Health Information Online Charleston SC - Is It Reliable? | Hope Integrative Medicine
October 30, 2026 · 1:04
Five questions to ask about any health website, red flags to watch for and reliable places to start, for Health Literacy Month.
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Transcript
How to tell if health information online is reliable. Here are three things to know. Start with who runs the site. A trustworthy site makes clear who is behind it and how to contact them. In the U.S., websites ending in dot gov belong to official government organizations. And if the site sells a product it is also praising, be careful. Next, ask where the information comes from. Good pages point to research or name their sources, and they present balanced facts rather than promising cures. Look for when the page was written, reviewed or updated, and check that the site explains its privacy policy. Good places to start include MedlinePlus, the CDC and the National Institutes of Health. If you read something that worries you or sounds promising, bring it to your appointment. Your provider can tell you whether it applies to you, given your health history. Read the full article at hopeintegrativemed.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
The goal should be to inform you. If the site sells a product it is also praising, be careful.
Look for when the page was written, reviewed or updated.
A reliable site explains what happens to your information in its privacy policy.
