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“Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it.” --Samuel Johnson, 1775 I know something about back pain, and I know where I can find plenty more information. But much of it will be wrong. The Internet has enabled anyone with an opinion to hang out a shingle, even on subjects such as health, where bad advice can cause serious harm.Yet some 95 million Americans turn to the Internet for information and advice about critical health matters. They're looking for solid information about a condition or disease. They want to know what it is, how they got it, what they should do now. They may want to understand enough to ask informed questions of their doctors about treatment options and to recognize the difference between health facts and drug-company hype. With all that in mind, and with a history of presenting thoroughly researched health topics in clear, accurate language, Consumer Reports has launched the Consumer Reports Medical Guide Web site. We've teamed up with two prestigious organizations of pharmacists and international physicians--organizations that, like Consumer Reports, are unbiased, independent, and focused on the interests of consumers. For more than 60 common and serious medical conditions, the guide includes a list of available treatments. To evaluate those treatments, experts at the British Medical Journal Publishing Group continually conduct an exhaustive search for published studies and data, critically assess all the evidence they find, eliminate any research that isn't up to the highest standards, and put each treatment into one of six categories, from “treatments that work” to “treatments that are likely to be ineffective or harmful.” These ratings are exclusive to the Consumer Reports Medical Guide. In some cases, such as back pain, commonly used treatments aren't always the best option. A hard look at the evidence shows that light exercise and getting back on your feet are usually better than bed rest. There is not enough published clinical evidence showing that lumbar supports, epidural steroid injections, and muscle relaxants are effective. Most episodes of back pain resolve themselves in two to four weeks with minimal or no intervention. The Consumer Reports Medical Guide is available by subscription, although some information can be had free of charge. To find out whether your topic of concern is on the site, and to learn about subscribing, go to www.ConsumerReportsMedicalGuide.org . We all have good questions about health issues; it helps to know where to go for good answers.
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