Guest guest Posted June 12, 2002 Report Share Posted June 12, 2002 Daily News from Healthypages Wednesday, June 12, 2002 _______________________________ Public warned “Beware of email health scares†People should be wary of email campaigns that make unfounded medical claims such as “antiperspirants cause cancerâ€, a consumer watchdog is warning. Health Which? says hoax emails can frighten people unnecessarily. The magazine says successful scares tend to appeal to deep-seated fears, such as cancer, and contain vaguely scientific language, which can convey the semblance of credibility. Another successful Internet scare claimed that tampons contained asbestos to promote bleeding and improve sales, as well as high levels of cancer-causing chemicals. Dr Adam Joinson, a psychologist at the Open University’s Institute of Educational Technology, told Health Which?, “The Internet gives health scares a degree of legitimacy they wouldn’t have if they were told to you by someone in the pub.†Health Which? editor Kaye McIntosh said, “Internet health scares and hoaxes do more than frighten people, they can give false hope to chronically ill patients by circulating spurious information. “Human nature hasn’t changed – we all like to talk, but now a rumour can get around the world in seconds.†Health Which? advises people to be wary of emails that contain many capital letters and exclamation marks, and poor spelling and grammar. Those that say “ This is not a hoax†and encourage the recipient to send it to everyone they know are also doubtful the magazine says. People who are worried can contact universities, medical journals or charities, such as Cancer Research UK, for clarification or visit their websites, the magazine adds. © Health Media Ltd 2002 ******************************* Other stories Energy drink may stop cancer patients feeling tired A specifically designed drink may significantly boost the energy levels of cancer patients who have been left exhausted by chemotherapy treatment, according to a study published in the British Journal of Cancer. Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/elist/redirect.asp?i=18520 & l=3779 Call for more father-friendly hospitals Not enough NHS hospitals give new fathers unrestricted visiting hours or provide accommodation that the parents can share, according to a report into maternity services by a fatherhood charity. Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/elist/redirect.asp?i=18520 & l=3780 Ambulances improve but miss target Less than half of England’s ambulance services have managed to meet the government’s target of responding to three-quarters of urgent calls within eight minutes. Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/elist/redirect.asp?i=18520 & l=3781 Tomatoes could herald new insect repellent A safer insect repellent could soon be on the market, according to US scientists who discovered that a chemical found in tomatoes is just as good at fending off mosquitoes as the ingredient in most repellents, DEET. Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/elist/redirect.asp?i=18520 & l=3782 Long life runs in families People are more likely to live to 100 if they have a sibling who is also a centenarian, say US scientists who found that exceptional longevity runs in families. Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/elist/redirect.asp?i=18520 & l=3783 NHS “alerted†to faulty insulin pen Steps to ensure that faulty insulin injection pens are replaced have been taken by the government and a pharmaceutical company. Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/elist/redirect.asp?i=18520 & l=3784 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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