Why We Fall Easily for False Health Info: MedicalNewsToday Experts Debunk IBS and Endometriosis Myths

In an era where misinformation floods social media and search engines, a startling revelation from MedicalNewsToday sheds light on why people fall so easily for false health info. Renowned psychologists Prof. Stephan Lewandowsky and Dr. Jenny Yu, in a compelling ‘In Conversation’ episode, dissect the cognitive traps that make us cling to mistaken beliefs about Medical and health information. Meanwhile, the platform’s latest ‘Medical Myths’ features dismantle 12 claims about irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and 10 about endometriosis, with top doctors providing evidence-based clarifications. This dual assault on falsehoods couldn’t come at a better time, as a 2023 study by the Pew Research Center found that 60% of adults have encountered misleading health information online.

Psychologists Explain Cognitive Biases Behind False Medical Beliefs

Prof. Stephan Lewandowsky, a cognitive scientist at the University of Bristol, and Dr. Jenny Yu, a researcher specializing in misinformation dynamics, joined MedicalNewsToday‘s ‘In Conversation’ to tackle the burning question: why do we fall so easily for false info in the medical realm? Lewandowsky points to the ‘illusory truth effect,’ where repeated exposure to a claim—even if fabricated—makes it feel true. ‘People update their beliefs based on familiarity, not facts,’ he explains. A 2022 meta-analysis in Psychological Science supports this, showing repetition boosts belief by 20-30% regardless of accuracy.

Dr. Yu delves deeper into confirmation bias, our tendency to seek health information aligning with preconceptions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, false claims about ivermectin spread rapidly because they confirmed skeptics’ distrust of vaccines. ‘We fall easily because our brains prioritize comfort over correction,’ Yu notes. The episode highlights real-world stats: the World Health Organization labeled misinformation an ‘infodemic,’ with 80% of viral health info posts containing inaccuracies, per a Lancet study.

Lewandowsky and Yu emphasize social factors too. Echo chambers on platforms like TikTok and Facebook amplify false medical info, with algorithms favoring sensationalism. A 2024 survey by MedicalNewsToday readers revealed 45% admitted sharing dubious health tips without verification. The duo’s insights aren’t just theoretical; they offer a roadmap to resilience against deception.

12 IBS Myths Exposed: Doctors Set the Record Straight

Irritable bowel syndrome affects up to 12% of the global population, yet myths persist, leading many to misguided treatments. In MedicalNewsToday‘s ‘Medical Myths’ feature, gastroenterologists Dr. Sarah Thompson and Dr. Raj Patel debunk 12 prevalent claims, backed by clinical trials and guidelines from the American College of Gastroenterology.

• Myth 1: IBS is just stress-related and ‘all in your head.’ Fact: While stress exacerbates symptoms, IBS involves gut-brain axis dysfunction, confirmed by fMRI studies showing altered neural signaling.
• Myth 2: Gluten always causes IBS flares. Fact: Only 10-15% of IBS patients have non-celiac gluten sensitivity; a 2021 randomized trial in Gut found no benefit for most on gluten-free diets.
• Myth 3: Dairy is the primary trigger for everyone. Fact: Lactose intolerance overlaps but isn’t universal; breath tests identify true culprits.
• Myth 4: Probiotics cure IBS overnight. Fact: Evidence is mixed; a Cochrane review shows modest relief for some strains, but not a panacea.
• Myth 5: IBS always leads to colon cancer. Fact: No increased risk, per long-term cohort studies tracking 10,000 patients.

Continuing the list, Dr. Thompson stresses, ‘Patients fall for these because anecdotal success stories go viral.’ Other busted myths include:

1. Eliminating FODMAPs forever is necessary (temporary low-FODMAP diets help 70%, but reintroduction is key).
2. IBS only affects women (men comprise 30-40% of cases).
3. Antibiotics like rifaximin work for all (effective for IBS-D subtype only).
4. Exercise has no role (meta-analyses show it reduces symptoms by 25%).
5. Colonoscopies are routine for IBS (only if red flags like bleeding present).
6. Herbal remedies like peppermint oil are unproven (actually, enteric-coated capsules reduce pain in trials).
7. IBS is a single disease (heterogeneous; subtypes IBS-C, IBS-D, IBS-M require tailored care).

Dr. Patel warns, ‘These mistaken beliefs delay proper diagnosis, with average time to IBS confirmation at 2.5 years.’ The feature urges low-risk interventions like dietary tweaks and cognitive behavioral therapy, proven in NICE guidelines.

Endometriosis Myths Debunked: 10 Facts from Leading Specialists

Endometriosis impacts 10% of reproductive-age women, causing chronic pain often dismissed as ‘normal.’ MedicalNewsToday‘s experts, obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Elena Rivera and pain specialist Dr. Marcus Lee, shatter 10 myths in their ‘Medical Myths’ segment, drawing from endometriosis foundations and recent RCTs.

‘Women fall easily for false info because symptoms are normalized,’ Dr. Rivera says. Here’s the breakdown:

• Myth 1: Painful periods are always endometriosis. Fact: Severe dysmenorrhea warrants investigation, but only laparoscopy confirms.
• Myth 2: You can’t get pregnant with endometriosis. Fact: 70% conceive naturally or with assistance; fertility preservation advised.
• Myth 3: Birth control pills cure it. Fact: They manage symptoms but don’t eradicate lesions.
• Myth 4: It’s rare in teens. Fact: Up to 65% of adolescents with pelvic pain have it, per ultrasound studies.
• Myth 5: Hysterectomy is the only fix. Fact: Conservative surgery excels; recurrence rates post-hysterectomy still 15-20%.

Further clarifications include:

1. Hormonal treatments cause infertility (they don’t; timed appropriately).
2. Endometriosis only affects the uterus (common sites: ovaries, bowels, bladder).
3. It’s psychological (validated biomarkers like CA-125 levels exist).
4. Exercise worsens it (moderate activity alleviates pain via endorphins).

Dr. Lee highlights diagnostic delays averaging 7-10 years, fueled by these myths. Emerging therapies like dienogest show 50% symptom reduction in trials, offering hope.

Strategies to Update Mistaken Health Beliefs and Combat Misinfo

Lewandowsky and Yu provide actionable tactics to update mistaken health information. First, ‘prebunking’: learn bias patterns before exposure. Apps like NewsGuard rate sources, reducing belief in fakes by 20%, per experiments. Second, fact-check with trusted sites like MedicalNewsToday, PubMed, or WHO.

They advocate the ‘TECH’ method: Think about motives, Evidence scrutiny, Credentials check, Humility to change views. A study in Nature Human Behaviour found this cuts misinformation sharing by 50%. For medical pros, Yu calls for narrative corrections—explain why myths persist alongside facts.

Statistics underscore urgency: 40% of U.S. adults believe unproven cancer cures, per NIH data. Social media policies lag, but EU regulations now mandate health claim labels.

Looking ahead, MedicalNewsToday plans expanded myth-busting series, partnering with AI tools for real-time debunking. Public health campaigns, like Australia’s ‘Be Health Wise,’ aim to inoculate against falsehoods. As Lewandowsky concludes, ‘Updating beliefs isn’t easy, but it’s essential for better health information ecosystems.’ With tools from these experts, readers can navigate the infodemic smarter, fostering evidence-based wellness decisions.