What you should know
Health rumors, false claims and myths are too common. False ideas spread like wildfire via the Internet, news, ads and political debates. Unsafe health care beliefs can also be passed down in families and within certain cultures.
Myths about foods, drugs, herbs and therapies are widespread. Some myths are fairly harmless. Don’t worry: An occasional swallowed chewing gum does not just sit forever in your stomach. But other myths can be quite risky. The custom of putting babies to sleep on their stomachs can suffocate them. Common sense tells you that the five-second rule for dropped food is silly if a floor is dirty. Autism myths have misled parents to stop essential vaccines for kids.
Proven claims about alternative treatments are not always true for all people. They pose big risks for some patients.
Others myths abound about the health behavior of certain groups. For example, it is a myth that users of emergency rooms in Shelby County are mainly uninsured people seeking non-urgent care. The truth is that close to 80 percent of all non-urgent ER visits in Shelby County are by insured patients. Timely primary care is needed for both insured and uninsured patients to prevent very expensive, unnecessary emergency room use in the Mid-South.
There are plenty of myths about insurance for health care. Congressional debates about improved end-of-life care options for loved ones led to flaps about mythical “death panels.” Four in 10 Americans are unaware that the Affordable Care Act is still a law. Many are against the law because of fears developed after hearing heated political debates. Yet countless Americans want a better health system that improves results and access at a sensible cost.
False beliefs about health and care persist even if overwhelming data contradict them. We are more likely to believe a claim if it confirms our preexisting beliefs and habits.
Many smart, well-educated people have resorted to taking care into their own hands. Some yearn for quick results or low-cost cures for cancer or to lose weight, improve strength, muscle tone, or sexual performance. People fall for “miracle cures” and unproven home test kits. This has led to the growth of alternative care.
Hope, fear and distrust can cloud judgment. Alternative care may delay proven care when it could be most effective.
Steve Jobs, the brilliant founder of Apple, put off conventional care and surgery. Professionals said his pancreatic cancer was curable. Instead, Jobs initially chose herbs, special diets and acupuncture. Some experts labeled his alternative medicine decisions as suicidal. His cancer spread. He eventually had a liver transplant but died in 2011.
Sellers of alternative medicine can be convincing. Some have celebrity spokespeopleor money-back guarantees. You might think a drug, device or supplement is safe because it is sold in well-known stores, or advertised on popular stations and in trusted newspapers. The public is often unaware that supplements are not approved by the FDA.
The alternative medicine and health care industries have very strong governmental lobbies. Some of these businesses want to minimize regulations while maximizing their profits and the freedom to communicate as they wish.
What you should do
Make health decisions slowly but not too slowly. Research issues. Check many reliable information sources.
Strive to learn the risks and expected results of a decision, whether for a supplement, a drug or a procedure.
Balance your news from many sources. It is easy to become misled if you rely only on news from one source labeled as conservative, liberal or talk. Beware of bias in blogs and newsletters. Favor internet sites likely to be less biased; these often end in .edu and .gov. S ome .org sites also follow the HON code of health web site ethics
Don’t believe ads and claims. Talk face to face to medically licensed and well-informed individuals to verify claims.
Get a second opinion on a major medical decision from a licensed professional. Before opting for surgery, ask another board-certified surgeon. For supplements, consider asking your pharmacist. For alternative or complementary treatments, ask for the opinion of your primary care provider or chronic disease specialist.
Stop looking for the easy way out. If you want to lose weight and tone your muscles, exercise, control your calorie intake, and eat wisely. Don’t resort to unproven “fat burning” foods, supplements, herbs or hormone shots.
For chronic or serious health issues, don’t risk using alternative care just because it is cheaper.
Beware of any drug or test kit purchased via the Internet. Some could be fake, outdated or tainted.
Be aware of the risks of alternatives. Some procedures are more risky than the discomfort of living with a problem. A supplement might interact with your medicine or make it less effective. Some OTC drugs can thin blood or poison you.
Before choosing a health care provider, check his or her credentials. Choose licensed and certified professionals.
For more information
Better Health: TAKE CHARGE! is provided by the Healthy Memphis Common Table: healthymemphis.org.
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