Keep Your Health Tips

Prof.Walter B Shelley, the renowned Professor of Dermatology and author of the “Advanced Dermatologic Therapy” recounts an incident that occurred when he, along with his wife, Prof.E.Dorinda Shelley, was preparing the manuscript of their celebrated book. His mother in law came to visit them. Taking a look at their table and shelves were journals and text books were strewn around, she exclaimed, “You call that writing a book? I call it copying a book!”

Little did she know that most of the articles and books written on scientific subjects, including medicine, are mostly a compilation of wisdom passed down the ages!

This is the rule, rather than exception, in the scientific world. We need not undergo the tribulations of trial and error when the topics under consideration have already been studied in detail and the results recorded for posterity by the brilliant clinicians and research scientists. We should build our articles on the strong foundation of proven scientific facts . Then apply common sense so that it does not clash with the natural laws of scientific deductions and analysis. It is a norm that ensures the credibility of the scientific information provided. But, mind you, it can be termed plagiarism, unless the source references are acknowledged and credits given properly!

Modern medicine has come a long way during the last 150 years or so. Causes for many diseases are well known now, and definite treatments are available for many illnesses. Advanced diagnostic procedures and technology are within the reach of even ordinary individuals around the world. The much maligned antibiotics are saving thousands of people daily from certain death. Universal Immunization Programs have ensured that millions of children will live without the disabilities caused by Polio and other infections in the third world. The advances in treatment of diabetes, hypertension and heart diseases have raised the average life span and quality of life in most countries.

Still there are lots of problems still awaiting solution: treatment and control of genetic diseases, autoimmune disorders like lupus erythematosus, viral infections like HIV, nutritional deficiency in the third world, emergence of multi-drug resistance, to name a few.

The amount of new data and information that is coming out in the health related sciences every day is astounding and even professionals find it difficult to keep abreast of these current knowledge explosion!

The advent and popularity of internet has brought the medical and other health related information within the reach of ordinary (non-medical) people. The prompt availability of health information is a double edged sword, though.

The positive aspect is that up to date knowledge is at the fingertips of the seeker any time he or she wants it. Patients can obtain detailed info regarding the causation, pathological changes, clinical features and diagnostic procedures of diseases and take informed decisions about the treatment options available. Those who are researching health related articles do not have to spend long hours and days through dusty volumes of books and journals anymore.

The danger looms in the form of the spread of misinformation and dis(torted)information of scientific data by non medical persons. Some of the false information may be passed on unwittingly, when authors quote from so called “expert” articles written by people who have no basic knowledge of the human body and health sciences and who in turn may have depended on non authentic sources.

The second group, the really dangerous one, include scams and fraudulent sites which, to sell their alternate therapies, discredit scientific research and conventional medicine. They purposefully twist available data to their advantage and also widely quote from dubious healers alleged to perform ‘miracle’ cures for all sorts of diseases. Before falling for such scams, it would do well to ask your physician about their opinion of such claims and miracle cures.

Also visit the quackwatch site by Dr.Stephen Barrett, MD and look around for scams of similar nature to learn the real truth behind them: http://www.quackwatch.org/

The preceding discussion brings out a case for editorial regulations on health related matters on the World Wide Web. There are no effective regulatory bodies at present. Till such regulations are set up, a self regulatory protocol is necessary. It should be insisted that all articles on diseases and other health related topics should have a list of main references appended at the end of each article. This will go a long way in helping the readers decide whether the information given in the article is from a reliable source or not.

Dr. Hanish Babu, MD is a dermato-venereologist, author, stress management trainer and a netpreneur. He has recently released a stress management package “10 Days to Stress Free Life”.

To subscribe to his Less Stress News Letter, go to: http://www.lesstress.net

For Skin Care Tips, go to: http://www.skin-care-tips-from-dermatologist.com

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