There is no shortage of health claims gracing glossy magazine covers that promise cures for everything from arthritis to wrinkles, if only you buy Product X.
While some claims are outlandish enough to be laughable, others are enticing enough to be tried, and therein lies the potential danger, according to the National Institute on Aging, part of The National Institutes of Health.
Scammers, known as snake-oil salesmen back in the day, are standing by to capitalize on your quest to feel better, look better, have more energy and prevent diseases as you age.
There are numerous reasons to avoid getting sucked in by the promises declared in “miracle cure” advertisements. The NIA warns that there’s a very real possibility that the product is untested and harmful and that it could interfere with prescribed medication you are already taking. These products often instill false hope in consumers who may forgo a visit with their doctor because of belief in the product’s effectiveness.
The NIA offers the following tips to help you weed out products that may fall into the suspicious category. Think twice about promotional materials or advertisements that:
— Promise a quick or painless cure.
— Claim the product is made from a special, secret or ancient formula.
— Offer products and services only by mail or from one company.
— Use statements or unproven case histories from so-called satisfied patients.
— Claim to be a cure for a wide range of ailments.
— Claim to cure a disease (such as arthritis or Alzheimer’s disease) that hasn’t been cured by medical science. There are claims circulating currently that coconut oil can prevent Alzheimer’s. This is unproven and while coconut oil has beneficial properties, don’t count on it to stop Alzheimer’s disease.
— Promise a no-risk, money-back guarantee. Actually getting the money back can be an exercise in frustration.
— Offer an additional “free” gift or a larger amount of the product as a “special promotion.”
— Require advance payment and claim there is a limited supply of the product.
For more information about health scams, log on to nia.nih.gov.
Remember the old adage that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Always check with your health care provider before taking anything claiming to be the magic potion that will fix your life.
Carol Higgins Taylor is an advocate for seniors and owns Bryant Street Public Relations in Bangor. She can be reached at 4chtaylor@gmail.com.