Spotting Misleading Health Information

     

        With an uprise usage of social media and other platforms, medical information is more likely to get  skewed. Today, I will be discussing ways to weed out the misinformation and find reliable sources. The first way to identify reliable information is checking the source. Finding trusted federal sources are a good place to start such as the CDC. Once you identify the source, look at the authors who wrote the article. An individual with expertise in their chosen field such as medical professionals or scientist are more likely to have reliable information. After identifying your source, you should cross reference its information with other sources. Be aware of titles that play on your emotions, title that entice fear can often have its own agenda. Trusted health information should be based on strong, concise evidence that back its claim. Examine the article for contradictions to itself or other reputable sources. It is important to be aware of the severity of information surrounding health and well-being. Misinformation can cause fear, anxiety, and even self-diagnoses. While there is no problem with seeking medical information on the internet there are precautions that need to be put into place. Unreliable sources strive for clickbaiting titles that bring readers in. Often times if the title makes you skeptial then you may want to find another source. The common saying "if it seems to good to be true, it probably is" is also a good rule of thumb when looking for reliable sources. Lastly, it is always crucial to bring up your concerns of questions to a medical professional to seek advice. And with that, I will be ended this blog. Stay safe, stay reliable.