Millions of Britons have convinced themselves they are seriously ill or even dying – after using the internet to diagnose their symptoms, a survey reveals.
Researchers found more than six out of ten adults now turn to the web rather than their GP when they begin to feel under the weather. Almost half of these then convince themselves they are suffering from a serious illness.
One in six people who suffer migraines have convinced themselves they could have a migraine after searching for their symptoms online
Incredibly, one in five said they had managed to worry themselves into believing they were in the early stages of a heart attack after looking up their symptoms.
Other common, but less serious misdiagnoses, include mistaking a stomach upset for food poisoning and believing a common cold was in fact an attack of flu.
The study, carried out among 3,000 adults by Engage Mutual, alsorevealed more than a third of those with headaches had convincedthemselves they had a migraine, while 28 per cent of people withabdominal pain mistakenly self-diagnosed appendicitis.
Of course worrying about one’s health is nothing new. the characters inJerome K Jerome’s famous 1889 novel ‘Three Men in a Boat’ are allconvinced they have a number of maladies. But while the narrator lookedup his symptoms in the British Museum, modern worriers go online.
10 commonly self-misdiagnosed health concerns
Stomach upset – Food poisoningCommon cold – FluHeadache – MigraineLower abdomen pain – AppendicitisStiff joints – ArthritisIndigestion – Heart attackHungover – Food poisoningMigraine – Brain tumour Short of breath – Lung diseaseLower back ache – Kidney disease
Tina Clare, Head of Brand, at Engage Mutual said: ‘We seem to be a nation of worriers when it comes to our health.
‘Forty six per cent of people are worried about getting a terminal illness, and many are convincing themselves that everyday symptoms are indicative of serious ill health.
‘While the internet can be a great information resource, it is always best to see a doctor when ill.
‘Not only can a medical professional put your mind at rest, they can also check out all the symptoms and tell you what the matter really is.’
It also emerged many people have mistaken stiff joints for arthritis or a hangover for ‘something they ate’ or ‘food poisoning’.
One in six of migraine sufferers think they could have a brain tumour, while the same proportion of those who felt short of breath concluded they had lung disease.
The study also found only a quarter of respondents phone NHS Direct if they feel ill.
On average Britons visit a nurse or doctor two or three times a year, but 10 per cent said a doctor has told them they have overreacted.