Why Googling Your Symptoms Might Make You Feel Worse
Key takeaways:
There is a lot of health information available online, and it can be hard to know what is accurate and what isn’t.
Symptom checkers are easy to use, but they’re less accurate than medical professionals.
Frequent searching for health information online can cause anxiety and lead to unnecessary medical visits.
Close to 70% of people every year turn to the internet for information about their health. Some people try to learn more about a diagnosis, while others try to find a reason for their symptoms.
Google can help you find a lot of information, but it can be hard to know if that information is accurate or if it fits with your symptoms. Sometimes, the information you find may be wrong or misleading. Other times, the information may be accurate, but not right for your situation. Some people may not be able to tell if the information is right for them or not, and they may start to worry that they have a serious medical condition.
Here, we’ll discuss how to tell if the information you find is reliable and how to best learn more about your symptoms, both on and offline.
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How accurate is the medical information I get when researching my symptoms?
The accuracy or reliability of the medical information you find online may depend on its source. The highest-quality medical information is found on government websites, followed by academic websites, according to a recent study looking at the quality of medical information online. This is likely because both of these types of websites often have experts review the medical information they post.
Examples of government-related websites that have accurate and reliable health information are the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Academic websites with accurate information include university hospital websites and professional medical society organization websites. Examples of these include:
Other types of websites may be less accurate. There are a few key things you can do to help decide if the information you are reading is likely accurate:
Look for the name and credentials of the author. Are they easy to find? Do they have the education and training to be an expert on this topic?
Check for scientific evidence that supports the information. Does the author or website list research studies that support the information they present?
Compare the information to other reliable sources — like those listed above — and see if it agrees.
Why is there so much misinformation related to medical diagnoses?
There are a few reasons why it is easy to come across medical misinformation online.
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Not all medical information available online is verified
While government and academic websites evaluate the medical information they post, other websites may not.
Not all medical information is posted by experts
Social media websites are especially likely to have medical misinformation. This is because anyone can post anything there, even if they are not a medical professional.
Not all medical information fits everyone equally
Some people may share their experience with a disease or set of symptoms online. But that doesn’t mean you’ll have the same experience. Medical diagnosis is not a simple checklist. The same set of symptoms can mean different things for different people.
What is a primary source and how can I tell if I’m reading one?
Primary sources are those that show the evidence behind their claims, like a research study. These are often found on reliable scientific websites like PubMed or academic or professional medical society websites. An example of a primary source is this study of online symptom checking in an emergency room.
Secondary sources
Secondary sources are sources that discuss the results of studies. These include review articles that combine the results of many research studies. Secondary sources can also be textbooks, news articles, and websites.
Whether you’re reading a primary or a secondary source, it’s always a good idea to compare the information you find to other reputable sources.
What are the risks of using symptom checkers to diagnose a condition?
Symptom checkers are an easy way to see what your symptoms may mean, but they are not as reliable as medical care. When compared to physicians, symptom checkers are less likely to make an accurate diagnosis. Symptom checkers are also less likely to triage your symptoms correctly. This means that they may tell you to go to the hospital when you could care for your symptoms at home.
Symptom checkers are less reliable than medical professionals because making a diagnosis is more complicated than running through a checklist. Sometimes, common symptoms can be signs of serious medical conditions. Other times, very bothersome symptoms may mean only mild, non-serious illness. For example, back pain may be due to a pulled muscle or to cancer, and headache and nausea may be from dehydration or from a brain tumor.
A symptom checker compares your symptoms to those commonly found in many different medical conditions, but it does not know if your symptoms are mild or severe. It also does not know any other medical history or family history that might make one diagnosis more likely than another. When medical professionals make a diagnosis, they use their many years of past medical experience to evaluate the following information:
A history of your symptoms
What medications you’re taking
Your family medical history
Physical exam findings
Lab work
Radiology studies
A symptom checker may be able to diagnose a very common problem that does not need urgent medical care. But it may miss more serious or less common medical problems. Using a symptom checker without any other medical care may cause you to end up with a misdiagnosis. This may lead to seeking care when you don’t need it, or not seeking care when you do need it. The best thing to do is to always discuss your symptoms and the results of any symptom checker with your healthcare provider.
How does researching conditions increase anxiety?
Researching health conditions can sometimes increase anxiety. This may be because it may make you think you have a condition that you do not have, or that your condition is worse than it actually is. Some people may worry that they did something to cause their condition. Others may feel afraid that their normal diet or activities will make their symptoms worse. Some people may even stop a medication that they need or start a medication that can be harmful.
Because all of these things can affect your health, the best thing to do is always talk to your healthcare provider about any information you read online. Don’t make any health decisions based on internet information without talking to a healthcare professional first.
What is cyberchondria?
Anxiety or excessive worry about physical health because of reading online health information is known as cyberchondria. Sometimes, cyberchondria may cause a cycle where people read health information online, feel anxious, and then try to find more information for reassurance.
Cyberchondria can affect people in many negative ways. Some people may become so concerned about online health information that it affects their daily activities. For other people, the excessive worry may lead to unnecessary medical visits.
Scientists have noticed cyberchondria develop in recent years, but compared to other conditions it is new. That means that there is still a lot that researchers need to learn about it.
What if my symptoms are not the same as what I find online?
Not everyone experiences symptoms in the same way, even for the same condition. If what you find does not exactly match your symptoms, the best thing to do is to gather as much information as you can. You can use several different websites. Write down the information that does match your symptoms and any questions you have. Then reach out to your healthcare provider and schedule an appointment.
What should I do if I can’t find the information I am looking for about my symptoms?
You can try checking other websites and looking for similar symptoms. If that does not help answer your questions, it is important not to get frustrated, overwhelmed, or frightened. It is good to review health information online, but it is always better to get care from medical professionals. Healthcare providers can diagnose your symptoms accurately.
How can I tell if my symptoms require urgent attention?
Serious symptoms need immediate medical care, like:
Chest pain
Difficulty breathing
Vision or hearing changes
Muscle weakness or paralysis
Severe pain
Symptoms after any kind of accident also require immediate attention. Symptoms that are not serious but are very bothersome or seem to be progressing quickly also need urgent care. These include:
Pain or swelling that won’t go away
New lumps, bumps, or skin changes
Any kind of abnormal bleeding
If you aren’t sure if your symptoms need urgent attention, call your healthcare provider’s office. Often, there is someone there who can help you determine if you need care by phone. If they are not able to help or you are not able to reach anyone, the safest thing to do is to seek care at an emergency room or an urgent care center. It is better to seek care than to ignore symptoms that could be serious.
What are some alternatives to Google searching if I’m concerned about a symptom I’m experiencing?
First, if the symptom is related to a diagnosis that you already have, you can look at reliable websites about your diagnosis. For example, if you have rheumatoid arthritis, you can read about symptoms on the American College of Rheumatology website. You can also look up information on the CDC website, as well as the websites of universities or hospitals that are well-known for treating your condition.
The best thing to do is to call your healthcare provider and ask about the symptoms. Sometimes they can answer any questions you may have over the phone. If you are not able to reach your healthcare provider or they ask to see you in person, call the office and make an appointment as soon as possible.
The bottom line
With so much information available online, it can be hard to tell which information is accurate. Symptom checkers can help you narrow down possible causes for your symptoms, but they’re not as good as medical professionals at making an accurate diagnosis. The best thing to do when researching your symptoms is to gather as much information as possible, write down your questions or concerns, and speak with your healthcare provider. For serious or life-threatening symptoms, don’t spend time researching online. Instead, get medical attention immediately.
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