News outlets bombard us with health information. From television talk shows hosted by a crew of doctors, to national news channels, we must sift through a plethora of stories and determine which ones are most important to us.
If you have a family member suffering from Multiple Sclerosis, maybe you stay tuned for developments in treatment of that disease, or if you’ve put on a few pounds, you may welcome news accounts of medications to assist with suppressing the appetite; however, whatever health concern you may be most interested in, you need to realize that there are credible sources of health news and some that are not so credible.
First, and foremost, do not look for credible health news in sensational newspapers. We’ve all seen them as we stand in the grocery store checkout line. The headlines scream at us, “40 pound tumor removed from woman†or “AIDS cure found.†These newspapers operate for one reason only – to make money. Many times information may be presented in an incomplete manner, and in many cases, they fabricate stories. Many people joke about stories in these newspapers, yet some people may actually believe such nonsense. Protect yourself, and do not automatically trust these publications.
Although I think that talk shows may help raise awareness concerning health issues, they should not be a person’s primary source of health news. Why? Because they only have a limited amount of air time; they need to present only a sweeping overview of a health topic. For example, a recent show focused on a woman who suffered from tremors and spastic limbs. Although the program discussed her brain surgery, the main focus was her struggle to regain her prior life as a dancer. Can you see where I’m going? These programs want to attract viewers, and presenting too much health information instead of emotions might drive viewers away. Again, protect yourself, and do not rely solely on talk shows as your health news source.
I am also scared of many Internet sites that may seem credible, yet they do not have the credentials to be offering health advice. Think about it this way – if you were recently diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, which website would be more beneficial – The American Cancer Society web page or Lori’s Cancer Facts web page? That example may seem simplistic, yet there are literally hundreds of people presenting incorrect health news on websites. If you are unable to determine which sites are telling the truth, and which ones are not, ask your doctor to recommend a few good ones.
In past posts I’ve asked readers to become their own health advocate. This means only you can make sure you are getting the best care available, and only you can determine if you are listening to medical news that comes from sources who know what they are talking about. Remember, US government websites, like the Centers for Disease Control, offer worthwhile information, as well as large hospitals, such as the Mayo Clinic.
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