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The Internet is good for your health
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Researchers from University College London recommend arming yourself with knowledge from the Internet before visiting a doctor. This will help the doctor make the correct diagnosis and quickly identify the cause of the problem that worries the patient.
According to the latest research by experts, people who pay close attention to their symptoms and compare them with information from the World Wide Web can help a doctor identify the disease faster.
Researchers from University College London surveyed 26 people of different ages and asked them why they turn to the Internet for advice and how much the information they received helps them solve their problem.
According to the results of the research, published in the British Journal of General Practice, many people go to see a doctor already armed with a huge amount of information on the topic of interest to them and interact with the doctor, helping him to determine what kind of illness is tormenting them. And some patients, who also turned to the Internet for help, come to the doctor, but do not say a word about independently investigating the origin of their symptoms. They are worried that the doctor may be offended by the fact that an unqualified person is trying to try on the duties of a doctor.
Scientists advise not to be afraid, but to worry about your health and before visiting a doctor, to "google" your symptoms on the Internet. Of course, in the vast expanses of the World Wide Web you will find a lot of unnecessary, incorrect and redundant information, but if you do not resort to self-medication, but contact a qualified specialist and discuss your guesses with him, this can only help in solving the problem and its rapid elimination.
"It is very gratifying to see patients taking direct part in the treatment process. This means that a person values his life and takes care of his health. It would be wrong to ignore the efforts of patients. The main thing is to consult a doctor, and in no case to take any actions recommended on forums on your own," say the authors of the study.
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