When “Dr. Google” Gets It Wrong: More Than a Third of Americans Are Misinformed on Health Topics
We’ve all Googled a symptom before — some of us have done it more than once. After all, why not? It’s more convenient than setting up an appointment and going to the doctor. Plus, it’s way cheaper than having to pay for the medical bills that might come after. Dr. Google seems to really care about our health! However, sometimes, we have to go to a real one, as Dr. Google can sometimes misdiagnose us — and this comes with risks!
Calling Dr. Google: Please Proceed to the Internet!
Many turn to Dr. Google for help. Bayer organized a poll — for American Heart Month — and they learned that nearly 2 in 5 (39%) of Americans used the internet to look up their symptoms instead of visiting their doctor. Knowing that there’s something wrong with your body is great. However, some “cures” and “preventative measures” for certain ailments (that can be found on the web) have been debunked by medical experts before. Unfortunately, many still believe — and, worse — prefer these methods as a form of treatment instead.
In the survey, 64% believe that carbs are unhealthy — which is worth noting that several health specialists said is incorrect. In a Cleveland Clinic article, dietitian Julia Zumpano said, “Carbohydrates are our body’s main source of energy,”
Moreover, 47% of those who were polled believe that fish oil can be a cure for certain diseases. 45% of them also believe that garlic can work just as well as certain medications. While these foods and supplements are generally harmless — and they seem to aid in plenty of our health concerns — replacing them with medicine and taking them without informing your doctor can be harmful to your health.
The Risks of Having Dr. Google as Your Attending Physician
There are a bunch of misconceptions and misinformation all over the internet. Sometimes, they’re written so convincingly, that some people are susceptible to believing Dr. Google instead of their real-life doctor — and it can come with risks!
“Cyberchondria”
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, “Cyberchondria refers to a clinical phenomenon in which repeated Internet searches regarding medical information result in excessive concerns about physical health.” — the word comes from the condition “hypochondria,” a form of anxiety disorder where one excessively worries that something is wrong with them when, they’re in fact, just overthinking and amplifying their condition.
When a person constantly searches for symptoms on the internet, it can lead to anxiety and fear. Googling certain ailments has also become somewhat of an internet joke, where people would post things like, “When you Google ‘headache’ and WebMD tells you it’s a brain tumor” — in some instances, this commonly-done internet activity can be comical. However, it goes to show that info on the internet is sometimes incorrect. Unfortunately, some will believe these things that they find on the web.
“Self-misdiagnosis”
On the other hand, some web users suffer from illnesses that need to be prioritized, but aren’t — because they’re unaware that their condition needs to be treated right away. Some might already suffer from heart conditions or they’re at risk for having a stroke, but they don’t know it — as they only Google symptoms without getting tested or physically checked.
Some diseases call for medical apparatuses, devices, or machinery — with the help of health professionals. A simple headache, for instance, can sometimes be a symptom of a stroke but the internet user won’t know for certain unless a doctor conducts a test and have the patient undergo an X-Ray, CT Scan, and/or MRI. And, as many of us know, a stroke can be fatal if left untreated.
Too self-assured to believe (even the actual experts)
Other people believe that they already know what’s wrong with them based on what they found on the internet. Therefore, they feel as though they need not be told otherwise. Some are too convinced by their self-diagnosis that they won’t even listen to a medical professional anymore. This can also potentially be detrimental to their health — especially when they refuse the treatment that’s advised by their physician.
Furthermore, it may be true that we know our bodies best, however, when we base our treatment solely on how we’re feeling, — it can possibly worsen the conditions that we initially felt (but no longer do). Sometimes, even if there aren’t any symptoms anymore, that doesn’t mean we’re illness-free.
For instance, most bacterial infections need to be treated by antibiotics — but some people discontinue the advised number of days they need to take them once they’re no longer feeling the symptoms of the infection. This can become a problem as they’re very likely to develop antibiotic resistance — and this has been a global concern for years now.
What a Coincidence…
Many of us are being attended to by Dr. Google! Searching on the internet about a symptom when you’re not feeling well isn’t so bad — because that means you know your body, and you’re concerned enough to find out what’s wrong. However, when it comes to the cure, it’s best that you see an actual physician.
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