It is a phrase we've heard a lot lately: "Fake news."
But if you think it's all about politics, think again. The vice president of Poynter Institute just came out and said of all the categories of fake news out there, health news is the worst. In fact, University Hospitals tells News 5 that keeping misinformation in check is an everyday challenge.
We caught up with several people in downtown Cleveland Monday and asked them to think for a moment about how many studies they’ve heard about things like wine, chocolate and coffee.
“One day it tells you like drinking wine's bad for you, eating chocolate's bad for you and then the next day it's totally the opposite,” said Pedro Huertas.
What about those stories promising a quick-fix to have you bikini ready in weeks?
“It's generally a lot of crap,” said Rick Garcia.
Or the "secrets your doctor doesn't want you to know" to turn back the clock, instantly get rid of wrinkles and brighten your smile?
“Once or twice a day,” Garcia said.
“I definitely see infomercials or ads all the time,” said Allison Smith. “If you go on your computer, they constantly have different, new... how to lose weight or how to whiten your teeth. All these trends.”
It is enough to make your head spin and question what's real and what's not.
“It's pervasive,” said Dr. Roy Buchinsky. “I mean, it's common out there.”
Doctor Buchinsky is the Director of Wellness at University Hospitals. He says preventing misinformation from spreading can be extremely challenging.
“It is so frustrating to know what our patients are reading today and while information is good and knowledge is power, you want to make sure that it's the right knowledge and the right information.”
He says, as with all news, you need to consider the source.
“The problem today is that there are so many outlets where you can get your information from, whether it's Dr. Google or any of the TV sites you can get,” Dr. Buchinsky said.
So what can you do to protect yourself from fake health news?
“Trust your provider," he said. "Ask your provider first and foremost whether a vitamin or a supplement or whether a new study that's come out that has hyperbolic headlines that now says that 12 cups of coffee a day is good for your sex life and things like that, you've got to be able to trust that source of information.”
According to Dr. Buchinsky, that old cliché applies here: “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
He says while supplements and vitamins can be great, there is no substitute for a healthy lifestyle, and if you're looking for that "magic pill"… it doesn't exist.
