The internet is among the most revolutionary inventions in human history. Since Tim-Berners-Lee, the father of the World Wide Web (WWW), wrote the first web browser in 1991, internet has transformed all aspects of our lives, from the way we communicate, to how we work, to how we shop. The millions of terabytes of information on the web can be a valuable source of information, if consumed wisely. But the sheer volume of information out there has helped as many people as it has harmed. For instance, the self-diagnosis of medical conditions the internet has promoted is undoubtedly unhealthy.
You have a headache. You google your symptom and at least a hundred suggestions are instantly thrown your way, everything from common cold to brain tumor. Your inbuilt negativity bias makes you fear the worst. A lump in the throat becomes laryngeal cancer; a slight discomfort in the chest an unmistakable sign of a full-on heart attack. Once the seed of doubt has been planted, it can be impossible to dislodge.
With greater internet connectivity, the trend of online self-diagnosis has also gone up sharply among (mostly urban) Nepalis. Doctors are being hounded with the most bizarre health queries and requests for sophisticated medical tests by patients who have convinced themselves they are mortally ill after checking their symptoms online. The youth, more at home with computers, are more likely to fall prey to ‘cyberchondria’ than the people of the old generation who still tend to regard doctors as demigods. But cyberchondria is a growing problem among the elderly too. Of course, other factors influence people’s increased reliance on online information for diagnosis and medication. Reports of false diagnosis and haphazard medication that emerge from our healthcare industry with a rather troubling frequency makes people wary of even well-informed suggestions from medical practitioners. Unless the mushrooming medical industry is better regulated, people are unlikely to feel completely safe in the hands of their doctors.
But irrespective of the flaws of our healthcare industry, self-diagnosis is almost always counterproductive. There is so much medical information on the web, it is impossible for someone uninitiated in medical literature to make any sense of it. Many latch on to the first bit of information displayed, and often worry themselves sick over their ‘informed’ self-diagnosis. If you have a health-related concern, it is a much better idea to seek the suggestion of a certified medical practitioner. If you are still not satisfied, you can always get a second opinion.
The worst you could do is venture online and try to make sense of the abundance of information on diseases, which is a sure recipe for panic attack and heightened anxiety. For those suffering from various medical conditions, online medical forums can help them make better sense of their disease: it is comforting to know there are other people who are coping with the same health problems. Internet can likewise be a treasure trove on dietary information and exercise and relaxation techniques. The rule of the thumb: when in doubt, consult a doctor. The web, at best, should be a source of secondary help.
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