Almost everything nowadays is digital or will be accessed through digital means.

So it is little surprise that, at the first mysterious twinge in the chest or shortness of breath, we self-diagnose by Googling our symptoms.

A growing body of research shows that many people are visiting ‘Dr Google’ first before seeing their usual doctor.

Many websites on the internet deal with online medical information, providing people with crucial tips about their health through the internet.

This includes providing possible illnesses when one provides symptoms.

Some studies show that as many as 60 per cent of internet users consult the internet to diagnose their aches and pains, rather than consult a real doctor, or before they see their doctor.

In some cases, however, self-diagnosis leads to anxiety mainly because of misdiagnosis.

Some, because of misdiagnosis, arrive at their health provider convinced they have some horrendous diseases like cancer when in fact it is something minor.

Although the internet can be a treasure trove of medical information, it can also lead to the creation of a condition called in IT circles as “cyberchondriacs”.

This happens where a person is inundated with information about every disease under the sun, they start to imagine they have them all, and hit the panic button.

In their minds, every mole is skin cancer.

A nosebleed is surely a sign of a tumour. Headache? must be skyrocketing blood pressure.

We’ve all done at least once. Whether it’s a dull ache in your chest or a persistent case of the hiccups, you turn to the internet to diagnose yourself with a minor symptom and end up convinced you’re suffering from cardiac arrest or neurological disorders.

Many people prefer searching for information about their health because some health problems are very personal and they find the internet a secure and anonymous way to get answers.

This shielding mechanism motivates patients to shoot questions that they would otherwise avoid if they visited the physician and had a face-to-face consultation.