Before you jump for joy on some new cure for what ails you, it behooves you to step back and evaluate who provides the material, especially if it is the miracle remedy you hoped to find. The CDC has a training program for seniors to discern the legitimacy of health website information.
The plethora of medical information available today empowers seniors to be better-informed patients. If you read specific articles on an illness, it provides the background to ask your doctor more in-depth questions. Knowledge is power, and online information is free.
When evaluating medical articles, it is essential to rev up your critical thinking skills. Is it too good to be true? Does the information come with a product the author may be selling? Did the information you hoped to find come in the comments section after the article?
As soon as you connect with information with one website, find others that verify the information promised. Compare it to trusted medical websites like the National Institute on Aging or the National Institute of Health. Check on the author and ensure that the article is written or reviewed by a healthcare professional.
Read HERE for more ways to evaluate health information and when to click away from suspect promises.