Don’t rely on doctor Google for health information on the wild wild web

Self diagnosis on the internet. A good idea?By Rachael Dunlop, University of Technology, Sydney

If you typed “pins and needles” into Google, what kind of results would you expect to find? According to a recent study from Bupa Health, the search engine could diagnose you with anything from a completely reversible vitamin B12 deficiency, to sciatica, or worse, multiple sclerosis.

Entering “stomach cramps” into Google returns indigestion, appendicitis, or something as serious as heart disease or angina. Even a condition as benign as a rash comes up with dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, or much more serious diseases such as meningitis.

No wonder there’s a dedicated term to describe patients who develop paranoia from googling their symptoms – cyberchondria.

The most recent statistics about Australians’ computer use shows around 80% of us now have access to the internet at home and the use of mobile devices is on the rise, thus nearly all of us can access the world-wide-web 24/7. Google is the search engine of choice for 93% of us, so when it comes to sourcing information about our health and medications, Dr Google seems an obvious place to go.

The Bupa study also revealed that: approximately a third (34%) of us would like to have the ability to text an image of our problem to receive a diagnosis; 45% would like to have access to our doctor by email; half of us self-diagnose; and 70% research our medications online. But while there is a plethora of information available online, it remains largely unregulated.

So how can you determine if the health information you find is accurate?

Well, mostly you can’t. In fact studies analysing the accuracy of Google results for the search term “vaccination” reveal 60% are actually against vaccination. (Interestingly searching “immunisation” is more likely to return accurate results since people opposed to vaccination do not believe that vaccination induces immunity).

All of this has created a difficult scenario for health care practitioners and patients alike. A patient could self-diagnose mild abdominal pain as constipation, for example, when they might have gallstones. Or on the flip side, another patient could incorrectly diagnose their headaches as meningitis.

Some doctors are justifiably worried that patients are diagnosing and treating themselves, using devices such as a gastric bypass surgery kit which was sold on Amazon. Or apps to scan moles and determine if they’re cancerous.

But while some doctors are frustrated by patients’ desire to research their conditions online, others are resigned to the fact it will happen, so are prepared to help guide patients to accurate information on the web.

If you self-diagnose, you’re not alone but you might save a lot of anxiety by seeing your doctor instead. MNicoleM

My top ten health websites

No website is completely free of errors or spurious or out-of-date information, so you will always need to exercise scepticism. A few rules of thumb include checking the date the information was updated, checking the “about us” section for the author’s/publisher’s qualifications and reputations. Also look for any evidence of peer review published data, as opposed to testimonials.

The Australian government offers accurate, consumer-driven information that’s generally kept up to date. Of note is its vaccination information which provides easy to read information for parents (the “Understanding Childhood Immunisation Booklet”, is just one example). The government’s National Prescribing Service and Health Insite provide consumer-driven health information, as do state government websites such as the Better Health Channel in Victoria.

The commercial My Doctor website will give you comprehensive local health and medical information from the MIMS medical reference tool.

Concise and accurate fact sheets on vaccination can be found at the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) and facts sheets on other medical conditions are available from the Consumer Health Forum.

Other international sources include WebMD, The Mayo Clinic, NIH Health and the National Cancer Institute, which are all good places to find reliable and easy-to-understand medical information.

Government health websites are a reliable first stop for online health information. Ed Yourdon

There are also a number of crowd-sourced tools that indicate the quality of a site, based on user experience. Web of trust (WOT) is a browser plug-in which rates sites from green (good) to red (bad) depending on consumer reviews compiled from four categories: trustworthiness, reliability, child safety and privacy.

The HON (Health on the Net Foundation) Code is the oldest rating system and was founded in 1995 by the Economic and Social Council of The United Nations to encourage the dissemination of quality health information for patients, professionals and the general public.

If you come across information that makes you suspicious, you can always google it with the word “sceptic” or “debunk” and you’ll usually find several blog posts that offer a second opinion. A large community of scientists and health professionals lurk on the intertoobs and take great pleasure in applying their expertise to debunking suspicious and spurious medical claims. Science Based Medicine is one such multi-author blog, with contributions from pharmacists, cancer specialists, neurologists, infectious disease doctors and researchers.

The important thing to remember about researching health information online is to be sceptical, be critical, and never replace the trained eye and diagnosis of an experienced health professional with diagnosis by Dr Google. The internet can assist you, perhaps even calm your fears temporarily (or not, as case may be) but it will never replace the expertise of your doctor.

Finally, respect your doctor. Don’t be fooled into thinking you know more than them just because you’ve spent a few hours at Google University.

This list of websites is by no means exhaustive, so please feel free to add your favourites in the comments section below.

Rachael Dunlop receives funding from the Heart Research Institute and The Institute for Ethnomedicine, Wyoming. She has previously received funding from the NHMRC.

The Conversation

 

This article was originally published at The Conversation.
Read the original article.

Thumbnail Image courtesy of [Stuart Miles] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Have we got the science on why we’re getting fatter wrong?

By Lennert Veerman

An article published recently in the BMJ argues that we have been pursuing the wrong hypothesis on the causes of obesity. Along with substandard science, this wrongheadedness has apparently exacerbated the obesity crisis.

Author Gary Taubes asserts that obesity is probably not caused by a positive energy balance (more energy is consumed than spent). A promising rival hypothesis has been forgotten without having been properly investigated.

According to that hypothesis, obesity is a hormonal, regulatory disorder. Energy imbalance is only a consequence of that underlying hormonal factor. The problem is not that we’re eating too much, it’s what we’re eating. And the probable culprit is carbohydrates. But this is yet to be definitively proven.

Enter the Nutrition Science Initiative (NuSI), a US-based not-for-profit organisation co-founded by Taubes that will fund the rigorous experiments needed to “find out, once and for all, what we need to eat to be healthy”.

NuSI will also “re-introduce a culture of rigorous experimental science to the field of nutrition.” A condition for meaningful progress in this field is apparently “a refusal to accept substandard science as sufficient to establish reliable knowledge, let alone for public health guidelines.”

So, out with the research done to date, and away with current guidelines, right?

 

Who speaks and for whom?

Actually, not so fast. Let’s first examine who wants us to forget everything we know and postpone all action on obesity. Taubes is a journalist and author, not a scientist. And his organisation, NuSI, is financed by the “Giving Library”, which “offers philanthropists an innovative way to enhance their strategic charitable giving”. It also gives would-be donors a “forum for anonymous communication”.

The NuSI board of advisors “all share a passion and belief: to date nutrition science has been inadequate in drawing conclusions and making sound recommendations.” The board of directors are people with backgrounds in consultancies, corporate health care and private investment management.

Anonymous donors, claims of a scientific establishment suppressing ideas, claims that the science isn’t settled and no action should be taken, that more research by “independent, sceptical researchers” is needed, the involvement of big corporate actors in a field where research findings can have consequences for a multibillion-dollar industry – where have we seen all that before?

It smacks of denialism. But Taubes states that NuSI doesn’t accept support from the food industry, there are no food industry representatives on any NuSI board and taking aim at carbohydrates probably doesn’t make you friends in large sections of that industry. Perhaps this is just the way you raise funds for research in contemporary America.

But is it true that all the research in the field to date has uncritically accepted energy imbalance as the cause of obesity? And that no-one has yet looked at hormones as a cause of obesity? The short answer is no. While Taubes presents his ideas as revolutionary, they are actually fit quite comfortably in a long tradition of low-carb dieting. And it’s not true that such diets have never been scientifically tested.

To support his argument, Taubes cites a study that compared the Atkins diet to other diets, and found it achieved greater weight loss. That could mean carbohydrates are causing weight gain, but it could also result from the fact that carbs are the biggest part of our diets and restricting their consumption leads to overall reductions in caloric intake.

Whatever the case, it’s customary to do the research first and claim that you have found the cause of obesity (if indeed you have) second, rather than the other way around as Taubes seems to be doing. But again, this may be the way to raise funds for research in America.

 

Missing the bigger picture

Someone reading Taubes’ article might be forgiven for believing that the current thinking about solutions stops at the individual level and is all about diets and exercise. Not once does Taubes mention the “obesogenic environment”, which many obesity researchers consider to be the cause of the obesity epidemic.

Where many researchers focus on our changing living environment, Taubes puts the focus squarely on hormonal factors. But these probably haven’t changed while obesity rates soared. And he asks if we can all please wait for the results of this revolutionary research before taking any action.

That’s not helpful. We have a problem now, and contrary to Taubes’ claims, we do know something about its causes.

If Taubes believes increased consumption of carbohydrates is the cause of the obesity epidemic, he might have pointed to a trial that shows that replacing sugar-containing drinks with non-caloric drinks reduces weight gain and fat accumulation in children. Also, why not support calls for limits on advertising and availability of sugar-sweetened beverages, and for increased taxation to reduce consumption?

Taubes exaggerates the uncertainties in current nutrition science. There’s support for a causal role of carbohydrate-rich diets in the obesity epidemic but, as he notes, such diets also tend to be rich in calories. He is yet to conclusively prove it’s the carbs specifically that are to blame.

So rather than wait years for the results of NuSI-funded research, we should change our food supply to discourage excess sugar intake. A tax on sugar-sweetened beverages would be a good start, as would restrictions on advertising to children.

Lennert Veerman receives funding from NHMRC and ARC.

The Conversation

 

This article was originally published at The Conversation.
Read the original article.

The Dirty Dozen and the Green 15

appleThe humble apple heads up the 2012 “Dirty Dozen” list of foods which contain the most pesticide residue. The Environmental Working Group’s Shoppers Guide lists the 12 foods highest in pesticide residue and the green 15, those which hold the lowest pesticide residue. Keep in mind the EWG is US based, and farming methods differ from region to region even within countries, so all may not apply to the food we eat in Sydney.

See the EWG’s Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in Produce

What are chicken nuggets made of?

In less than two minutes, Jamie Oliver will turn you off chicken nuggets forever.

Next time your kids have a birthday party at a venue that provides chicken nuggets as “food”, just think back to this video. Really, they should be paying us to eat the stuff, rather than us paying more for the “party menu”.

Kids Stretching: Free Workshop

stretching thumbnailWhat’s the latest on stretching for kids? When should your kids stretch? When shouldn’t they? Does it really matter? Will stretching improve their performance, their posture, their disposition?

 

 

 

Hooked on Health and activeanatomy physiotherapy are presenting a FREE workshop for kids to learn all about the importance of stretching to improve their performance in running and other sporting activities, reduce their chance of injury, and improve their movement technique

Your child will learn how to perform the important stretches, how these stretches help in sporting activities, plus some basic anatomy to help them understand which part of the body is being stretched.

This is a practical workshop for kids. Parents are encouraged to join in if they wish.

Plus… we’ll give you the basics of  planning your child’s training.

We’ll also be briefly covering the basics of forming a training programme for your child leading up to important events such as Cross Country and Athletic Carnivals

Forestville Community Hall, next to Forestville RSL Club, Melwood Ave, Forestville
Fri, 12th April
6 – 7pm

Bookings are essential. Registration should be completed  by Monday April 8th

 Slide1

 

About the Presenters

Merrin Martin

Owner of activeanatomy physiotherapy and health professional workshops, Merrin is an experienced physiotherapist, exercise scientist and qualified pilates instructor. Merrin is an APA, ESSA and Sports Physiotherapy member and is considered an expert in her role as a health educator, lecturer and developer of specific exercise programs. Merrin has extensive lecturing experience within the health industry and is regarded as an expert in her role as educator in specific exercise programs & managing injuries. Merrin’s premises are located in the Village Pilates Studio in Belrose.

 

Richard Sarkies

Co-founder of Hooked on Health, Richard has been running and coaching others in the sport he loves for over 30 years. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Movement), has over seven years experience in lecturing in health and fitness at TAFE NSW and is a qualified personal trainer with a particular interest in children’s running. Richard conducts kids running training groups and cross country races across Sydney’s north shore and northern beaches area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eight Reasons To Eat Chocolate This Easter

chocolate

Eating chocolate is good for you. So is drinking red wine! Every once in a while, retailers, manufacturers, or just someone who wants to get your attention (yes, like me) comes up with some more good reasons for eating chocolate.

 

Here are eight of them.

 

 

1. It Makes you Feel Good

In my opinion, the main reason why chocolate is good for you is that it tastes nice, and you therefore gain some psychological benefits from the very fact that it makes you feel good.

One study of elderly European men found that those who preferred chocolate had better mental health than those who preferred other types of confectionary. The chocolate preferrers were significantly less likely to be depressed or lonely and much more likely to feel upbeat about the future.

You’ll not reap the psychological benefits of eating chocolate if you’re so busy feeling guilty about eating it that you’re not able to fully enjoy it, so take note of the other 6 benefits, to be sure to get the best feel-good moment from tucking into that extra egg. Make sure it’s a dark chocolate egg though, as it’s dark chocolate full of cocoa that offers the improved health effects form polyphenols, particularly flavanols.

 

2. Increased Nitric Oxide Production

Chocolate can increase the amount of nitric oxide produced by the endothelium. The endothelium

lines the inside of the arteries. The nitric oxide it produces causes the arteries to expand and thereby facilitate blood flow. Nitric oxide also protects against the formation of blood clots, and protects against the hardening of the walls of the blood vessels. It is the flavanol content in the cocoa in chocolate that stimulates the production of nitric oxide. Flavanols can be found in many fruits and vegetables such as onion, tomato, apple, grape, berries, , kale, broccoli, lettuce and other leafy green vegetables. As a rule, the greener the leaf, the more flavanols.

 

3. Reduced Risk of Cardiovascular disease

One large study reported that men with high cocoa intake were 50% less likely to die of cardiovascular causes than men with low cocoa intake. Another study reported that the more chocolate an individual consumed, the less chance they had of dying from cardiovascular complications. Individuals who consumed chocolate more than once a week were 66% less likely to die of cardiovascular causes compared to those who never ate chocolate, while those who consumed chocolate less than once a month were 27% less likely to experience cardiovascular mortality.

 

4. Reduced Blood Pressure

Evidence suggests that consuming chocolate can reduce blood pressure as much as some medications used to reduce blood pressure, and chocolate consumption could reduce the risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease by 20% and 10% respectively.

 

5. Reduced Inflammation

A high level of C-reactive protein in the blood (CRP) is a marker of inflammation in the body and an indicator of cardiovascular disease. One study has shown that consumption of dark chocolate was inversely related to the levels of CRP in the blood. Hate to tell you however, that this was only so long as the chocolate consumption was moderate-approx 20ms dark chocolate every 3 days-and that’s not very much. When greater levels were consumed, the association disappeared.

 

6. Improved Insulin Sensitivity

A study of people in good health with an average age of 34 years reported improved insulin sensitivity in subjects who consumed dark chocolate, compared to those who consumed white chocolate. Insulin sensitivity improved after just 15 days of consuming 100 grams of dark chocolate per day. [100 gms/day-now that’s more like it]. Dark chocolate is polyphenol rich, whilst the white chocolate contained no polyphenols.

 

7. Boost to Your Brain Power

Evidence suggests that elderly people who consume chocolate have better cognitive function than those who do not. A Norwegian study of 70-74 year olds showed that chocolate intake in the past year was associated with better performance on a number of cognitive tests. The best cognitive performance was achieved with consumption of 10 grams of chocolate per day.

 

8. Photoprotection

In the human body, the skin provides photoprotection (protection from light) by absorbing the sun’s rays. This results in the production of free radical molecules which can cause damage to skin cells and result in the growth of cancerous cells.

Nutritional intake is one factor affecting skin photoprotection and dietary antioxidants (including flavanols in cocoa) are thought to have a photoprotective effect. It is possible they reduce the sensitivity of skin cells to UV exposure.

One study which compared the effect of UV-exposure on the skin of women who had consumed high and low flavanol cocoa drinks daily prior to UV exposure, reported reduced sunburn and improved skin condition greater blood flow to skin, increased skin density and hydration) amongst women who consumed the high flavanol cocoa drink.

 

Of course, all of these benefits can be gained by consuming other anti oxidant rich foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables, without adding the chocolate, but where would be the fun in that?

Reference: virtualmedicalcentre.com

Fun Run Entry Deadlines

LINDFIELD-FUN-RUN-START1.jpgThe fun run season is hotting up. If you’re like me, you’re being bombarded by emails advising you that registrations have opened, early bird entries are closing, etc etc. It’s all a bit hard to keep track of, so I thought I’d put together a list of some of the fun runs I know you like to enter, along with their entry deadlines.

Some of the advantages of early bird entry include a saving on the entry fee, and having your race kit mailed to you, rather than having to go to the race expo prior to race day to pick up your kit. Some races do not offer early bird entry, and some don’t mail your race kits.

Keep in mind that most fun runs have a limited capacity, and some reach capacity well before race day.

Every effort has been made to be accurate with dates, but if you’re planning on a particular race, it’s a good idea to check yourself. There’s no substitute for planning and a double check.

 

Fun Run

Early Bird Deadline

Entry Deadline

Entry On Race Day

City to Surf
11th Aug

Midnight 28th March. have your race info posted, and save $15

 

Until capacity reached, so get in early Not available
Sri Chinmoy Centennial Park
1st April 
 Fri 29th March 5pm  6:45-7:55am
Lindfield Fun Run
7th April
Saturday 30th March-close of business – not time specified Website says 24 hrs before race start, but get in by Friday 5th by 5pm, just in case

Before 7:45 if capacity not reached. I haven’t seen them close the registrations yet, but there’s always a first time

 

SMH Half Marathon
19th May 
4th April
Save $25 
Until capacity reached, so register early  Not Available
Hooked on Health Kids Cross Country
Race 4 7th April 
Midday, 5th April  Prior to 8:45
Mothers Day Classic
12th May
5pm Wed 10th April

Online 12 noon, wed 8th May. Mailed entries, Fri 3rd. All entries Fri 3rd to have bib posted

 

From 6:30 am. Also Domain on Sat 11th 2-5pm.
Hooked on Health Kids Cross Country
Race 5 28th April 
Midday 26th April  Prior to 8:45am
Hooked on Health Kids Cross Country
Race 6 5th May 
Midday May 3rd Prior to 8:45am
Manly Fun Run
19th May 
 9th May  9am 17th May Before 7:30 am
Minimos Marathon
16th June 
Midnight 12th May Midnight, 15th June  From 6am
Gold Coast Marathon
6th & 7th July 
Midnight 22nd May Friday 5th July Not Available
Sri Chinmoy Centennial Park
9th June
7th June, 5pm 6:45-7:55am