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In February’s Topic of the Month, Health Halos and Horns, we explored how we can come to believe that something is either good or bad for us — even if we have little or no evidence to back up this opinion. This month we’ll look in more detail at how health halos are generated and how you can protect yourself from being blinded by their sparkle!
Imagine for a moment that you’ve come from a visit with your primary care provider where you found out that your LDL cholesterol is high. Your provider suggests some dietary and lifestyle changes and prescribes a medication called statins.
How do you feel about all this?
If you’re like a lot of people, you might feel a mix of things— worried about what this means for your future well-being, irritated about the changes you need to make, and confused about what statins are and how they work.
What would you do next?
Again, if you’re like many people, you’ll hit the internet. This is a logical response! You probably do need to learn more. While diving into the internet for information is understandable, it’s also potentially risky.
How can you tell the difference between high-quality educational resources and impressive-looking sales pitches?
It can be difficult. Putting the term “high LDL cholesterol treatment” into the Google search bar yields over 32,000,000 results. Some of the links that appear will provide you with information from reputable sites, some are links to sources of misinformation, and some are actually ads designed to look like regular links. Look closely – the only visible difference is the bolded word “Ad” that appears at the far left of the first line.
Notice anything new now?
You’re not imagining it. Since you’ve searched for cholesterol information, you’ll probably start seeing similar health-related ads everywhere, including your social media accounts. “Surveillance advertising” allows organizations to gather data about your behavior and interests. That way they can show you news, recommendations, and ads that are individually chosen for you. Part of the prob- lem is that advertising isn’t always obvious. Some ads appear to be news, education or opinion pieces, or personal essays, but they all have something in common: health halos around what they want you to buy.
As Americans, we are fortunate in so many ways. For instance, we’re able to walk into a grocery store, choose what we want to eat, and feel safe doing so. However, we can’t let this confidence over-generalize to everything that we can put on, or in, our bodies. There are “health” products available in grocery stores, specialty shops, convenience stores, and online that are contaminated, are not what they say they are, or don’t do what they claim to do. So, put on your “halo filtering shades” and:
– Learn to spot misinformation and the health halos (or health horns) that it can create.
– Stay up-to-date with the latest recalls, market withdrawals, and safety alerts, by visiting: https:// www.fda.gov/safety/ recalls-market-withdrawals safety-alerts
– Remember that supplements are not reviewed for safety or effectiveness. If you buy them, notice where they were made: in the US or in a country with weaker regulations? Always look for the USP or NSF seal to make sure they’re 3rd-party verified.
– Tell your doctor about any supplements that you take. Trust the person that’s been trained to care for you instead of the advertisements that have been targeted at you.
This is a condensed version of Sawtooth Mountain Clinic’s “Topic of the Month” newsletter. Read the full version for tips on taking over-the-counter medication safely, how these medications can affect older people differently, and to access resources cited in the newsletter. This issue, and 60+ more, can be found at www.sawtoothmountainclinic.org.
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