Did you know that the Global Wellness Institute estimated that the United States alone has a $1.8 trillion dollar Wellness Economy? From spas to gyms, to beauty and supplements, Americans spend money on health and wellness. At North Star Family Medicine, we support wellness and good health. We are also aware that many advertisements, especially those created with Artificial Intelligence (AI), can be confusing to consumers.
The Federal Trade commission offers these 5 ways to avoid health scams:
- Do some research. Search for the name of the treatment on line, plus the words “review”, “complaint”, or “scam”.
- Ask your doctor first: A good rule of thumb is to run anything you are thinking of taking, in addition to your regular medications, by your physician. They can tell you if the supplement is safe to take with your regular medications and the proper doses.
- Know that unproven products and treatments are risky: They can have bad interactions with other medications, and can put you at risk if you stop or delay taking proven medications or if you delay in changing your diet or make lifestyle changes that could help your condition.
- Know that “natural” doesn’t mean safe or effective: In fact, “natural” can mean harmful and ineffective. And some “natural” products might interfere with proven treatments recommended by your doctor.
- Know that there are no government agencies that approve ads before they go public: Federal law says sellers that market cures must have scientific evidence to back up their claims, but dishonest companies might not, allowing ads to become misleading.
Do you have a question or concern about a supplement or “natural” treatment option you have heard about? You can easily schedule a consultation appointment with Dr. Kristy Lelcu by booking on line or by calling us at 218-382-2870.
