'Does sitting too close to a screen or TV make a difference to eye health', 'Do UV lamps in nail bars cause skin cancer', and 'Does cycling cause circulation or nerve damage to men's genitals' are some of the questions posed to a website working to debunk false or misleading health information.
Launched last year, iHealthFacts.ie answers health-related queries across various topics, including nutrition, exercise, and cancer risk, providing fact-checked information on everything from the science behind beetroot juice's potential ability to lower blood pressure, to whether burning sage can protect against viruses.
The website is backed by the HSE and the Health Research Board, and is supported by University of Galway.
Queries are taken by the website's research team, who then attempt to find its original source and any studies which support or disprove the statement in question. In instances where there is insufficient or conflicting evidence on the matter, it is also stated in the answer.
The website has shared some of its most recently asked and answered questions, which include 'Does vaping make a difference to our health and are there harms with second-hand vaping?'
The answer states researchers found some evidence that vaping is associated with asthma and poorer cardiovascular health, but adds: "We didn't find any good evidence on the risks of second-hand exposure to vaping.
"However, because of the design of most of the studies we found, we can't be sure of the results or say that e-cigarettes were definitely the cause of poor health."
It also notes that while e-cigarettes may help people looking to quit regular cigarettes, "there are uncertainties about their long-term use".
Other recent questions include 'Does working long hours help to prevent dementia', 'Do collagen supplements make a difference in skin ageing', and 'Do drinks containing aspartame increase the risk of cancer in the future'.
Speaking to Newstalk, lead researcher from University of Galway Dr Paula Byrne said certain topics draw more queries than others.
"Sleep is one big area that people are interested in, things that we hear about that can cause or cure cancer people are very interested in, and diet and nutrition.
"They are the three big topics, but we have up to 60 different questions that we've answered already, and we have new ones coming up all the time," Dr Byrne said.
