The urge to search the internet for a medical diagnosis could remedy concerns over a possible illness for some people, but it could exacerbate them in others, according to research from Microsoft cited by STAT.
More than one-third of Americans search for diagnoses online, according to a 2013 Pew Survey, and half of those people discuss their findings with an actual healthcare provider. Although the internet can be a helpful educational tool, obsessively searching for medical information can become a health condition itself, one researchers have termed "cyberchondria," according to STAT.
Whether real or conjured, people in the U.S. most commonly search for the following 20 health conditions, according to data analysis by STAT.
- Diabetes
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Hemorrhoid
- Yeast infection
- Lupus
- Shingles
- Psoriasis
- Schizophrenia
- Lyme disease
- HPV
- Herpes
- Pneumonia
- Fibromyalgia
- Scabies
- Chlamydia
- Endometriosis
- Strep throat
- Diverticulitis
- Bronchitis
More articles on quality:
Why daily cleaning may not be enough: Every moment counts
US leads other nations in health inequality: 8 things to know
Testing for Zika increases 37% nationwide, athenahealth finds