'Do Your Own Research': Was It Dangerous Advice During the Pandemic?

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• August 17, 2023
• Full Page

The idea of "doing your own research"didn't begin with the pandemic, but new research suggests that those who follow that ideology have been more likely to believe COVID misinformation.

"We had heard the phrase a lot before,"prior to the pandemic, said researcher

Parents' Mistrust of HPV Vaccine May Be Growing

• Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
• May 23, 2023
• Full Page

It was a no-brainer for New York City mom Jen L. when a pediatrician suggested that she vaccinate her two sons against human papillomavirus (HPV).

"Before my kids were eligible for the vaccine, I had read up on it to learn about the vaccine and its positives in gene...

Need Accurate Info on Liver Disease? Don't Head to TikTok

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• May 9, 2023
• Full Page

About 4.5 million adults in the United States have liver disease. If they're looking for information about their condition, they'd be wise to look beyond TikTok, new research suggests.

About 40% of posts about liver disease on the social media platform are false or misle...

Dozens of Medical Groups Launch Effort to Battle Health Misinformation

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• March 3, 2023
• Full Page

Alarmed by the increasing spread of medical misinformation, 50 U.S. medical and science organizations have announced the formation of a new group that aims to debunk fake health news.

Called the Coalition for Trust in Health & Science, the group brings together reputable...

You Can't Trust Sleep Advice Found on YouTube: Study

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• February 28, 2023
• Full Page

If you're struggling to find ways to get a good night's sleep, you may not want to use YouTube videos as a resource.

Researchers found what they described as an alarming amount of medical misinformation in YouTube videos about sleep disorders.

"What's tricky is tha...

Dangerous Myths Keep Many Adults With Food Allergies From Getting an EpiPen

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• November 14, 2022
• Full Page

The EpiPen is a known lifesaver when someone with a serious food allergy eats something they can't tolerate.

Yet the auto-injection treatment is greatly underused in the United States, according to a new survey.

Just over half of at-risk adults said they had ever ...

Looking for Reliable Hay Fever Advice? It's Probably Not on YouTube

• By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• August 16, 2022
• Full Page

Need information about hay fever? Steer clear of YouTube, a new study advises.

Researchers found misinformation about allergic rhinitis, the medical name for the disord...

Myths, Ignorance Persist Around Lung Cancer: Poll

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• August 1, 2022
• Full Page

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, but doctors have had access to a screening tool for nearly a decade that can catch it for early treatment.

Unfortunately, neither of those facts has sunk in for many Americans, according to a new sur...

Misinformation on Cancer Nutrition Abounds on Pinterest: Study

• By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter
• May 10, 2022
• Full Page

About one-third of cancer nutrition information on the social media site Pinterest is misleading and posted by businesses trying to sell products, according to a new study.

"Our results...

Depression Might Predispose You to Believe COVID Vaccine Lies

• Robert Preidt
• January 24, 2022
• Full Page

Misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines abounds, and people with depression are more likely than others to fall for it, a new study finds.

"One of the notable things about

COVID Vaccine Won't Affect Fertility, But Getting COVID Might

• Robert Preidt
• January 21, 2022
• Full Page

One less excuse to avoid that COVID vaccine: The shots don't affect fertility in either men or women, new research shows, but coronavirus infection could cause short-term fertility problems in men.

"Many reproductive-aged individuals have cited concerns about fertility a...

Insurance Often Covers Ivermectin for COVID, Even Though Drug Doesn't Work

• Robert Preidt
• January 17, 2022
• Full Page

U.S. insurers are paying millions of dollars a year to cover the cost of ivermectin for COVID-19 patients despite a lack of proof the anti-parasitic drug is effective against the virus, a new study finds.

Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Or...

'Wellness' Vapes Are All the Rage, But FDA Says Buyer Beware

• Cara Murez
• December 10, 2021
• Full Page

"Fights off tumors and alleviates symptoms of chemotherapy," one vape's advertising claims, while another is touted as an "asthma remedy, ADHD remedy, and dementia treatment."

Don't believe the hype.

Despite claims that certain vaping products may alleviate health ...

Protecting Your Skin From Sun Won't Weaken Your Bones: Study

• Ernie Mundell
• November 18, 2021
• Full Page

Most people know that sun-sourced vitamin D is good for their bones. So could avoiding the sun to reduce skin cancer risk weaken your bones?

A new study brings a reassuring answer: "Sun-protective" behavior -- wearing long sleeves, seeking shade or using sunscreen -- "wa...

Sales of Unproven, Unapproved Stem Cell Therapies Are Booming

• Robert Preidt
• November 8, 2021
• Full Page

The sale of unproven and unapproved stem cell treatments has skyrocketed in the United States, according to a new five-year study.

The study found a fourfold jump since 2016 in the availability of the treatments, which claim to do everything from relieving pain to slowin...

Confusion, Seizures: People Hospitalized After Taking Veterinary Drug for COVID

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• October 21, 2021
• Full Page

It's a drug that's been supported by some conservative media figures, but taking ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19 might land you in the hospital, a new study warns.

Interest in the drug surged last summer as the highly contagious Delta variant took over the United...

Medical Mistrust Fuels Vaccine Hesitancy Among Hispanics

• Robert Preidt
• October 5, 2021
• Full Page

Misinformation and medical mistrust are major drivers of vaccine hesitancy among U.S. Hispanics, new research shows.

The researchers also found that protecting other family members is an important factor in convincing Hispanics to get vaccinated.

The small study in...