Medical Myths, Lies, and Half-Truths: What We Think We Know May Be Hurting Us

by Steven Novella (Biography)

The following materials are provided to enhance your learning experience. Click the links below
for free information including a professor-authored course summary, recommended web links,
and a condensed bibliography.
Course Summary - Professor's written description of the course.
Professor Recommended Links
Condensed Bibliography - Prepared by the professor for this course.

Course Summary

True or false: Eight glasses of water a day are mandatory for staying hydrated. Vitamin C
protects you from catching a cold. Frequent snacking is the quickest way to bust your diet.
Natural foods are always better for you.
You hear advice like this all the time. But what do these would-be nuggets of medical wisdom
have in common? They're all myths, half-truths, and misconceptions—pieces of information so
familiar that we take them for granted without considering the scientific truth about them.
In today's information age, when supposedly accurate medical advice and diagnoses can be
found online with the click of a computer mouse, medical myths are all around us. Using them to
make decisions about your health—whether it's how to treat the symptoms of the common cold
or how to care for a child or aging relative—can be harmful, even deadly.
Because you are ultimately responsible for your own health, it's critical to understand the
accuracy of medical information—to break down the growing body of misinformation and
discover the truth about everyday health and well-being. These 24 lectures are an empowering
learning experience that will give you evidence-based guidelines for good health, will enhance
your ability to be better informed about common medical myths, and will strengthen your skills at
assessing the scientific truth behind medical information and advice.

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Professor Recommend Links

http://www.cdc.gov
http://www.mayoclinic.com
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org

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Condensed Bibliography

These selected titles from the reading list are now available on Amazon.com. Click on a title for
more information and/or to order the title.

Penicillin Man: Alexander Fleming and the Antibiotic Revolution. Brown, K

The story of Fleming is one of the most fascinating in the history of medicine, and
Brown tells it well. The past, present, and future of antibiotics are also discussed.
 Snake Oil Science: The Truth about Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Bausell, B

Bausell does an excellent job reviewing medical research methodology as a way of

determining which treatments are safe and effective. He also reviews the research
for many controversial and fringe health claims.

The Demon Haunted World. Sagan, C

This is perhaps the single best introduction into critical thinking. Sagan's style is
unmatched. This is probably the first book you should read out of the entire
bibliography.

Trick or Treatment: The Undeniable Facts about Alternative Medicine . Ernst, E;

Simon, S

Ernst and Sigh review the scientific method in the opening chapters and then apply
that method to a variety of medical practices. They give excellent examples of good
science, and not-so-good science, in medicine.

Vaccine. Allen, A

Everything you ever wanted to know about the history of vaccines.

In some cases the only available book from Amazon is a newer edition than the one used by the
professor. The edition used by the professor may be available on the used market.

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