Don’t be your own ‘doctor’
SINCE the advent of the Internet, many people have chosen to ask Google for just about anything and everything. They’d then be directed to the various sites that may have the answers. This isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it’s one of the best and fastest ways to get some answers.
Before the Internet, you had to go to the library to search for information; sifting through not just the bookshelves and journal racks, but possibly the microfilms and microfiches too. It was so time-consuming.
I guess that’s why in those days, you’d go and see the doctor the moment you felt unwell rather than head to the library to speculate on what was ailing you. You’d dive into research mode only if you really had to.
This was something I did when the doctors told me that my first-born son had febrile fits. And then words like intractable clonic-tonic seizures, hemispherectomy surgeries, infarct in the brain and many other terms were bandied about.
My head spun as I tried to take in all these new words and knowledge. As a first-time mum and a non-medical person, it was a lot to absorb and understand. But decisions needed to be made.
Fast-forward three decades... all this information can be revealed as you type out the words. Everything you need to know is now at your fingertips.
FACT OR FICTION
However, be mindful that not everything you read is the total truth. Not all information on the Internet is accurate or up to date, and not all of them are based on facts. Even some of the seemingly convincing reports are hearsay or anecdotal at best. Some could be presented out of context. Learn to know the difference, otherwise you can end up being scared to the point of paranoia.
It may take a bit more time, but processing information is something you should make an effort to do because it can save you a lot of trouble later. Always verify the source of information. If you can’t do that, ask people who are in the field. Unfortunately, we’re quite prone to read and believe sensational stories spread, shared and “forwarded many times” through social media.
You can get information about almost anything from the Internet. The topics are wide and varied, and they can be on anything from as simple as the best food to eat at a certain location, kitchen hacks, home remedies for better health, impossible stunts, a medley of funny or horrific videos, to real life surgical procedures.
One of the most common instances of this would be googling medical conditions or illness that you’re facing. The Internet is the first place many people head to before seeing their doctor.
There are pros and cons to doing this. The advantages of reading up about your concerns before seeing the doctor would help with the questions to ask and also allay your fears. When the doctor explains your situation to you and discusses treatments, you wouldn’t be so wide-eyed with shock or totally clueless.
But sometimes, what you read can be so scary that it puts you off from seeking medical help.
AVOID SELF-DIAGNOSIS
How many times have you read that even the simplest of conditions can lead to or be cancerous? You might Google for something as simple as headaches, or bloated stomach, and end up finding several explanations for these conditions. But as you read on, there’d always be that last bit stating that it could be something serious like cancer or other debilitating outcomes.
There are people who’ve done this and end up refusing to see a doctor even for a basic check-up. They’d rather not know or get it confirmed. They’re so scared after what they’d read that they’d rather sit quietly at home and suffer the consequences alone than consult the doctor and see what could be done about it. This behaviour may seem irrational, but fear and panic can do that to you.
Sometimes, a simple consultation to rectify the problem is all it takes. That awful pain or discomfort can be easily remedied by simple off-the counter medications or some lifestyle changes.
When information is so easily obtainable like this, avoid being your own doctor or to the loved ones in your care, and diagnosing the problems purely based on what you’ve read from the Internet. Your “diagnosis” can be so wrong and harmful to yourself and others.
Worse still is trying to medicate yourself or your loved ones, again coming to the conclusion based on what you read off the Internet. Even though the medications can be easily obtained from pharmacies without consultation because they’re off-the counter medications, they can still be harmful to your body if used incorrectly.
Remember that idiom, “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing”? While knowledge is power, you have to wield it well. The same applies here.