Chronic Care

4 signs you can trust the health info you’re reading online 

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The Internet is full of helpful health information if you know what to look for.  

When you’re worried about a symptom or want to learn more about a health issue, where’s the first place you turn? If you’re like most Americans, you search online. And you’re sure to get a lot of results. But not everything that turns up will be info you can count on. So how do you know? 

Always check with your doctor before taking any medical advice. Here are 4 more ways to know if you can trust what you’re reading online.  

1. Look at what comes after the dot.  

Always be sure the source is solid. A quick tipoff? The web address. Reliable sites include government agencies, which end in .gov.  

Also on the list:   

  • National health organizations   
  • Patient advocacy organizations   
  • Medical centers   

Their URLs typically end with .org. Good government and health organization resources include:  

That’s not to say that sites ending in .com can’t be trusted. But look closely. Articles should quote experts. They should also link to related research. Some are reviewed by medical professionals. Others are written by them. Both are a great sign.  

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2. Study the studies.  

Have you come across research you want to learn more about? Take a look at the quality of the research. Here are some questions to think about.  

  • Was the study done with humans? Some research is done on animals. That may mean the results may not be true for you.  
  • How many people were in the study? The results of smaller studies may not be reliable.   
  • Was the study reviewed by experts? This isn’t always easy to figure out. But you can usually find out on the journal’s website.  

3. Check the date.   

The more current the information, the better. New research and studies come out all the time. So, it’s important to know when the information was written. 

That said, older research isn’t always out of date. But if you can, double-check it with another source. Or see if there are more recent studies. 

4. Give it the sniff test.  

You know the saying that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is? That goes for anything you find online. Be careful of websites or social media posts that promise instant results.   

Finally, don’t forget about the best sources of all: the doctors and nurses you know and trust. They can make sure you’re getting the best information possible.  

Sources   

  1. “Understanding, Access and Use of Health Information in America.” AHIMA Foundation. October 2021. https://ahimafoundation.ahima.org/media/215h2p3w/ahima_newsworthyanalysis_10-11.pdf

  2. Alhusseini N, Banta JE, Oh J, et al. Understanding the Use of Electronic Means to Seek Personal Health Information Among Adults in the United States. Cureus. October 27, 2020; vol. 12, no. 10: p. e11190. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7703714