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That car seat you thought was safe for your baby—NOT.

That chemical you thought was safe for your garden—NOT.

The only sure thing we can say about science is that it’s never sure. Science changes from study to study, year to year, and day to day. For tips on how to handle ever-changing medical advice, check out the April 2008 issue of Harvard Men’s Health Watch.

Four Tips
1. Understand the different types of research you are likely to hear about. Randomized controlled clinical trials are the gold standard for medical research, and really the only way to prove whether an intervention is beneficial or harmful. Meta-analyses are also important as they combine the results of many different studies and use sophisticated statistical techniques to analyze the pooled data. Observational studies can provide information on links between two factors, but they cannot prove cause and effect. Results from animal and laboratory studies should be considered preliminary.

2. Read behind the headlines. Beware of summaries that transform research findings into simplistic formulas for health, and focus on results that have been published in peer-reviewed medical journals.

3. Even high-visibility medical studies published in major journals are often contradicted or modified by subsequent research. This may be frustrating, but new information should always be welcome, even if it casts doubt on established beliefs.

4. When you read about medical research, see how the new information fits into your personal health puzzle before you decide to change your ways. Keep the big picture in mind, and remember to factor in your personal preferences and priorities. If you have lingering questions, discuss them with your health care provider.

Last but not least, embrace change, you won’t regret it. After all, where would we be if Christopher Columbus hadn’t challenged the conventional wisdom that the earth was flat!