We've all become so reliant on Dr. Google. Scratchy throat? Sniffles? Sore Back? Sure, Google it. Nearly 40% of Americans are self-diagnosing with Dr. Google, and that can be terribly dangerous. But, says Dr. Dat Tran, a board-certified allergist and immunologist in Houston, there are benefits. dr. Google is kind of a two-edged scalpel.
A recent survey found that about two-in-five people have conferred with Dr. Google instead of seeking out the informed diagnosis of an actual physician, and it is that instead part that has physicians concerned.
Dr. Dat Tran in Houston says the point you are missing is that Dr. Google is advertising supported. Dr. Google is willing to give you the best advice a company is willing to pay. Your health is going to the highest bidder, Dr. Tran cautions.
About 40% f people who recently asked google about fish oil walked away thinking it's good for you. And in some regards, it can be. But as Dr. Tran points out, if there is a specific contraindication, an interference with a medication that has been prescribed for for you, there could be serious complications. There are benefits, and that's something you might want to talk to your doctor about, after you inform him/her of the medications you are taking.
64% have been informed by Dr. Google that carbs are bad for them. Having consulted Dr. Google to see what the good doctor recommends about carbs, what you will find on the internet is that:
"They provide energy for your brain, muscles, and organs; They help regulate your blood sugar and insulin levels; They support your digestive health and prevent constipation; They lower your cholesterol and blood pressure levels; They reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers; They boost your mood and mental well-being."
You see, that's the thing about Dr. Google. It's very open to interpretation.
Liver specialist Dr. Joe Galati says, "Google and all search engines are a tremendous recourse for patients but like anything else if you put in the wrong information you're going to get the wrong answer and its either going to get you more excited than you need to or its goigt to force you to not see the doctor because you think it's nothing to worry about when in reality its something that needs attention now."
"It's helpful for providing information to patients before they see a doctor," says Dr. Tran. There's an efficiency element that alleviates the doctor from having to explain some basic elements of a condition. "The risk of Dr. Google is that's it's flooded with a lot of misinformation, a lot of advertisements, and unless a patient does their own due diligence and and looks carefully, they can click on the wrong site, go down a rabbit hole and get the wrong information, concluding that they don't need to see a doctor because this product that can be conveniently delivered to their home without having to go to a doctor and will conveniently will cure what ails them."
Dr. Tran emphasizes, for all it's benefits, and there are many, the company google, like all search engines, is that it's a business that is striving for a profit that it gleans from advertising, the number of clicks, and how long it can hold your attention span.
Dr. Google may say good things and he may says bad things, but remember that he is in the business of selling advertising, not caring about your health. That's not to say medical advice available on Google is not extremely valuable. It is, which both Dr. Tran and Dr. Galati attest to, but only when used in consultation with a physician. Dr. Tran cautions, entering into a world of Chat GPT and artificial intelligence, consultation with your physician will be especially critical. Dr. Google is in it solely for the advertising money, not for your health.
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