With so much information abounding on the Internet, it’s sometimes difficult to know if you are reading something you can trust or if there is an ulterior motive in that particular publication. When it comes to healthcare, it is vital that you learn to discern which sites can be trusted. Whether you are looking for information for yourself or for a loved one, you don’t want to follow just anyone’s advice. You want to know if the sources are authentic and trustworthy.
Are Government Sites Always Trustworthy?
If you look around, you will be told that government sites are probably the most reliable sources of information on the Web. While that is true to some extent, it is important to remember that even government errs from time to time. For example, just look at all the medications which were approved by the FDA for sale to the general public and then, at a later date, recalled due to serious side effects, some of which were lethal. Yes, government sites are among the most trustworthy, but they are not infallible.
Major University and Hospital Publications
If you want information that is on the cutting edge of science, the best place to find that type of literature would be on a university or hospital website. However, some of this information is based on recent research, which hasn’t been tested over time. Look for information that goes back at least a few decades before taking it as fact. Again, science is advancing over time and as time goes on, medical professionals are finding flaws in what they once held as medical truths.
Blogs vs. Commercial Sites
Then there are blogs and commercial sites where you’ll find literally millions of articles on everything from cancer to healthy diets – and everything in between. What you should look for here is the difference between a site like Health Row that seeks to inform as opposed to a commercial website developed by a pharmaceutical company looking to sell products or services. Understandably, a commercial website wants you to spend money so the information they offer may be biased in favor of what they are offering.
Compare Sources
Although it’s difficult to know which sites you can believe, and which sites are inaccurate or biased, take the time to compare sources. Don’t simply read one article and think you’ve got all the information you may need on that issue. Compare several articles on the same issue so that you can determine if there are any major discrepancies. Just as you would when shopping for the best deal on a new car, the same system works for gaining healthcare insight. Do a bit of comparison ‘shopping’ before you buy into any one theory. It is your health at stake here, so be proactive. Do the research.
It’s Like Getting a Second Opinion on a Medical Diagnosis
Also, it is always advisable to talk to your own primary healthcare provider when you’ve found something of interest. Your doctor knows the state of your health and whether or not the information is relevant to you in your particular need. The bottom line is that most government and educational sites can be trusted, but even they can unintentionally give you inaccurate data. Always check and double check before believing anything and you should be safe. Have you ever gotten a second opinion on a medical diagnosis? This is the same thing. Get other opinions before deciding what is fact and what is fiction. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
