Why We Fall Easily for False Health Info: MedicalNewsToday Experts Reveal How to Update Mistaken Beliefs

In a world flooded with Medical and health information, a startling 78% of adults admit to sharing false health info online without verification, according to recent surveys. MedicalNewsToday is tackling this crisis head-on with new features that expose why we fall so easily for false info and provide tools to update mistaken beliefs.

From viral social media claims to outdated advice, misinformation spreads rapidly, leading to harmful decisions on treatments and lifestyles. In their latest “In Conversation” episode and “Medical Myths” series, MedicalNewsToday brings in top experts Prof. Stephan Lewandowsky, a cognitive psychologist from the University of Bristol, and Dr. Jenny Yu, a health researcher, to dissect the psychology behind our susceptibility. They also debunk prevalent myths about irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and endometriosis, empowering readers with science-backed facts.

Psychological Traps: Why We Fall So Easily for False Health Information

The human brain is wired for quick judgments, making us prime targets for false Medical info. Prof. Lewandowsky explains that cognitive biases like the “illusory truth effect”—where repeated exposure makes lies feel true—play a huge role. “People fall easily for false health info because it often aligns with pre-existing fears or hopes,” he notes in the MedicalNewsToday episode.

Statistics underscore the problem: A 2023 Pew Research study found that 59% of U.S. adults encountered misleading health news on platforms like Facebook and TikTok. Confirmation bias exacerbates this, as we seek info confirming our views, ignoring contradictions. Dr. Yu adds, “In health matters, emotional stakes are high—fear of disease or promise of miracle cures overrides skepticism.”

Historical examples abound. During the COVID-19 pandemic, false claims about bleach cures or 5G causing illness went viral, influencing behaviors despite expert warnings. MedicalNewsToday highlights how algorithms amplify sensational false info, creating echo chambers that reinforce mistaken beliefs.

• Key Biases Identified: Illusory truth, confirmation bias, anchoring (sticking to first info heard).
• Impact: Delayed treatments, unnecessary supplements, or risky home remedies.
• Demographic Risks: Older adults and those with lower health literacy fall hardest, per WHO data.

To combat this, experts recommend pausing before sharing: Check sources like MedicalNewsToday, which cites peer-reviewed studies, and cross-verify with sites like PubMed or CDC.gov.

MedicalNewsToday In Conversation: Prof. Lewandowsky and Dr. Yu on Updating Mistaken Beliefs

In the eye-opening “In Conversation” episode, Prof. Lewandowsky and Dr. Yu deliver actionable strategies to update mistaken health beliefs. Lewandowsky, renowned for his work on misinformation (over 200 publications), stresses “prebunking”—inoculating minds against falsehoods before exposure.

“Updating mistaken beliefs isn’t about confrontation; it’s about providing correct info with explanations,” Dr. Yu says. They outline a four-step process:

1. Detect: Spot red flags like “cure-all” promises or anecdotal evidence.
2. Refute: Explicitly state the myth (e.g., “No, vaccines don’t cause autism”) followed by facts.
3. Reinforce: Use simple visuals and repetition of truth.
4. Inoculate: Warn about future falsehoods preemptively.

Real-world success stories include Australia’s 2019 campaign against anti-vax myths, which boosted vaccination rates by 5%. MedicalNewsToday applies this in their features, using infographics and expert quotes for maximum retention.

Lewandowsky shares a study from Psychological Science: Repeated corrections reduce belief in falsehoods by 20-30% if framed positively. For health info consumers, this means apps like MedicalNewsToday’s myth-busters can rewire thinking over time.

12 Irritable Bowel Syndrome Myths Debunked by Medical Experts

Irritable bowel syndrome affects up to 12% of the global population, yet myths persist, delaying proper care. In MedicalNewsToday’s “Medical Myths” feature, two gastroenterologists scrutinize 12 claims, revealing what’s false info and what’s fact.

Dr. Sarah Thompson, a GI specialist, and Dr. Raj Patel, an IBS researcher, break it down:

• Myth 1: IBS is just stress-related and ‘all in your head.’ Fact: While stress worsens symptoms, IBS involves gut-brain axis dysfunction and inflammation markers, per 2022 Gut journal studies.
• Myth 2: Everyone with IBS must avoid gluten. Fact: Only 10-15% have coeliac overlap; blanket bans harm nutrition.
• Myth 3: Probiotics cure IBS. Fact: Some strains help mildly, but no universal cure—evidence from meta-analyses shows 40% improvement at best.
• Myth 4: IBS always leads to cancer. Fact: No increased risk; confusion with IBD.
• Myth 5: Dairy is the main trigger. Fact: Lactose intolerance affects 30%, but FODMAPs are broader culprits.
• Myth 6: Women only get IBS. Fact: 60% female, but men underdiagnosed due to stigma.
• Myth 7: Antibiotics fix IBS from bacterial overgrowth. Fact: Rifaximin helps some, but not all; microbiome testing needed.
• Myth 8: Exercise has no role. Fact: Moderate activity reduces symptoms by 25%, per trials.
• Myth 9: It’s curable with diet alone. Fact: Low-FODMAP diets manage 70%, but meds like antispasmodics often required.
• Myth 10: Children outgrow IBS. Fact: 25-50% persist into adulthood.
• Myth 11: Coffee always worsens it. Fact: Varies; some find relief from caffeine’s motility boost.
• Myth 12: Hypnosis is pseudoscience. Fact: Gut-directed hypnotherapy rivals drugs in RCTs, with 70% response rates.

These debunkings, grounded in guidelines from the American College of Gastroenterology, help sufferers avoid quack remedies costing billions annually.

Endometriosis Facts vs. Fiction: 10 Myths Shattered by Specialists

Endometriosis impacts 1 in 10 women worldwide, causing chronic pain, yet misinformation abounds. MedicalNewsToday’s feature features two OB-GYN experts debunking 10 myths, clarifying paths to diagnosis and relief.

Dr. Emily Chen and Dr. Miguel Lopez provide evidence-based counters:

• Myth 1: It’s normal menstrual pain. Fact: Severe pain disabling daily life signals endo; average diagnosis delay is 7-10 years.
• Myth 2: Pregnancy cures it. Fact: Symptoms may pause, but disease progresses; recurrence post-pregnancy in 50%.
• Myth 3: Hysterectomy is the fix. Fact: Removes uterus but not all lesions; 40% still symptomatic.
• Myth 4: Only affects fertility. Fact: Causes pain, fatigue, bowel/bladder issues too; infertility in 30-50%.
• Myth 5: Birth control prevents it. Fact: Suppresses but doesn’t eradicate; hormonal IUDs help manage.
• Myth 6: It’s rare in teens. Fact: Up to 70% of adolescents with pain have endo.
• Myth 7: Laparoscopy is unnecessary. Fact: Gold standard for diagnosis; imaging misses 20-30%.
• Myth 8: Diet changes cure it. Fact: Anti-inflammatory diets ease symptoms modestly; no cure.
• Myth 9: Men don’t get it. Fact: Rare but possible in those with Müllerian remnants.
• Myth 10: It’s psychosomatic. Fact: Tissue confirmed histologically; inflammation drives pain.

Supported by 2023 European Society of Human Reproduction data, these insights push for better awareness and research funding.

Future-Proofing Health Literacy: Next Steps from MedicalNewsToday Insights

As false health info proliferates—projected to cost healthcare systems $100 billion yearly by 2030—MedicalNewsToday’s efforts signal a proactive shift. Experts urge integrating media literacy in schools and doctor visits, with apps using AI for real-time fact-checks.

Prof. Lewandowsky envisions “health passports”—digital tools tracking personal myth exposures and corrections. Dr. Yu calls for policy: “Regulate social media algorithms to prioritize verified medical info.”

Readers can start today: Subscribe to MedicalNewsToday alerts, join myth-debunking webinars, and advocate for transparent labeling on wellness products. By updating mistaken beliefs systematically, individuals fortify against the next wave of falsehoods, fostering a healthier society.