Is this health information true?
This blog is about the feelings and experience of living with infertility and MS and other chronic illnesses. But I also intend to provide useful and practical information about these conditions. You may have noticed that I’ve created a helpful glossary page that important terms link to. Becoming knowledgeable about infertility and MS , or any health topic we’re connected to, is a powerful tool for achieving optimal health.
I strive to receive strictly science-based and research-backed knowledge, so I only share content from credible sources and industry professionals. There are A LOT of sketchy health claims out there, so we should always be skeptical. Here’s how to filter out the fake news and woo-woo.
What/who is the source?
What website are you getting the information from? Is it a business with the motive to gain something from what was posted? What are the credentials of the site or person who wrote the article? For example, an article posted by Mayo Clinic ensures trustworthy medical information, but an article posted by LowCostIVF.com; not so much.
Do other sources agree?
Legitimate health and wellness information is peer-reviewed and agreed-upon by multiple professionals. A quick Google search can reveal if other credible sources agree with the claims.
When was the article posted?
Recent information is always preferable, as a study from 1999 may contain outdated research. For example, we used to think exercise was bad for MS, but now we believe it’s the best thing for it!
Listen to your doctors
Don’t discount your doctors as trustworthy sources; they are not only medical professionals, but they know you and your specific situation. There have been lots of times I’ve asked a doctor to verify something I read in a forum and they have provided me with their expert opinion. When we feel like we can’t trust our doctor, it may be time to switch to one we can.
There are lots of reputable health and medical sources online. Here are some:
PubMed -
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
ScienceDirect -
https://www.sciencedirect.com/
Mayo Clinic
WebMD
Dr. Mike - http://www.doctormikemedia.com
Dr. Gretchen -
https://www.drgretchenhawley.com/
In a future post, I’ll discuss some claims I’ve seen online about infertility and MS . There are always going to be unknowns and it’s okay to not be sure about something. But also, just because it isn’t known if something is helpful, it doesn’t mean it can’t be harmful. It also doesn’t mean it can’t have a positive effect, but when dealing with our health, it’s usually best to err on the side of caution.