Cyberchondria: Do Online Health Searches Prompt Symptoms (and Worse)? | Mary Aiken | Summary and Q&A

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September 1, 2016
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Cyberchondria: Do Online Health Searches Prompt Symptoms (and Worse)? | Mary Aiken

TL;DR

Online health searches can lead to cyberchondria, causing unnecessary anxiety and potential harm.

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Key Insights

  • ๐Ÿฅบ Online health searches lead to cyberchondria, causing unnecessary anxiety and potential harm.
  • ๐Ÿง‘โ€โš•๏ธ Cyberchondria by proxy can exacerbate health anxiety for individuals searching health information for others.
  • ๐Ÿ˜ฎ The rise of cyberchondria may be linked to an increase in iatrogenic deaths in the USA, highlighting the potential dangers of excessive online health searches.
  • ๐Ÿง‘โ€โš•๏ธ Online search algorithms prioritize frequently clicked worst-case scenario results, perpetuating cyberchondria and health anxiety.
  • ๐Ÿ‘จโ€โš•๏ธ The doctor-patient relationship may be affected by online health searches, leading to unnecessary diagnostic procedures and potential risks.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: What is cyberchondria and how does it affect individuals?

Cyberchondria is the anxiety induced by online searches for serious health issues, leading individuals to worst-case scenarios and unnecessary anxiety.

Q: How do online searches contribute to the rise of cyberchondria?

Online searches tend to prioritize frequently clicked worst-case scenario results, causing individuals to escalate their health concerns and anxiety.

Q: What is the potential harm of cyberchondria and excessive online health searches?

Cyberchondria can lead to unnecessary anxiety and potentially harmful psychosomatic symptoms, as individuals may believe they are suffering from serious medical conditions.

Q: How does cyberchondria by proxy contribute to the issue of health anxiety?

Cyberchondria by proxy involves individuals searching health information for others, leading to increased anxiety and unnecessary health concerns.

Summary & Key Takeaways

  • Cyberchondria is the anxiety induced by online searches for serious health issues.

  • Online searches tend to lead individuals to worst-case scenarios, causing unnecessary anxiety.

  • The rise of cyberchondria may be linked to the increase in iatrogenic deaths in the USA.

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