Check a health claim

Paste a message you saw online. We will tell you if it matches a claim we have reviewed.

Check a health claim

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Result: TRUE

Our reviewed evidence supports this claim.

Your claim

Washing hands with soap helps reduce the spread of coughs and colds.

What we found

Cold and cough germs can live on hands and surfaces. Washing hands often with soap and water helps remove them and lowers the chance of passing them on.

Why we gave this result

MedlinePlus, the NHS and CDC all advise handwashing to lower the risk of getting or spreading colds and respiratory infections.

Reliable sources (3)

Last verified:

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Tips for better results

  • Check one claim at a time.
  • Use simple, short words, like the message you saw.
  • Include the main thing and what it is said to do. For example: “Garlic cures flu.”
  • If you get UNVERIFIED, try writing it a different way.

What do the results mean?

  • TRUE Reviewed evidence supports the claim.
  • FALSE Reviewed evidence does not support it.
  • UNVERIFIED We could not confirm it either way.

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