Are you one who turns to the Internet like Shannon when you suddenly feel a pain in your back or a cramp in your stomach? Google is notorious for giving us the worst case scenario answers when we search our symptoms. The scary part is, we believe the results! A new survey commissioned by LetsGetChecked reveals that going to Google to search your health issues is causing more harm to your life than good. Around 2,000 Americans were polled for the survey and 65% of them claim that they turn to Google to research their symptoms. It's been reported that two out of five of these Americans have self-diagnosed themselves.
Interestingly, 75% of the survey's participants state that searching their symptoms on Google, stressed them out more than their actual health issues. Although the answers to these health searches were less than 40% correct, Google seems to be replacing regular health physicians.Six out of the ten participants revealed that they choose not to go to the doctor when they're sick. In addition, a quarter of the participants claimed that they didn't even have a primary care physician.
Dr. Robert Mordkin, medical director of LetsGetChecked stated, "While educating yourself can be a good thing, it is important to have objective testing." So maybe turning to the Internet isn't the best alternative when we are concerned about our health issues. Just go to the doctor!