How To Read A Medical News Article

I recently picked up a free consumer health magazine at the local hospital. It caught my eye because it included an article about lymphedema. Most of the magazine was advertisement. The article, itself, was an infomercial in print.

The more I read, the angrier I got. Since I participated in the National Breast Cancer Coalition's Project Lead in January, 2000, http://www.natlbcc.org/bin/index.asp?Str... I have become a better consumer and advocate. I have learned that just because something is in print, or sponsored by a doctor, does not make it factual. I'd like you, too, to be an astute reader. I want you to be able to separate the fact from the fluff.

Without mentioning specifics, we will go over the article together. The article promotes a new type of bio-electirc lymphatic drainage. It refers to the "art" of lymphology. It states that this new technology obliterates deterioration of the body by disease. And that's just a paraphrase of the first paragraph! Let's dissect the first parapgrah, phrase by phrase. Bio-electric stimulation of the lymphatic system is a new technology, without a proven track record against lymphedema. Indeed, it may cause more harm then good. Judge for yourself - here is a website devoted to the application of this technique. http://www.medicineelectric.com/sound.ht... According to the medical dictionaries, lymphology is the branch of medical science concerned with the lymphatic system.

The article refers to quantum physics, which is the fundamental unit of electromagnetism and the science of natural objects. (I find that when "highbrow" scientific terms are used, sometimes, within an article, without follow-up references, it is simply to make the reader a)intimidated or b)to let the reader think the author is on a higher intellectual plane)

The article goes on to tout the benefits of the system and states that this treatment can reduce healing time by 50% or more. It also states that it can help treat all types of cancer. Additionally, it can lessen conditions ranging from stress to obseity to pain to diabetes, arthritis, swelling and scars. In my humble opinion, anything that cures everything, probably can't really have an effect on any medical condition.

The article goes on to specifically identify at least 50 medical conditions which this treatment effectively helps. The last line of the article is to lure the reader in to thinking that they need this treatment or else... the author states that left untreated, injuries to the lymphatic system cause death. It doesn't even say "may" or +"might" - it says "death will occur."

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