I have always fancied how social media has such a huge influence on our lives. From news to advertising, we are connected globally. This in fact has both good and bad consequences. Good in the way how there is global interconnectedness and the unlimited implications it allows, and bad in the sense how spams and meaningless gimmicks are widely circulated. People nowadays follow these platforms vigorously and take in all of such baseless content which are absent of concrete knowledge and research.

A very concerning matter at hand is how there are profuse amounts of articles on these social medias related to health problems and issues, that are similarly baseless and unsubstantiated. I see a lot of such advertisements and articles on Facebook, YouTube, and other different websites, that try and tell us what we ought to, or ought not to do, regarding many health related issues.

There is no harm when we use them as a reference for lesser issues such as common cold, rashes, minor headaches and the possible home remedies for them. However, when it comes to bigger concerns like blood pressure, sugar, or even when minor issues persist for a long time, relying on such online material is not a good idea. Always consult with doctors for medication for such problems. I suggest everyone to  use the medicines only when prescribed by the doctors, and not based on what you read online. You can always research more about the medicine on the internet, in websites with good credibility to clear any doubts on its side effects and reactions. I’ve seen companies advertise their products stating there are no side effects as such of their medicines. But what I don’t understand is how can something which includes chemical content, however little it may be, advertise saying no side effects. Even water, when taken on a huge quantity has side effects on our body.

 People go for these products based on what they’ve heard from one another, whereas medical science performs multiple experiments and researches to publish the side effects.

This is also commonly seen in ayurvedic medicines that claim they are all natural and with no side effects, which I can’t seem to buy entirely. It’s not that  I am not against these ayurvedic solutions, however I feel there are certain underlying misconceptions about these products in the market. People go for these products based on what they’ve heard from one another, whereas medical science performs multiple experiments and researches to publish the side effects.

My personal opinion is that if you have any issues regarding your health, go to the internet and make a quick research, but consult doctors about the issue and trust their judgment. What I’ve seen is that people blindly believe in word of mouth, and this creates a lot of room where it can go wrong.

The message I want to send out to my readers is don’t go after what you hear from people or read on the social media. Consult professionals when you have any doubts about your health. Always have a credible source of information when it comes to your health. I usually go for webmd.com. And at last, I might be the same thing I am warning you about, don’t take my word for it. Do what is right for you and be your own judge.