Cyberchondria-Researching your medical symptoms on the Web can lead to anxiety

[MM_II]

Cyberchondria- is a new condition for which a person constantly searches the web for medical advice and gets anxiety

Link to article


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/25/technology/internet/25symptoms.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

[AtmoLav]

There's a brilliant bit on Wikipedia about this....

Many reputable medical organizations maintain websites that may include brief overviews of various conditions for individuals with a general curiosity, or more detailed information to aid the understanding of people who have been properly diagnosed. Often listing diagnoses without regard to incidence, prevalence, or relevant risk factors, websites may lead users to suspect rather rare and unlikely diseases as the source of their complaints. Since many benign conditions share symptoms with more serious ailments and are listed side-by-side, users without proper medical consultation may assume the worst rather than the likely diagnosis. Web-diagnosis can cause a great deal of distress and anxiety in users who believe themselves to have incurable and serious illnesses.

Patients who go against medical advice or refuse to accept a professional diagnosis while quoting web sources has become more common and can be a frustrating obstacle to physicians trying to provide a professional standard of care. When in doubt, patients should attempt to get a second opinion before turning to web-based sources. Self diagnosis should not be used as a substitute for a professional medical consultation.

[anxious]

i refer to it as googleitis :D

[nickieb]

Hmmmm thats me....

[jabeebabee]

And me too!