Misinformation can be found almost everywhere, and unfortunately, it's not always easy for people to tell what is true. Once, a patient in my stroke clinic—a previously active 55-year-old man—asked me whether I thought he should invest in an expensive home cryotherapy chamber to help him recover. He had been struggling, both physically and emotionally, because of the deficits from his stroke, but he had read that using a whole-body chamber daily would help him regain motor function and sensation. I had to tell him that, frankly, I didn't know whether it would and that the clinical evidence for significant benefit was not there. It was a tough conversation to have, and he was deeply disappointed.
We live in an unprecedented time of constant information flow, some of it accurate and some of it not. There are no tethers or regulations, and to make matters worse, that information comes in as rapidly as we can withstand it on our phones, computers, tablets, and TVs. People going through illnesses or recovering from injury are especially vulnerable as they search for potential cures, treatments, and therapies.
As a physician, I try only to tell my patients what I know to be true when I advise and counsel them. And, above all, we in the medical field try to be honest about what science does not yet know, which is, admittedly, a lot. However, all of us are battling against the abundance of misinformation.
That is why it is so refreshing to meet someone like Brooke Eby, the focus of this issue's cover story. Brooke is a young woman you want to be friends with: a vivacious, intelligent person who has the audacity and the bravery to share her life with the public as she battles amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In her social media posts, there are no games or obfuscation—just real talk about her very real life. By bearing witness to her stories and everyday travails, we recognize that the face of ALS can belong to anyone. And despite the hard times, Brooke continues to demonstrate both humor and courage in the face of her disease. By showing herself to the world and sharing her story, she wields the power of truth.
Getting to the truth also is part of our story on infusion therapies, which have long been a mainstay of treatment for certain diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and different cancers. With the advent of new drugs, some radically more effective than previous treatments, infusion therapies are taking off. They can now be delivered more conveniently, too, including at outpatient centers and the patient's home. However, there has been a trend toward different types of “wellness” infusions aimed directly at the public. These infusions are not related to medication therapies and can be harmful. Understanding the difference between the two is important and requires a closer look.
Our feature on hot yoga, meanwhile, dispels myths about the practice, typically done in a room heated to more than 100 degrees. Yoga in general can have exceptional health benefits, including for people with neurologic disorders, but hot yoga may not be recommended for you if you have certain health conditions—so stop and think before signing up.
Lastly, with the holidays nearing, we bring you advice on what to do when you notice new symptoms in loved ones you may only see at these special times of year. Having what can be a difficult conversation with them after recognizing a change may be tough, but being honest with yourself and them is necessary to move forward safely, and it is in the best interest of everyone.
Living in this time of misinformation can be frustrating, but I think I speak for myself and my peers in the medical field in saying that it is an honor for us to continue to care for you and your loved ones and to try to be practitioners of truth. Thank you for your faith in us as we navigate this unpredictable landscape. And know that, here at Brain & Life, the information you find comes from top scientific sources and has been thoroughly reviewed by experts.
Now, I want to hear your thoughts. In what way has telling the truth been meaningful for you? Share your experiences by emailing BrainandLife@wolterskluwer.com.
Sarah Song, MD, MPH, FAAN, Editor in Chief
