With everything out there on the internet, who are we to believe?
“The latest medical studies…”
“New research has shown…”
“My friend just told me…”
We hear it all the time. Some new medical claim is released and the media floods the airways and internet with wild predictions of the “latest and greatest” breakthrough. In moments it becomes an established fact and the latest talking point. Then, as quickly as it appeared, it’s gone. Not always, but that seems to be the rule rather than the exception.
Or, you’re trying to learn something about the signs and symptoms of diabetes, or you child has a really bad sunburn and you want to know the best thing to do. You google “sunburn” and all kinds of things pop up. And then ads start coming from every direction and you don’t know where to turn. Where do we find accurate, safe, and proven information?
And how are we to deal with these life-changing discoveries? What are we to make of these wild claims? And how do we sort out what’s true from what’s bluster and bling?
For the most part, our advice is to take these astonishing claims with a grain of salt.
But doctors, you refer to “medical studies” and “recent research” in this book. How do you know what’s factual and what’s not?
That’s the question, isn’t it? And you’re right, we do rely on numerous studies and articles as we present information on the various topics in this book. But we do so cautiously, keeping in mind that we want to give information that is accurate, as well as up to date. We know there’s a lot of bogus stuff out there, and that many medical studies are easily influenced by forces that are powerful and difficult to combat—usually in the form of money, and usually with the backing of the pharmaceutical industry. We have to be careful when we look at any new study, especially when some new drug, treatment, or device is touted as “changing everything.” Who’s paying for the study and are the researchers potentially influenced by them? There’s a lot to keep in mind here, and we don’t have enough watch-dogs looking out for us. But as a general rule, “If something sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t.”
So where do we turn for information? And how would we advise our readers to evaluate a new medical claim or look up some information about a particular illness, symptom, or treatment? First of all, we advise against blind surfing on the internet. You never know what you may find and where you’ll end up. Usually it’s in confusion, wild claims, and the opportunity to buy something that will change your life.
However, there are a few websites that we can recommend with confidence. These are well-established and authoritative, and they cover many areas of medical care and recent research. These are places we go to answer questions that may arise or to gain perspective on the latest medical miracle.
- cdc.gov- This is the CDC (Center for Disease Control) website, and we’ve referred to it on several occasions. This is no-nonsense information and there’s stuff here about everything. If something is out there in the community, you’ll find help here.
- medlineplus.gov – This is a user-friendly site with a lot of good information.
- mayoclinic.org – Another reputable and user-friendly site—easy to navigate.
- health.harvard.edu – Hey, this is the Ivy League, right? They must know what they’re talking about, and they do.
- http://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/default.aspx – The Cleveland Clinic is a highly regarded institution and we’ve found their website to be current and very useful.
These should be enough websites to help you find whatever you’re looking for. Check out a couple and see which ones you like. Just remember, when you hear some new claim of a miracle breakthrough, or someone spouting “overwhelming evidence” in some new study, it’s always wise to let the dust settle. Time has a way of dealing with most things, and the truth finds a way to declare itself. So be cautious—maybe even cynical—and keep in mind what Winston Churchill had to say on this topic. Unfortunately, he was right.
“A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to put its pants on.”
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This is an excerpt from the new book I’m writing with pediatrician Dr. Robert Alexander. The book will address 100 questions from parents regarding their children’s health. Feel free to email us with questions: askthedox@yahoo.com
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