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How do you identify trustworthy health information?

Aging Well | Last Active: Mar 12, 2022 | Replies (37)

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@npolanco

Sometimes it feels like I’m in a maze trying to find the right treatment for osteoporosis. The Dr is firm on Prolia and insists that is the course I must follow. Me - not so sure.
This site has links to resources that help clear the fog.

https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/are-you-considering-a-complementary-health-approach

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Replies to "Sometimes it feels like I’m in a maze trying to find the right treatment for osteoporosis...."

Hi @npolanco, thank you for posting! My apologies, I moved your post to a discussion involving where to find trustworthy information this morning, but when I checked back this afternoon, my reply was not here. I did this so that you can connect with people who are talking about the very issue of an overload of information from the internet and how to navigate it.
Can you share with us what you have learned about finding info that you can rely on?

I am glad you are taking a proactive approach to managing your care. I know what you are saying - in so many cases, after listening to the stories and reading the warnings, sometimes it might seem the cure may be worse than the disease. The pace of release of drugs is so rapid, it seems no one can keep up adequately on the choices, effectiveness, side effects, and interactions...

When considering proprietary drugs vs complimentary or alternative treatment, I apply a few cardinal rules:
1- No buying from multi-level marketers or sponsored ads on TV or Internet - period.
2 - No product which has not been tested by professionals independently.
3 - Ingredients must be disclosed though not necessarily the formula.
4 - No product that sets you up for automatic delivery before you have tried it.
5- Information about testing results must appear in peer-reviewed journalist, not be published by the inventor, and include a significant number of subjects who were in a blind study.

All that said, most of the women and some men in my family have osteoporosis ( I was thankfully spared.) I have observed that those who manage it without prescription drugs have a lot in common: varied, healthy diet with adequate calcium and protein, weight management, a lot of weight-bearing exercise.
Sue

Thank you for your post @amandaburnett. When I’m trying to sift info I turn to Mayo Clinic Connect, HealthUnlocked and American Bone Health. The info in my post is from American Bone Health.
I’m 75 and in relatively good health. Because all medications have their side effects it scares me to jump on the bandwagon witn osteoporosis meds.
@sueinmn outlined rules to follow with the information overload. Very helpful.