Is it wise to use medical information you find on the web to self-diagnose your

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  1. profile image43
    maoroelvisposted 12 years ago

    Patients are using internet to find their way to self diagnose their health problems is it wise? Why or why not?

    1. Karen N profile image70
      Karen Nposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Just like with anything else you have to use common sense. For more serious conditions you should always go to a doctor but there is nothing wrong with doing a little research on the internet to get some ideas on what might be wrong. For simple conditions like for instance toe nail fungus there is nothing wrong with looking up some home remedies and giving them a try.

  2. profile image0
    msivakumarposted 12 years ago

    Not wise. Reason - well, its a no-brainer, self diagnosis and self-medication puts your LIFE at risk.

  3. Shil1978 profile image85
    Shil1978posted 12 years ago

    It is foolish to use medical info you find on the web to self-diagnose, not that it is fine to do so otherwise. You would never know enough to self-diagnose. You are not a doctor and some things are better left to trained docs!

    Some of the health info you find on the web is just not credible, in fact it can be downright misleading and inaccurate. I wrote a hub about how to search for credible health info a while back. Don't take a chance - consult a doc is what I'd say any day!!

  4. profile image43
    maoroelvisposted 12 years ago

    Ok, thanx.

  5. IzzyM profile image87
    IzzyMposted 12 years ago

    I would disagree with the idea that it is wrong to self-diagnose by going by information found online. I think what you need to look for is consistency.

    If every site says the same thing then there is a fair chance that it what it is.

    I would hope that people who self-diagnose using the internet then go to their doctor and tell him or her their suspicions so that the doctor can make the final diagnosis.

    They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, especially when it comes to medical matters, but it is also said that knowledge is power.

  6. profile image0
    Majadezposted 12 years ago

    I think that it's fine to search your symptoms online to give you an idea of what you might be suffering from. However, it is not a good idea to draw any conclusions from it. Many times the stuff online points to serious diseases whereas your ailment could be something really minor. Your doctor may also be annoyed and you may start to feel like a hypochondriac. The Internet is a good tool in double-checking but Google did not go through seven years plus of med school! Nor can a simple online test tell you the same as years of knowledge and scientific diagnostic methods and technology. It can give you an idea, or an overview, that's all.

  7. profile image0
    Emile Rposted 12 years ago

    Yes and no. I heard a doctor say once that almost any medical problem will be better if you just wait until the morning.

    If you are going to self diagnose and then attempt to self medicate, I'd say seek a physician. If you are going to self diagnose to get a handle on possible causes of the symptoms, the internet is an invaluable tool. The average person, with the average everyday problem does not need to medicate in order to help it go away.

  8. Stacie L profile image89
    Stacie Lposted 12 years ago

    I think any patient should do their research so they have the information to question a health practitioner about different options. Too many people just take whatever a doctor tells them or gives them(prescriptions)

    1. Karen N profile image70
      Karen Nposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Very True, that in itself can sometimes be dangerous!

  9. profile image51
    hospitalkitposted 12 years ago

    I think in the main the medics know best but... I probably saved my own life by having gleaned enough to know that a particular clinic nurse's plan was dangerous for me.  By questioning it I really annoyed her but two hospital trips later I confirmed that she was wrong, I was right and if I hadn't have had that information I'd just have done what she said.  So... it's useful for asking questions of the right people.

    1. Karen N profile image70
      Karen Nposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Glad that worked out for you.  My husband went through something very similar this past summer which lead us to switch doctors. Thank goodness that we did so, otherwise I don't know how things might have turned out.

  10. IzzyM profile image87
    IzzyMposted 12 years ago

    A good friend of mine offline was prescribed two different medications to take together.
    Her health deteriorated rapidly.
    Her husband turned to the internet for help, and was astounded to find that those two medications should NEVER be prescribed together as the combination was potentially fatal.
    They jointly took the decision to stop one of the medications, and my friend's health bounced back.
    This is actually extremely worrying for me too, as we all use the same doctor (there only is one here).
    One of my favorite drinks is grapefruit juice.
    She hasn't ever mentioned to me that grapefruit juice should never be taken with anti-hypertensive drugs, and I found that out online when I Googled my own medication.
    Others have since warned me of the same, saying that their UK doctors warned them. I didn't know and would have remained ignorant if it wasn't for the net.

  11. profile image43
    maoroelvisposted 12 years ago

    Thanx, it is my first day to join this site but i am finding it interesting than any site here in kenya. Feel free to ask me any question from africa specificaly kenya.

  12. brakel2 profile image73
    brakel2posted 12 years ago

    You can check it out with reliable medical websites for minor ailments. If you have serious symptoms, check but then see a medical professional. Sometimes, twenty illnesses can show up with certain symptoms, such as heartburn or shortness of breath and might make you panic. So, be careful. Most doctors don't like it if you tell them about Internet  I had bad experiences, so don't tell that to doctor anymore.

 
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