That's what we often do with numbers. And doctors and people promoting health issues in general are no different. It doesn't always work, but often you can pretty much manipulate people's decisions with the way you present numbers - if people aren't aware of how it works. Researchers asked a bunch of people whether or not they would take a particular cholesterol-lowering drug. But, they gave the information in different forms.
Trouble is, the risk was only a very small one to start with.
There are all sorts of ways that seemingly objective health information can skew the picture you see, or what you feel. There can be a big emotional difference, for example, in being told the death rate of a procedure - or the survival rate instead. Of course, if you know a lot about the issue, or what you really want or care about, none of this might matter. Often, though, it is worth just looking a bit deeper and making sure you've got a clear picture of what you face. Particularly when it's from a newspaper or magazine, where trying to catch attention and maybe be a bit sensational is a part of the equation.