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E-mail health myths: Identifying medical misinformation

By Mayo Clinic staff Some news may sound too good to be true. But
when it comes to e-mail health warnings, the news is often just the
opposite — too bad to be true. The Internet can be a rich source
of false health scares that often spread widely through e-mail. Those
who pass around such e-mails likely mean well but may end up
needlessly frightening the next recipient. If you pass a hoax e-mail
along to friends and family, you unwittingly contribute to the
problem. To avoid being a victim of such Internet and e-mail hoaxes,
learn about some of the common myths and how to identify them when you
see them.

Antiperspirants cause breast cancer Several Internet articles and a
widely-circulated e-mail claim that antiperspirants cause breast
cancer. One supposed reason is that they contain cancer-causing
chemicals, which are absorbed through your skin. Another allegation is
that they prevent your body from expelling cancer-causing toxins
through your sweat. The toxins are supposedly then trapped in the
lymph nodes under your arms. These explanations are both false. Your
antiperspirant can't give you breast cancer. The National Cancer
Institute says it has no data to suggest that any antiperspirant
ingredients cause cancer, and neither does the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) — the government agency that regulates such
products. In fact, a study published in the October 2002 issue of the
Journal of the National Cancer Institute, involving 1,606 women,
showed no increased risk of breast cancer in those who use underarm
antiperspirant or deodorant. As for the second reason, the American
Cancer Society refutes that one, too. As they explain, although lymph
nodes do clear some toxins from your body, you don't sweat them out.
Poisoned cola Another e-mail rumor warns of poisoned cola products.
Several versions of this e-mail exist. But these e-mails generally
tell the story of a person warning a passerby to avoid drinking a
well-known brand of cola after a particular day, claiming that the
cola will be tainted by that time. The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) debunk this story as just a hoax — the FDA
hasn't issued any advisories, alert or recalls on this product.

Fatal perfume samples In this e-mail hoax, several women allegedly die
after sniffing a poisonous, free sample of perfume they've received in
the mail. The e-mail then warns you to throw away free cosmetic
samples that you receive in the mail. This hoax is a variation of
another rumor known as the "Klingerman virus," in which people receive
a free gift in the mail that turns out to be a sponge containing a
deadly virus. Though both of these stories are untrue, the CDC
suggests you contact your local post office if you're concerned about
any packages you receive in the mail. Aspartame causes multiple
sclerosis, lupus and tumors The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, the
Arthritis Foundation and the American Cancer Society, among other
reputable sources, have all rebutted this widely circulated myth. No
scientific evidence supports these claims. It's true that a 1996 study
linked aspartame with an increase in brain tumors. However, the
incidence of brain tumors had been on the rise since the 1970s, before
the sweetener was approved. This rise in brain tumors could be due to
better detection of tumors because of improved technology. One
caution, however: If you have the genetic disease phenylketonuria
(PKU) or you're allergic to the ingredients in aspartame, avoid
aspartame.

Numerous other medical myths exist, including the likelihood of being
stuck by HIV-infected needles in public places, the use of asbestos in
tampons and the stealing of kidneys from live victims. Reliable
sources, such as the CDC and the National Kidney Foundation, refute
all of these. So how can you tell what's true? The way a message is


friends, family and co-workers, think twice before sending the message
on. Other signs that an e-mail is likely a hoax include:

The claim that the message isn't a hoax The use of all-uppercase
words and frequent exclamation points The inclusion of allegedly
important information that you've never heard about from reputable
medical sources You don't know the sender of the message The message
urges you to reply to receive more information The message urges you
to forward the information to everyone you know

Finally, know that if the information in these e-mails were true, your
doctor or the media would tell you. Let reputable sources provide you
and your loved ones with health guidance, not e-mails that are
forwarded to you from anonymous sources.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=HQ00801&si=2318