The Internet provides information overload that has advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that it increases awareness, but the downside is that all the published information is not necessarily verified, accurate or replicable and some of it is misinformation.
This has been called the plague. WHO describes this epidemic as ‘too much information including misinformation or misinformation in the digital and physical environments during the outbreak. It causes confusion and reckless behaviors that can be harmful to health. It also leads to mistrust of health authorities and undermines the public health response’.
Using too much Google will be harmful to health
People often Google their symptoms, and some also self-medicate, making the situation even more dangerous. People who are addicted to googling instead of consulting a doctor will turn to the internet for every problem.
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In some situations, even when they go to the hospital to consult a doctor after their symptoms worsen, the patient refuses to disclose the medication they took! In countries like India, where prescription drugs are easy to get, doctors are holding their heads in horror.
Remember that using Google or other tools can make you feel worse and increase anxiety about your health. Searching on Google can also create a mess. You’ll see a list of possible symptoms on almost any website you look at.
And many of the symptoms are quite common and will overlap with a lot of possible problems that may have nothing to do with you. But you worry and get even sicker (2✔ ✔Trusted source
Cyberchondria: Overlap with health anxiety and special relationships with impaired quality of life and service use
Go to source).
Another side effect of medical information on googling is misinformation. If you Google COVID-19, you will find many such examples. For example, suggestions that hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine can cure or prevent COVID have not been supported by medical research. This means that these drugs are not effective and can be dangerous due to side effects or even worsening of symptoms.
Another popular myth that is prevalent is about taking bleach as a cure for a variety of problems. But bleach is extremely dangerous and can lead to scarring on the food pipe.
IDIOT syndrome is putting pressure on doctors
Amidst the explosion of technology, the expectations of patients and providers are soaring. Doctors are overwhelmed when people flock to hospitals with unrealistic expectations of doctors.
The pressure on doctors and nurses who work non-stop is increasing day by day. It’s a matter of pride, which is creating a lot of difficulty in dealing with people.
Under pressure on doctors, they need to take care of their own health and many people have faced their health problems and got sick due to stress. Many people have fallen ill and have not returned to work, resulting in a shortage of skilled staff.
Our advice is not to be affected by IDIOT syndrome. So stop being an IDIOT and consult a doctor instead of Google doctor for every little health problem and start buying your own medicine.
Presenter :
- A brief review article on “Idiot Syndrome” – (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359392892_A_Breviloquent_Review_Artile_On_Idiot_Synrome)
- Cyberchondria: Overlap with health anxiety and unique relationships with impairment, quality of life and service use – (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29324396/#:~:text=Cyberchondria%20refers%20to%20a%20clinical,poss%20a%20unique%20public%20burden)
Source: Medindia
