As health information becomes easier to find online, it can be harder to know what to trust.
Medical misinformation often looks convincing because it sounds personal or confident. It may come from a viral video, a wellness influencer or someone you know.
At UVM Health, we want people to feel comfortable asking questions about what they see online. You should never feel embarrassed to bring a health-related video or post to your doctor.
Explore the content below to learn more about medical misinformation, including vaccine myths, online wellness trends, supplements, “natural” health claims and how to evaluate what you see online.
Vaccine Misinformation Can Have Serious Consequences
Before the measles vaccine, children were regularly hospitalized with complications like pneumonia and encephalitis. Vaccination made measles so rare in the US that many doctors had never seen a case. Now, that’s changing.
Why does vaccine misinformation matter? What can happen when preventable diseases return? Timothy Lahey, MD, an infectious disease specialist at UVM Health, answers those critical questions.
Expert Q+A: Kidney Health
Chidinma Enyinna, MD, a nephrologist at UVM Health, debunks kidney myths and wellness tricks commonly spread across the internet and social media.
Have Questions?
If something you see online makes you worried about your health, bring it to your care team. We can help you sort through what is credible and what may be risky.
