Why you should not 'search' your symptoms online

With the access to information online, you may feel compelled to trust the Internet in place of a doctor. Throwing away the old school method of booking a doctor's appointment if symptoms persist could be moving you nearer to your grave. Before you get scared, here's why you should stop banking on the internet and start trusting and relying on your doctor.

You can misdiagnose yourself

The Internet has a lot of information and you may find the symptoms listed fitting yours. Much as it is a fit, not having undergone any actual tests leaves you with incomprehensive information for you to form a conclusion. You may see a cough as a sign of kidney failure and run around ranting how you are nearing death yet you only have common cold.

You may delay actual help

Once you confirm that what you've seen online is what you are feeling, it can give you a false sense of relief. You may think you are okay or opt to delay going for immediate checkup only for you to be worsening the situation. Often, when symptoms persist, one should seek medical advice. Thinking you know it all and choosing to stay home could be the beginning of deepening your disease's roots.

The Internet offers conflicting information

Much as the Internet has information from many sources, it offers a lot of conflicting information. You should not trust the Internet to tell you what you are experiencing because this site could say this while the other portrays a totally different picture. Trusting a doctor after doing the relevant recommended tests is what should give you compact information.

You may get into a panic attack

Once you see what you have on the Internet, you can go on a frenzy of emotion worrying about your health. There are sites on the internet that exaggerate symptoms and could be giving you false information. Instead of trusting the interest as the final say, you rather panic when in the arms of a professional. Better yet, a doctor can recommend counselling and knows how to deliver news however heavy to a patient. Sucking it all in alone can make you lose control of yourself and composure, worsening the situation.

Some websites are unreliable

There are many websites out there that do not give advice from a medical point of view since there is no regulation on the information posted online. Some sites are about marketing and business. Some may even recommend some concoction to cure ailments that need surgical treatment. Be wary of such sites and choose to seek medical attention from the real experts.

‘Googling’ your symptoms can be hazardous and should not be habitual. Try as much as possible to visit the doctor. There is a reason why they spend so much time in medical school which cannot be compared to the minutes of reading a blog post.