What sources are you using online to get health advice and direction? I receive e-mails every day from women who read something online somewhere and believe they have stumbled onto the cure for breast cancer, for only $59.99!
When reading health information and medical news online, it's always important to evaluate the source. When an important news story breaks, even reputable Web sites can sometimes get the story confused, or even misinterpret the facts.
Another source of misinformation are those "snake oil" Web sites that prey on vulnerable people seeking a cure for breast cancer. It is very exasperating to realize that incorrect information, whether accidentally or intentionally misleading, is posted online without being screened for accuracy.
So take a look at the Web sites you rely on for health information and ask yourself these questions:
- Is the author trying to sell something?
- Is the information about a supplement actually written by the company selling the supplement?
- Has the article been peer-reviewed by health care professionals?
- Is the information rooted in evidence-based medicine?
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
