Dangers of using Google to self-diagnose

New research suggests that using Google to diagnose illnesses could be a very “unhealthy” way of getting appropriate medical treatment. Psychologists have even named this way of getting information about real or imagined ills cyberchondria.

There’s a lot of bogus information on the Internet, particularly when entering the realm of medical forums. Nearly half of all virtual health seekers end up more anxious than they were before they logged on.

Sometimes we need a mirror to see ourselves more clearly. The doctor is that mirror. By self-diagnosing, you may be missing something that you can’t see. A doctor is likely to give a much more accurate diagnosis than what you’ll get on Google. If you doubt the doctor’s diagnosis, tell him or her that you do and say why. This is much better than silently diagnosing your own condition.

Another danger of self-diagnosis is that you may think that there is more wrong with you than there actually is. For example, you may interpret symptoms that in someone else might seem like indigestion as a sign that you’re having a heart attack. On the other hand, you may either deny or underestimate your symptoms and miss a medical disease. For example, if you decide that you have a panic disorder, you may miss the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism or an irregular heartbeat.

Saner, savvier searching

- Get some perspective. Just because you share a symptom with a disease doesn’t mean you have the disease. There’s probably a simple, non-life-threatening explanation for your aches or pains. Don’t ignore symptoms, but don’t immediately assume the worst.

- Instead of self-diagnosing, write down your symptoms and any questions that you may have and take them to your doctor. He or she will examine you, suggest certain tests and reach a diagnosis based on factors that you may not have considered, such as your age and family history.

- Keep psychology in mind. One study found that you’re more likely to believe that you have a condition if you see all your symptoms listed in a row rather than broken up by unfamiliar ones. Read symptom lists completely, without skipping anything. If many don’t apply to you, you can probably breathe easier.

Because of the negative repercussions of self-diagnosing, Google, with the help of the Mayo Clinic, has created doctor-vetted e-cards that pop up in hundreds of health searches. Nevertheless, while Googling may sometimes be helpful and informative, it is always best to consult a doctor.

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