Google Should Never Replace A Real Doctor!

This week, we had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Linda Girgis. Linda is a family physician who treats patients in South River, New Jersey and its surrounding communities.

Dr. Girgis is a firm believer of educating her patients on how to use Doctor Google safely.

“Many patients Google their health symptoms, and I tend to find them looking at the worst-case scenarios and they worry needlessly” says Dr. Girgis.

She believes googling health symptoms can be a positive thing. She generally loves when patients have researched their health and bring her articles they find online. However, she is finding more and more patients are being deceived by misinformation or exaggerations found on Google.

Dr Girgis finds patients who Google live on two polarizing ends. They either Google their symptoms and fall into a false security that nothing is wrong – which lends them into delayed diagnoses and treatments when there is an issue. Or, they research on Google and “convince themselves that they have cancer, and no amount of testing could convince them otherwise”. Most often, unnecessary tests are conducted due to trying to convince the patient that they are healthy and fine.

In general, Dr. Girgis thinks Doctor Google can be a good idea – “BUT, patients need to be educated” she says. Patients sometimes believe the treatments and remedies they read online, this can be very dangerous or ineffective.

It is important to know which sites are the best to use; otherwise you are reading a bunch of useless and incorrect information. She recommends Maya Clinic, Cleveland Clinic or the CDC.

“Dr. Google should never replace a real doctor” according to Dr. Girgis.

Follow Dr. Girgis on Twitter for more healthcare advise and recommendations @LindaGirgis,MD

‘Don’t let the web, get to your head’

Stop Dr Google.

More Real-Life Cyberchondria Stories

This week, we spoke to more of our readers about their DR Google experiences. Here are some of their stories:

Female, 22

Q. Why did you Google your health symptoms?

A. I was curious to what Google would say.

Q. What symptoms did you Google?

A. I’ve recently googled right arm hurting, wisdom teeth symptoms, ear infection and fainting.

Q. What was Google’s diagnosis?

A. The right arm hurting was apparently a heart attack – this didn’t worry me very much since it’s quite extreme. But my painful wisdom teeth was showing to be a really bad ear infection.

Q. Did you seek a professional’s opinion?

A. Yes, Google was correct about the ear infection however the suggested treatment was incorrect.

Female, 24

Q. Why did you Google your health symptoms?

A. I Google every kind of symptom that ever pops up. From simple things like causes of headaches because I don’t want to waste a doctors time…to more private things that you don’t particularly want to see a doctor about.

Q. What symptoms did you Google?

A. Ankle sprain

Q. What was Google’s diagnosis?

A. Torn ligaments in my ankle

Q. Did you seek a professional’s opinion?

A. Yes, I went to my physio the next day – she said I had torn ligaments but not to the extreme as described by Google. She also picked up on other issues with my ankle that Google did not mention.

Male, 23

Q. Why did you Google your health symptoms?

A. Yes, to read about different forms of mental health issues.

Q. What symptoms did you Google?

A. Basically feelings, thoughts, dreams, symptoms of mental health issues i.e. lack of sleep etc.

Q. What was Google’s diagnosis?

A. I most likely have a mild case of bipolar disorder called cyclothymia or minor early stages of depression

Q. Did you seek a professional’s opinion?

A. No, I have not gone to go and see a doctor.

If you’d like to share your cyberchondria stories with us, please email stopdrgoogling@gmail.com.

Don’t let the web, get to your head!

Stop Dr Google.

Tips for Finding Health Information Online

Stop DR Google aims to convince YOU that Googling a health symptom is dangerous and to stop! BUT, we know it is impossible to make ALL OF YOU walk away from the keyboard. The least we can do is give you tips on how to find trustworthy health information online and make safe choices.

Tip 1. Research the website not just your symptom!
Look into the site you are reading, don’t just select the first website that Google suggests. Ensure the information was written by a reputable health organisation – read the ‘about us’ section to validate it is a trustworthy site. Charities and associations that are dedicated to a specific health condition are a good source of information, for example, Endometriosisaustralia.org or diabetesaustralia.com.au.

Tip 2. Be specific with your choice of Google words
Googling specific health symptoms will be more likely to generate accurate results. Vague searches will often be a symptom for a terrible illness; for instance, a bad headache is a symptom of brain cancer. But the chance of having brain cancer is extremely low compared to other headache related conditions. Don’t wander around sites just because you are curious, only read articles specific to your symptoms only.

Tip 3. Consistency
Don’t just read one site, read a few that back up your findings. This will improve the accuracy, relevance and validation to your self-diagnosis. Look for facts and figures; steer clear of opinion pieces, exaggerations and hyperboles.Tip 4. Don’t Panic
Even if you follow the above steps and a terrible diagnosis shows up, do not panic! You must remember a rare disease is RARE and will always require a professional diagnosis for confirmation.

Tip 5. Accept that your self-diagnosis can be wrong
Visit a doctor! Accept that he/she may tell you it isn’t a rare disease and Google was in fact, incorrect.

Don’t let the web, get to your head!

Stop Dr Google.

Real-Life Cyberchondria Stories

This week, we spoke to some of our readers about their DR Google experiences. Here are some of their stories

Female, 22

Q. Why did you Google your health symptoms?

A. I wanted to find out what was wrong without going to a doctor and to see what other people with similar symptoms were experiencing.

Q. What symptoms did you Google?

A. Small lump near breast

Q. What was Google’s diagnosis?

A. The most common response was breast cancer

Q. Did you seek a professional’s opinion?

A. Yes! I was quite worried, so I went to my GP and a breast specialist. Turns out it was a hormonal muscle gland.

Female, 22

Q. Why did you Google your health symptoms?

A. I was curious to what Google would say.

Q. What symptoms did you Google?

A. Wisdom teeth symptoms

Q. What was Google’s diagnosis?

A. Google said I was having a really bad ear infection.

Q. Did you seek a professional’s opinion?

A. Yes, Google was correct about the ear infection however the suggested treatment was incorrect.

Female, 30

Q. Why did you Google your health symptoms?

A. I was in pain late at night and needed answers!

Q. What symptoms did you Google?

A. Pain in left arm

Q. What was Google’s diagnosis?

A. Google’s first diagnosis was a heart attack. As I read over the symptoms, I became extremely anxious and stressed. I also became short of breath, which was another symptom of a heart attack.

Q. Did you seek a professional’s opinion?

A. Yes, I called a health hotline and they spoke with me about all my symptoms. They couldn’t explain the pain in my left arm without physically seeing me, but did say I was experiencing a panic attack and I shouldn’t Google my health symptoms.

Don’t let the web, get to your head!

Stop Dr Google.

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