It must be true - I read it on the internet

Yesterday's edition of The National had a very interesting editorial. They pointed out that life expectancy for males from the time of the hunter gatherer right up until the early 1900s was only 30. Over this many millennium life expectancy remained constant. Life expectancy for a male today is 72. Why the big change in such a comparatively short time? I think you know the answer.

On the same day one of my friends posted a picture of a rather old looking Chinese man. On the photo was the following message. "Li Ching-Yuen (1677-1933). 256 Years Old. The historical record shatters the myth that humans, with the aid of vaccines and modern medicine, are indeed living longer." 

Underneath the picture is the story that this man lived for 256 years, sired 200 descendants during his lifetime and survived 23 wives.  He lived on herbs, rice wine and a variety of berries and other healthy stuff such as ginseng. The veracity of this story is enhanced by a reference to Wikipedia.

My guess is that most people reading this won't bother to click on the Wikipedia link, but will just hit the share button rather as it is easier. Those that do bother to click on the link would see that the article is disputed by the editors of Wikipedia with good reason given for their scepticism.

Now I understand that there is a massive movement to a more healthy lifestyle to try and overcome the health risks of obesity and other diseases, but the willingness of people to circulate poorly researched information and sometimes downright lies in the name of healthy living is astounding.

This week someone posted on Facebook that John Hopkins Hospital had rethought their advice on Cancer and were now suggesting the dumping of chemotherapy for a healthy diet and fitness regime. A one minute check with Snopes.com would have revealed this to be a total lie.

John Hopkins have nothing to do with this scam, but their name is being used to give credence to the nonsense being suggested. Seeing the John Hopkins name also makes it easy for Facebookers to hit that share button. After all John Hopkins is a respected medical institution and if this is what they are saying it must be true.

I consider people who willy nilly pass on advice to eschew modern medicine, vaccination etc. for a healthy lifestyle without checking and establishing its veracity to be dangerous. I agree that a healthy lifestyle in concert with modern medicine will result in us having a better chance of longevity. A healthy lifestyle to the exclusion of modern medicine will result in the possibility of early death and a return to a life expectancy of our hunter gatherer ancestors.

Many diseases are not a result of poor eating or lack of exercise, but genetic predisposition. Just look at the number of healthy athletes who die young despite their optimum lifestyle. Look at the number of fatties who smoke and drink and live to their nineties despite their overindulgence.

Please help me here. Am I missing something?