Scrolling health symptoms online can lead to stress and anxiety
It’s been two years of worrying over symptoms such as coughs and temperatures. And coupled with the fact that many people missed out on general check-ups with a doctor – NHS data showed a 30% decrease in GP appointments during the peak of the pandemic – it’s only natural to want reassurance that you’re fit and well.
Google is often the first port of call to seek answers for health problems or to suss out new niggles. On the internet, you can read about symptoms, get treatment tips and scroll forums that discuss it all from common ailments to more serious conditions. But despite the usefulness of this 24/7 resource, could searching health symptoms online actually be making us all feel more anxious?
What is cyberchondria?
‘Cyberchondria’ is the term to describe health anxiety that is often fuelled by googling symptoms and self-diagnosing. A study by Imperial College London found that the condition is on the rise due to the wealth of health information available online. ‘People now go to their GPs with a whole list of things they’ve looked up on the internet,’ says Professor Peter Tyrer, who led the study. ‘Dr Google is very informative, but he doesn’t put things in the right proportion.’ Research also reveals that health anxiety can sometimes lead to symptoms, such as headaches and chest pains, which could often be mistaken for a physical illness.
Are you stressed about symptoms?
You may be suffering from internet-induced health anxiety if you recognise any of the following:
✣ Having an overwhelming preoccupation with physical symptoms and health.
✣ Doing lengthy online searches at the first sign of symptoms or feeling unwell.
✣ Self-diagnosing medical conditions as a result of internet searches.
✣ Remaining unconvinced when getting reassurance or a diagnosis from a doctor or health professional.
✣ Feeling increased anxiety when thinking about your health.
✣ Having health concerns that impact on your work and relationships.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Take a look at the most searched-for questions by people looking to cure minor health complaints, according to Google data.
✣ How to treat piles
✣ What causes constipation?
✣ What causes night sweats?
✣ How to stop farting
✣ How to get rid of bad breath
✣ How much hair loss is normal?
✣ Why do I pee when I cough?
100 MILLION
Number of health-related internet searches made in the past 12 months
by people in the UK**
HOW TO AVOID HEALTH AN
