How can you tell reliable sources of health information from unreliable ones?

As with many other topics, there is a great deal deal of information on health to be found on the internet these days. However, given the nature of the internet, it is necessary to determine the accuracy and reliability of any information one finds. While it is possible that any writer can do sufficient research to provide accurate and reliable information in any article on health issues, the safest bet is to use sources that...

As with many other topics, there is a great deal deal of information on health to be found on the internet these days. However, given the nature of the internet, it is necessary to determine the accuracy and reliability of any information one finds. While it is possible that any writer can do sufficient research to provide accurate and reliable information in any article on health issues, the safest bet is to use sources that come from accredited medical institutions or medical journals.

There is also the question of the kind of information one is seeking. It's never a good idea to rely only on an internet website for diagnosing an illness based on symptoms, for example. Even websites like WebMD.com suggest that any readers should consult a doctor for a diagnosis. And yet, websites like WebMD and MayoClinic.org contain very useful general information that is reliable and accessible. If one needs general information to guide one's inquiry, or, for example, to learn more about a disease or condition affecting a loved one, sites like these can be a good place to begin. Medical journals such as The Lancet or the New England Journal of Medicine are respected and reliable sources as well. In journals like these, one finds articles on the latest medical research being done on a wide variety of diseases and conditions, as well as articles about the latest healthcare innovations.

Finally, major newspapers such as the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal often report on the newest research found in medical journals. These well-known and respected newspapers which have won awards for journalistic excellence are reliable sources as well, in terms of beginning one's line of inquiry into a health related topic.