How to Find A Trustworthy Health Websites?

In the era we are living in, the internet has become the number one source of information (it is the reason you are reading this by the way).  This is due to its convenience and speed. Nowadays you no longer have to rummage through a whole library to get a book on a topic you want; just a click on your computer or phone and you are sorted.

The trend is no different when it comes to health matters. It is this tendency that has led to the emergence of consumer health information that helps persons keep their health in check as well as make wise health decisions for them and their families.

Accessing Useful Information

This information can be found in numerous websites that you and I frequent. Through these websites, you will be able to access lots of information in almost any disease. This is why, today, most people are usually aware of what they are ailing from before they even hit the hospital. Some even advice the doctor on how the condition should be treated. Some of us don’t even bother going to the health facility; we just self-prescribe our medicine. We do this because we accessed the information on some website.

Authenticity

But, have you ever thought about the credibility of your source? How sure are you that the fella who wrote that is a competent medic and not some rogue quack? I mean, at this age when every Tom, Dick and Harry owns a computer and can access the internet how confident can you possibly be?

When it comes to your health, you cannot afford to risk. This is not some game that you can lose and come out unscathed. To the contrary, one wrong move could even leave you dead. This is why you should be keen on the credibility of the websites you retrieve health information from. Note that we are not saying that there are no reliable websites, NO. As a matter of fact, there are very many but the fake ones are equally as many. This is why you should check the following details before you adopt any advice from the website.

1. Who is the author?

Before you accept that information as the gospel truth, first find out if the person who wrote it is a health expert. Credible information will come from an informed source: a person who is well versed with the matters of health. However, if the information is not written by an expert then it should at least be reviewed by one. This way the expert will have ascertained its truthfulness and subjectivity. If the information has been lifted from another source, the writer should acknowledge this fact by way of referencing i.e. acknowledgement of the source of information. So take a keen interest on who wrote and their source of information.

2. How current is the information?

If there is one defining factor about the health sector, then it has to be its dynamic nature. Diseases and their treatments are changing on a daily basis. What was working yesterday may no longer work today. This is why you should check the date the article was written to ascertain that it is the most current. This information can be found on the review dates or the copy right year. For instance, you can stay pup to date with reliable websites like consumerhealthdigest.com. In essence, reliable information should be the most current as it will have incorporated any recent findings.

3. Who owns the site?

It is important to know who is accountable for the information on the site. This information can be found on the ‘about us’ that familiarizes you with the people who run the site. Once you find out the owners, you will be able to tell their intentions whether they are after profits or are solely seeking to help. A commercial site may (notice the may) for instance offer slightly twisted information to promote the purchase of a certain product. You can also compare information on different sites to identify any points of consistency and any discrepancies.

Conclusion

If you follow the above steps, you will be able to land on a reliable website that will give you credible information about your condition. However, take notice that the information you find from whatever website should never replace your doctor’s advice. Don’t go telling your doctor that the internet says you should get an injection and not some damn bitter tablets. Remember that diseases manifest themselves differently in different people and because the internet has not examined you, it should not be your diagnosis. In essence, your doctor’s advice should hold the final say. Similarly, do not self-diagnose based on internet symptom description and most importantly, do not start control routines you saw on a consumer health information website without the knowledge and go ahead from your doctor.

References:

https://www.consumerhealthdigest.com/

http://journalism.about.com/od/reporting/a/Eight-Ways-To-Tell-If-A-Website-Is-Reliable.htm