Don't Be Mislead by Sensational Health Headlines

Don't be mislead by health claims promising fantastic results. To avoid jumping on the junk-science bandwagon, apply the four "tests" below from eBuzz.biz -- and always check with your doctor before trying something new.

• Find the foundation. If a research source isn't listed, the claim could be bogus. Check online and review the original study or journal article.
• Apply the time test. A single study doesn't constitute reliable science. To ensure that results are valid, medical experts repeat studies with expanding patient populations. Make sure other studies have confirmed the reported results.
• Question motives. Ask who sponsored the research. Drug companies have a vested interest in producing results that will sell their product. Publish or perish is the mantra of research universities. Researchers may feel pressured to publish early results that haven't been sufficiently validated.
• Delve into details. Read the small print. Look at how many people participated in the study, whether follow-ups were done and over what time period. Check to see who participated. The study may have tested only one demographic, such as white males over 70. Study results could be different in other patient groups. See what the results were in the control group. News and magazine articles may report only key findings. The full findings contain more details and often greater cautions.

Always read medical headlines with a bit of skepticism. Sensational headlines may sell newspapers and magazines, but they don't usually tell the whole story. Apply these four steps for checking the facts -- and always check with your doctor before you decide to try a new product or procedure. Stay healthy; get the facts.