Health Article

How to Read a Health Article

You have heard the phrase, Do not believe everything you read. It is especially true when reading a health article. Every body is built differently. No exercise, diet, drug, medical procedure, etc. espoused in a health article will have the same effect on every person. What cures my illness could make you sicker. What solves one ailment could very well cause another.

Fortunately there are several ways to evaluate the advice in a health article:

1) Who wrote the health article? A doctor, nurse, holistic practitioner, scientist, pharmaceutical company president, advertising copywriter, freelance journalist? What are their credentials?

2) What are their sources? Do they have any listed? Does the health article quote physicians or case studies? Are there endnotes? Is there any way to verify the information in this health article? Learn more about it?

3) How current is the information in the health article? Medical experts are constantly learning new things about our bodies. Yesterdays facts may be tomorrows myths. Anything revealed in an outdated health article could have dangerous side effects that were only later discovered.

4) What do the naysayers say? Before trying out something touted in a health article, find another health article that says itÕs a bad idea, and why. Then weigh the two sides as they apply strictly to you.

5) What does your doctor say? While it is fine to do your own research, the time will come when you must bring your doctor into the conversation. Do not make any decisions based on advice from a health article (including this one) without first consulting your doctor.

If you read every health article from now on with the following checklist at your side, you will be armed with one of the greatest assets you can bring to your wellness program Ð discernment.