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'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 research...
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 ge...
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.
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 healt...
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...
Use Facebook a Lot? You're More Likely to Be Unvaccinated
- Robert Preidt
- August 3, 2021
- Full Page
Americans who get their COVID-19 news and information solely from Facebook have much lower vaccination rates than the general population.
That's the takeaway from a new survey of nearly 20,700 people across the United States. The researchers asked them in June which of s...
Mississippi Health System Buckles Under 'Astounding' Rise in COVID Cases
- Robert Preidt
- July 29, 2021
- Full Page
An "astounding" rise in COVID-19 cases in Mississippi is putting intense strain on the state's health care system.
Compared to the first half of July, the number of infections more than doubled in the past two weeks and deaths rose by 51%. In Mississippi, deaths lost to ...
Pandemic Boosted Paranoia and Conspiracy Theories, Study Confirms
- Robert Preidt
- July 29, 2021
- Full Page
The COVID-19 pandemic upended life in the United States in many ways. Now, a new study confirms another effect: paranoia and belief in conspiracy theories, especially in areas with low adherence to mask mandates.
"Our psychology is massively impacted by the state of the ...
How Trust in Science Can Make You Vulnerable to 'Pseudoscience'
- Robert Preidt
- July 28, 2021
- Full Page
Trusting science is good, but it could put you at risk for being duped by false science, or "pseudoscience," if you let your guard down, researchers warn.
Investigators found that people who trust science are more likely to believe and share false claims that contain sci...
Who's Most Likely to Refuse a COVID Vaccine?
- Robert Preidt
- July 27, 2021
- Full Page
COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among American adults fell by one-third in the first five months of 2021, a new study finds, but distrust of vaccines and the government are still keeping many people from getting vaccinated.
Researchers analyzed data gathered from about 1 mill...
Bots Blamed for COVID Misinformation on Facebook
- June 7, 2021
- Full Page
Bots, not individual users, drive much of the COVID-19 misinformation on Facebook, according to a new study.
Bots are large numbers of automated accounts controlled by single users.
"The coronavirus pandemic has sparked what the World Health Organization has called...
As Teen He Made News Opposing Anti-Vax Mom. Now, He's Urging COVID Shots for Youth
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- June 2, 2021
- Full Page
Ethan Lindenberger knows what it's like when you have anti-vaxxer parents: At 18, he gained national notoriety when he sought vaccines in defiance of his mother's fervent wishes.
Now, the 20-year-old has some advice for teens facing a similar dilemma posed by the pandemi...
Debunking Myths That Have Some Parents Resisting COVID Vaccines for Teens
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- May 28, 2021
- Full Page
Many health experts hailed the recent approval of the Pfizer vaccine for those aged 12 to 15, but some parents have been hesitant to take their kids in for a shot.
"Parents naturally worry more about their children than they do about themselves -- I think that's parentin...
Science Studies Most Likely to Be Wrong Are the Most Widely Read
- Robert Preidt
- May 24, 2021
- Full Page
Studies that can't be verified and may be untrue are much more likely to be cited in the media because they tend to be more interesting, researchers report.
They looked at studies in top psychology, economic and nature/science journals and found that only 39% of...
Debunking Social Media Myth, Study Finds COVID Vaccine Won't Harm Placenta
- Steven Reinberg
- May 12, 2021
- Full Page
Contrary to misleading reports spread on social media, a new study finds the COVID-19 vaccine does no damage to the placenta in pregnancy.
In a study of placentas from patients who were vaccinated for COVID-19 during pregnancy, researchers found no evidence of any harm....
1 in 4 Parents Won't Vaccinate Their Kids Against COVID-19: Poll
- Steven Reinberg
- April 1, 2021
- Full Page
More than one-quarter of U.S. parents don't plan to vaccinate their kids for COVID-19, and roughly as many oppose school-required coronavirus shots, a new study finds.
This opposition was more common among moms than dads, and was especially common among white mothers who...
Still Leery of COVID Vaccines? Top Expert Debunks Those Myths
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- March 18, 2021
- Full Page
Don't believe everything you hear: A sizable minority of Americans are still hesitant about getting the new COVID-19 vaccine, but their fears are mostly not warranted, a leading vaccine expert says.
"Not only has it been shown to be safe in tens of thousands of people be...
Talks With Doctors May Be Key to Vaccine Acceptance: Study
- Robert Preidt
- March 17, 2021
- Full Page
Talking with their doctors may help convince reluctant Americans to get COVID-19 vaccines, evidence from a previous pandemic suggests.
Researchers analyzed responses from more than 19,000 people in the United States who were surveyed during the H1N1 swine flu pandemic in...
'Birthing Girdle' Shows Traces of Medieval Women in Labor
- Cara Murez
- March 12, 2021
- Full Page
In medieval Europe, when childbirth was highly perilous for both mother and child, women and those caring for them used various talismans to try to influence a safe delivery.
Not many of those relics have survived, but scientists have been studying one -- a parchment "bi...
When Facebook, Twitter Flag Posts as 'Unverified,' Readers Listen
- Robert Preidt
- March 5, 2021
- Full Page
Readers pay attention when social media sites label an article as "unverified" or "suspicious," a new study suggests.
But how an article is presented -- including author credentials and writing style -- doesn't affect readers' views about its credibility.
The findi...
Anti-Vaxxers Mounting Internet Campaigns Against COVID-19 Shots
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- January 29, 2021
- Full Page
People who are hesitant about getting the COVID-19 vaccine don't have to work hard to find internet rumors and theories that will fuel their fears regarding the vaccine's safety.
That's because anti-vaccine groups and individuals are working overtime to promote frighteni...
Facebook Posts Big Drivers in Vaccine Resistance, Study Finds
- Cara Murez
- January 8, 2021
- Full Page
As Americans await their COVID-19 shot, a new study of a different vaccine shows the power of Facebook posts in fueling "anti-vax" resistance to immunization.
The study included more than 10 years of public Facebook posts on the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. It fou...
Don't Believe Vaccine Myths
- Robert Preidt
- December 21, 2020
- Full Page
There's a lot of misinformation about vaccines as the United States begins its massive COVID-19 vaccination program, so an expert wants to dispel the many myths about vaccines in general.
Vaccines are among the most heavily studied of all drugs, and the evidence shows th...
'Tough Guy' Mentality Keeps Athletes in Denial About Pain
- Steven Reinberg
- October 23, 2020
- Full Page
A culture of toughness and resilience is encouraged among elite college rowers, but it can keep them from reporting injuries, a new study finds.
There's an overall myth among athletes that admitting pain is a sign of weakness and failure, the researchers said.
...
COVID-19 Facts or Fiction: 1 in 4 YouTube Videos Misleads Viewers
- Alan Mozes
- May 14, 2020
- Full Page
More than one-quarter of popular English-language COVID-19 information videos posted to YouTube are misleading, researchers warn.
There are posts, for example, falsely claiming that drug companies already have a cure for COVID-19, but won't sell it, and that differe...
Coronavirus Conspiracy Theories Abound, and They Could Cause Real Harm
- Alan Mozes
- April 23, 2020
- Full Page
Whenever societies are placed under stress, conspiracy theories blaming this or that nefarious agent for secretly fomenting the threat inevitably arise.
It's no different during the current coronavirus crisis.
Some of the evidence-free hoaxes circulating no...
Social Media Stokes Myths About Vaccines
- Robert Preidt
- February 24, 2020
- Full Page
Nearly 1 in 5 American adults has mistaken beliefs about vaccines, and misinformation is more common among those who rely on social media than on traditional media, a new study finds.
Researchers surveyed nearly 2,500 adults nationwide in the spring and fall of 2019,...
Asthma Myths That Can Hurt You
- Robert Preidt
- April 23, 2019
- Full Page
Even though asthma is common in the United States, there are many misconceptions about the respiratory disease, an allergy/immunology expert says.
"Asthma is a serious condition that affects more than 26 million Americans -- more than 8% of the population," Dr. T...
Common Sleep Myths Endanger Public Health
- Robert Preidt
- April 16, 2019
- Full Page
Mistaken beliefs about sleep are common and pose a significant health threat, a new study warns.
Among these myths: some people only need five hours of sleep; snoring is harmless; a drink before bedtime helps you fall asleep.
"Sleep is a vital part of life ...
More Americans Now Think Vaping Is Harmful
- Steven Reinberg
- March 29, 2019
- Full Page
Amid growing concern about the safety of e-cigarettes, more American adults now believe vaping is just as dangerous as smoking cigarettes.
Between 2012 and 2017, the number of people who considered e-cigarettes less harmful than tobacco cigarettes dropped significan...
Largest Study Ever Finds No Link Between Measles Vaccine, Autism
- Dennis Thompson
- March 4, 2019
- Full Page
Amid ongoing U.S. measles outbreaks, one of the largest studies to date provides fresh evidence that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine does not cause autism.
Danish researchers found no link between the MMR vaccine and autism, even when they focused on chi...
Sleeping In on Weekends May Not Repay Your Sleep 'Debt'
- Amy Norton
- February 28, 2019
- Full Page
People who are sleep-deprived during the week often try to make up for it on weekends. But a new study suggests the tactic may backfire.
Researchers found that weekday sleep loss had negative effects on people's metabolism -- and "catch-up" sleep on the weekend did n...