Health information should be easy to read and easy to check. This page explains how our guides are made, so you can decide how much to trust them.
Our standards
- Built on trusted sources: We rely on primary sources such as the NIH, CDC, MedlinePlus, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and peer-reviewed research, and we link them at the end of every guide.
- Written in plain language: Short sentences, everyday words, and concrete steps you can use today. Medical terms are explained the first time they appear.
- Honest about the evidence: When research is limited or mixed, we say so instead of overstating what is known.
- Safety first: Every guide lists the warning signs that mean you should see a doctor, and none of them is meant to replace one.
- Kept up to date: Each guide shows when it was published and last updated, and we correct mistakes as soon as we confirm them.
Where our information comes from
We start with sources that are accountable for what they publish:
- U.S. government health agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health (including NIDDK, NIMH, and the Office of Dietary Supplements), the CDC, the Office on Women's Health, and MedlinePlus.
- Academic medical centers and clinics, such as Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic.
- Peer-reviewed studies and reviews, usually found through PubMed and PubMed Central.
Every guide ends with a list of the sources it relies on, linked so you can read them yourself. We do not cite a study unless we have confirmed that it exists and says what we report.
How a guide is written
- We start from the real question a reader is asking and answer it near the top of the page.
- We research the topic in the sources above and note where they agree, disagree, or have little evidence.
- We write in plain language, explain medical terms, and include practical steps where they are supported.
- We add a section on warning signs and when to see a doctor.
- Before publishing, we check every number, recommendation, and source link against the original.
Rules every guide follows
- Our guides do not sell or promote products.
- We never promise cures or quick fixes.
- We never invent statistics, studies, quotes, or experts.
- We tell you when the evidence is thin.
- We will always point you to a doctor when symptoms need one.
Independence
CheckVitalsNow is independent. No company pays for or reviews our guides before they are published, and our guides do not link to products for sale. If we ever show advertising, ads will be clearly separated from our content and will have no influence on what we write.
Updates and corrections
Medical guidance changes. Each guide shows when it was published and when it was last updated, and we review guides when major sources change their advice. If you find an error, please tell us through ourcontact page. We will check it and, if we got something wrong, correct it.