Anyone can be an “expert” on the Internet. On one hand, facts get replaced with opinions. On the other, people can post dangerously misleading information. Even if the information itself is correct, it can still cause problems for its readers. For example: searching symptoms and relying on Doctor Google for a diagnosis.
Trying to diagnose yourself with Google’s help can lead to unnecessary stress and further problems in life. Here are some things you should know before Googling your symptoms and trusting your search results to be an accurate diagnosis.
A note: The symptoms we post on this blog are meant to educate, rather than diagnose. If you have a question about any of these possible illnesses or conditions, you will need to talk to your physician. Don’t try to diagnose yourself based on the symptoms within our blog.
1. Wikipedia is NOT Credible
While it’s true that Wikipedia has a lot of safeguards against false information, the fact remains that people still post it. If posters provide a source, it can be a while before someone else fact-checks that source. And in that while, you may find yourself the victim of a bad source.
Even if the sources are good, it may not be likely that the information is up-to-date. Developments in the medical field happen frequently. And, unless someone maintaining those pages is also up-to-date, data on these diseases quickly becomes old news.
2. Googling Causes Health Anxiety
Go ahead–type just about any set of symptoms into a search engine. Chances are, a good chunk of your results will point the finger at cancer, heart failure, or other serious health problems.While they can be related, it isn’t always likely that they are. This is because posts on physical conditions or sets of symptoms cover everything from the most minor cases to the worst.
But all it takes is reading those worst-case scenarios, and our stress levels spike. This in turn can cause serious anxiety–which gets worse if you’re already worried about these issues. There’s even a name for this specific type of anxiety: cyberchondria. Sufferers of cyberchondria can avoid seeking professional advice, and turn to the internet as a result of obsession.
3. It’ll Cost You
Cyberchondriacs, though, aren’t faking, and they’re not attention-seekers. Their anxiety is real, even if their fears make no sense. Health anxiety combined with a threatening internet diagnosis can end in a trip to the ER or urgent care. After a good deal of stress and expensive tests, it often turns out that a “heart attack” was actually heartburn or a pinched nerve. And the sufferer’s anxiety is no better for it, especially combined with that hospital bill.
Plus, these unnecessary trips cost the medical industry as well. According to Brian Fallon, MD, a professor of psychiatry at Columbia University, hypochondria and cyberchondria can cost the industry billions of dollars per year.
What You Can Do
The best action to take instead of Googling? A visit to your doctor for whatever discomfort or concern you’re experiencing. Only a doctor can assess your symptoms accurately and make a diagnosis. Plus, a doctor can prescribe the appropriate treatment to help you feel better sooner.
Worried about your health? Contact us today!