those who do receive the treatment
- Randomization—a mix of race, age, ethnicity, etc.
- Blindness—either just the subjects or both the subjects and the testers do not know who receives the real treatment and who is in the control group
- Duplication—several studies by different agencies have produced the same findings
As you read about the research, other factors might help you determine how realistic the claim is, such as:
- Number—the more people in a study, the greater its validity.
- Quantity of a substance—it’s important to know how much of a target drug or substance is used in controlled experiments. Perhaps an unreasonably high amount of any substance could cause health problems over time.
Where did you read it?
It’s also important to consider where you found the information. Well-known medical journals are more likely to include research details. Brochures funded by drug companies or political groups may present partial findings or uncontrolled studies to support their claims. If you cannot find support for a health claim in a reputable medical journal, remain skeptical as you look for more proof.
A few more cautions
Still confused about a particular drug or health claim? Don’t ignore symptoms or try a new treatment based on reading one health claim. Be sure to ask your doctor what he has read about the latest medical news that concerns you. Choosing the exact number of minutes to exercise based on medical news is not likely to be a problem for you, but stopping a medication without consulting your doctor could be. You just might also have to trust your instincts. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Resource
American Medical Association
www.ama-assn.org
The New England Journal of Medicine
www.nejm.org