Think twice before giving health advice.
...and taking it.
There’s something deeply human about wanting to help someone who’s hurting. Especially when they’re facing a health decision. Maybe they’re overwhelmed, scared, or uncertain. So we do what humans do: we share what helped us. Or what we’ve heard works. Or what we wish we’d done.
But somewhere between “You should try…” and “Whatever you do, don’t…”—a subtle line gets crossed.
And suddenly, our good intentions start steering someone else’s health ship.
Happy Thursday, health heroes. Today we’re talking about a rather sensitive subject: giving health help and advice. Let’s get into it!
Advice Is Everywhere—But Is It What’s Needed?
Honestly, most people don’t mean to give bad advice. They just care and want to help. They’re sharing out of love, experience, or their own hard-earned scars. But there’s a difference between helping someone think and telling them what to do.
When a friend, loved one, or coworker opens up about a health decision—whether it’s about a diagnosis, a treatment, a supplement, or something as simple as, “Should I even see a doctor?”—what they really need might surprise you. They don’t always need advice. They might need guidance, a sounding board, or just perspective.
Advice Comes With Baggage
Every single piece of health advice comes wrapped in a story. Our story.
We bring our experiences, beliefs, fears, preferences, and even cultural leanings into the room when we speak. And if we’re not careful, we might hand someone our baggage and tell them to carry it.
What if, instead, we said this:
“Here’s my perspective—but I need you to know where I’m coming from. I lean toward natural health. I’m cautious with medications. I’ve had a rough experience with conventional care. So what I’m sharing comes from that lens. I’m happy to offer it, but I’d love to help you explore your own direction too.”
That, my friend, is what I call a health collaboration moment.
It’s what I encourage in my upcoming book, Health Shift, where I write about how decision-making is deeply personal, but rarely done in isolation. We’re wired for collaboration—but we must learn how to do it well!
Guidance, Not Gospel
When someone’s making a health decision, what they often need most is not a directive—it’s a compass. A way to see the terrain, weigh their options, and decide what fits best for them.
You can share stories, offer what helped you, or even pull together some research (double points if it’s a recent systematic review). But if the goal is to help, not sway, then pause and ask:
“What kind of help do you need from me right now?”
“Do you want my story? A strategy? A second brain?”
“Would it help to look at the pros and cons together?”
Because sometimes what people need is not our way, but a better way to think through their way.
Enter: The Decision-Making Toolkit
I write about this in my book, Health Shift (Chapter 7, for those who will have it soon): we need tools for critical thinking in health decisions. We need to know our tolerances—CREECS, as I call them, for Cost, Risk, Effort, Effectiveness, Commitment, and Support.
Am I willing to pay outside of insurance for this?
Am I willing to take the risk on a natural method versus a Western medical approach? (And do I even know the risk?)
Am I willing to put forth the effort to fully apply this intervention I’m considering?
Is this intervention expected to bring the level of effectiveness I desire, and if not, is that a risk I’m willing to take?
Am I willing to commit to what it takes to follow through with this intervention?
Do I have the support I need to do this?
When someone shares their decision dilemma, consider gently walking through these filters with them:
What are you hoping this will do for you?
What’s your tolerance for risk vs. benefit?
What support do you have to follow through?
What happens if you don’t do this intervention?
And don’t forget to encourage people who are giving you advice to ask you those same questions before taking their advice. You can even coach yourself by asking these questions!
Break Through The Emotional Fog
Health decisions are rarely made in a purely logical state. We’re human. We worry, we fear, we hope. And that means emotions can cloud the view. In Chapter 8 of the book, I explore emotional decision-making and how it can quietly hijack even the best-laid plans.
So before giving—or taking—health advice, consider this:
Is fear driving the conversation?
Is urgency clouding patience?
Is the loudest voice in the room the wisest?
When giving advice, ask yourself how you feel while giving it. Are you amped up? Do you adamantly think that your way is the only way? Do you want to convince the person you’re advising that your way is the right way? Are you doing more talking than listening? Are you willing to take the risk if what you advise them is wrong? Could you be wrong? Is your way the only way?
When listening to advice, do you find yourself getting amped up? Is the person giving advice telling you what to do? Could they be wrong? Take the advice into account, then press the pause button. Give things a little time and space. Let logic catch up with your emotions before making a decision. I usually recommend pausing before making a health decision for at least four hours, or a full day. Better yet, sleep on it.
The Kindest Question of All
So here’s the gentle nudge I offer to all of us who find ourselves in these moments—and I’ve been there, too. Whether you’re the advice giver or the advice seeker, always ask…
What does this person really need right now?
What do I really need right now?
This is not what you needed when faced with the same situation. This is not what you read or saw on Instagram or in a Facebook group. This is not even what worked for your cousin’s neighbor. The person you’re advising likely needs something else completely.
They might need:
An empathetic ear.
A research buddy.
A devil’s advocate.
A checklist to go through (hi, I’ve got those! Coming to you soon - May 17!).
Or they might need your presence. No solutions. No stories. Just a hand to hold. A body to hug. A shoulder to cry on because they’re scared.
And that, too, is a kind of health intervention, and it’s one of the kindest and most helpful of all.
P.S. Want to be better at these conversations? Start with yourself. Know your biases. Know your health philosophy. Know your comfort zones in decision-making. (Hint: I’ve got an assessment for that coming soon.)
The more you understand yourself, the more helpful you can be to others—not because you know the answers, but because you know how to think through potential answers.
In good health,
Dr. Alice
A little more about Dr. Alice Burron and Strategic Action Health:
Dr. Burron is a co-founder of Strategic Action Health, dedicated to helping organizations help their employees make better health decisions. Come check us out here!
Catch us on Instagram: @the.health.navigator and @dr_burron
You can also connect on LinkedIn, if you want to be professional about it. 👓
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Health Shift: Your Strategic Guide to Making Strategic Health Decisions book will officially launch on May 17, 2025! Mark your calendars! And if you’re in Cheyenne, join us for our party at Blacktooth Brewery. Have a beer on us! More information is coming soon.