Most of us do it—if not for ourselves, for someone we care
about. We Google symptoms and self-diagnose before we decide whether or not to
see a physician. In fact, Pew reports
that 72 percent of Internet users search for health-related information online.
Think about it: how many times have you arrived for a doctor
appointment prepared with a list of possible reasons for your ailment?
But there’s a big problem with this sort of practice. Not
all results are credible, which can make matters more complicated by causing
panic for no real reason. While the Internet is great for several types of
research, replacing a professional diagnosis isn’t one of them.
Here are four things patients should know before Googling
health symptoms.
1. Anyone Can Publish Content Online
When you Google your symptoms, search engines do their best
to pair results that match the search terms used. But search engines do not
factor in credence. Your search results may turn up a reputable medical site
that provides valuable information. But it can also turn up a Wikipedia
article, an open forum, or someone’s personal blog. These sources may be
entirely inaccurate and (more likely than not) aren’t being published by a
medical professional with the credentials or experience to offer advice on the
topic.
2. Wikipedia is NOT a Credible Source
Wikipedia is the sixth most popular website for medical information—and
that’s a terrifying fact. Anyone can write and edit Wikipedia articles with
wild abandon if they so choose. And even though Wikipedia has policies and
guidelines in place to improve the publication, it does not require
contributors to adhere to them. It doesn’t even require contributors to provide
their real name, which means there is zero accountability for what gets
modified or published.
All sorts of misinformation are published on Wikipedia, and
that’s particularly alarming from a medical standpoint. In a recent study, nine
out of 10 articles concerning the top most costly medical conditions in the
United States (coronary artery disease, lung cancer, depression,
osteoarthritis, hypertension, diabetes, and back pain) were not up-to-date with the latest research.
3. Googling Symptoms Causes Health Anxiety
Google just about any symptom and there’s bound to be
results that suggest surgery or connect the symptom with a form of cancer.
These extreme conclusions can cause serious anxiety, especially for people who
are already afraid of health problems. This anxiety happens so frequently
today, there’s a name for it—cyberchondria. According to the British news
source DailyMail.com, millions suffer from it.
Cyberchondriacs turn to the Web for comfort about their
health issues instead of a health professional. They can become obsessed and
the amount of time they spend checking the Web for information can interfere
with their daily lives. Because Internet articles cover everything from the
least to most severe cases of health issues, it becomes easy for these people to
exaggerate their symptoms and convince themselves their situation is much worse
than it actually is.
4. Googling Symptoms Costs Patients More Money
As explained above, Googling symptoms can turn patients into
a new type of hypochondriac. Hypochondriacs aren’t faking their anxiety and
they aren’t seeking attention. They are genuinely fearful or distressed about
their medical condition—even if their fears are irrational. This often leads to
frequent and sometimes unnecessary trips to the ER, urgent care, or physician’s
office, and ends up costing patients and the healthcare industry billions of dollars each year in unnecessary medical
tests and treatments.
Peace of mind is priceless, and the best peace of mind you
can receive is through professionally administered medical attention.
If you have health concerns, talk to your doctor—don’t rely
on the Internet. If you find exaggerated information about your condition, it
could cause unnecessary anxiety. If you find information that downplays your
condition, you might fail to give it the attention it requires, which could
result in a more serious situation.
Educate yourself regarding your health, but do so by consulting
reputable sources, including your doctor’s office and any handouts or pamphlets
they provide.