Playing medical sleuth has always been popular, but these days, getting information is just a click away on the internet. All that trends isn’t gold, though; following the wrong information can be just as dangerous as doing nothing at all.
In the past, finding out information about medical conditions and symptoms required trips to the library, or a visit to your doctor. Details about symptoms and conditions were hard to find, difficult to read, and sometimes impossible to obtain. Today, the opposite is true: we are bombarded by information that is abundant, even overwhelming, and not all of it is reliable.
Here are a few tips on how to get facts about what ails you, and what to do with it.
Making Assumptions About Diagnoses
Common symptoms often have multiple causes – and, unfortunately, internet searches can turn up rare diagnoses rather than the most likely ones.
For example, low back pain is one of the most common reasons people go to the doctor. Most often, the cause is simple strain or there is no discernable cause whatsoever, and the pain typically resolves in a few weeks. But, severe orthopedic problems and metastatic cancer rank among the top search results for low back pain and worrying about these statistically unlikely but very scary diagnoses can actually make people anxious or depressed.
A cursory or hurried diagnosis can be dangerous for other reasons, too. Too often, people with loved ones who are experiencing mental changes overlook important clues. For example, relatives of an elderly family member who is confused and agitated might diagnose dementia, but this is a dangerous mistake. A simple vitamin deficiency, or bad drug interaction can often cause these symptoms.
It takes an experienced medical clinician to determine what is causing a patient’s symptoms and identify opportunities for meaningful treatment.
Using Symptom Trackers
Symptom trackers use specialized algorithms to lead a patient down a certain track to diagnosis. Typically, the patient types in one symptom and from there, a series of yes or no questions will lead to specific possible conclusions. Experts agree that these symptom trackers are more useful that searching blindly on the internet for information and medical clues, but they also stress that these programs are geared to aim people toward the right type of medical specialist, rather than providing a definitive diagnosis. For example, symptom trackers can help people realize when it is time to call 911 or to go to the emergency room based on certain signs and symptoms.
When searching the internet for medical information, try to limit your searches to sites ending with .gov, .edu, or .org. These sites focus on science rather than sales.
If you have health concerns or questions about symptoms you’re experiencing, contact the medical professionals at SC Internal Medicine Associates and Rehabilitation LLC. Getting an accurate diagnoses is the first step toward getting the health care you need. Call us today at (803) 749-1111 to make an appointment or use our secure online appointment request form.
