Think twice before consulting ‘Dr Google’
According to study, self-diagnosis using internet and relying solely on online information could be harmful for health
Have you ever noticed that every time we are stuck in a difficult situation or are looking for a solution to almost anything under the sun, we bank upon Mr. Google! We are so engrossed in this digital world that we rely on the internet for small things like shopping, socialising, learning new things or for that matter, finding a medicine for a quick relief.
Since we get solutions within the snap of a finger, Google has transformed into ‘Dr. Google’! No matter how easy and time-saving it may seem, self-diagnosis and medication are putting your health at risk.
It is quite ironical that people find it difficult to spare time to even visit a doctor but spend hours on the internet looking for antibiotics that give them relief. Dr. Ravi Gaur, Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Oncquest Labs Pvt. Ltd., says, “Dr. Google and other such internet search sites have made the medical practice very easy but it’s scary too. When we're down with any illness, people often opt for searching on the internet, rather than going to a doctor to save their time and arrive at a diagnosis.”
According to a report published in The Telegraph, one in four self-diagnose on the internet instead of visiting the doctor. Despite the fact that the internet offers great information about the diseases, precautions and treatments, relying solely on the online information can be dangerous.
Firstly, the internet is a mixed bag of resources that may be misleading or baseless; secondly, it can lead to unnecessary anxiety, fears, and withdrawal from the fact that s/he is suffering from a disease.
Dr. Ravi Gaur added, “Selfdiagnosis can be very harmful because there are many disorders which have common symptoms. For e.g. if someone is suffering from a serious disorder but Google shows some other disorder, they might take simple medicines and skip going to a doctor. At times, self-diagnosis done by Dr. Internet simply by matching symptoms may conclude that it’s a case of the heart attack; however, a more objective analysis by a qualified doctor, that also considers the risk of having a particular condition, might suggest that it’s just a case of hiccups. This can lead to serious health issues. Thus, by using the internet to self-diagnose can be unwise because we tend to focus on symptoms rather than the risk of having the illness.”