Dr Google
5 Aug 2012

Dr Google

2 mins to read
Where do you get your health information from? Television programs such as Dr Oz? Internet chat rooms? Books? Or do you get your health information the old fashioned way and consult your healthcare professional?


Where do you get your health information from? Television programs such as Dr Oz? Internet chat rooms? Books? Or do you get your health information the old fashioned way and consult your healthcare professional?

As winter digs in its heels and the chilly wind starts to blow, I ready myself with my own personal winter wellness program. Plenty of hot yoga (new favourite), lots fresh fruits and vegetables and recently cutting out coffee and wine seem to be doing the job – touch wood.

I always have Echinacea, vitamin C and zinc at the ready in case I need an extra boost. My personal approach comes from my naturopathic training and years of clinical practice, as well as listening to my body. However, many people are confused by the piles of information out there and feel health care is more confusing than ever.

The sheer amount of information available can be over whelming: from Dr Oz, and his devotees, to the many, many websites and blogs, all touting the latest get well quick gimmick. Friends and family can also be valuable sources of information, or more confusion! Have you ever tried to diagnose your own symptoms on line? Do you turn to ‘Dr Google’ and become an overnight expert in health care and prescribing?

To try this out myself, I jumped on google to diagnose an imaginary cough. There were so many websites to choose from it was a bit scary. I started on one that after asking a few preliminary questions about my vitals, asked some questions around the symptoms of my cough, and then suggested and rated the likelihood of a long list of possible illnesses.  It is easy to then pick one you like the sound of, enter the disease name into google, and become an internet “expert” on this disease. Ends up I have everything from bronchitis, pneumona, asthma to bronchospasm. This could easily lead to unnecessary worry and stress, as well as causing a delay in contacting a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and treatment. The consequences of which may have a profound health impact.

There is no doubt that the accessibility of information can be a useful tool. However when your health is at stake, it is worth talking to a real expert. Of course you can do your own research to arm yourself with relevant questions but no internet search can replace years of medical training and clinical experience that your accredited health care professional has.

Have you ever diagnosed yourself online? Did you then take the treatment recommended, or did you consult your healthcare professional?



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