When you or someone you know gets sick or hurt, the Internet can be a great resource. The Web is loaded with information on health conditions – from the common cold to rare genetic diseases.
It even has websites that help people diagnose themselves. But how do you know what you’re reading is accurate, and how safe is your surfing? Here’s how to make the most of your online health research.
First, some ground rules: “Where you go makes all the difference,” says Dr. Ken Haller, associate professor of pediatrics at St. Louis University and Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center. “The thing to consider is, will it hurt you if it doesn’t work?” he asks.
Good information abounds. But bad websites range from businesses selling snake oil to charlatans who want to hack your credit card.
Step 1: Be cautious. People often are under stress when they turn to the Web for information. So take a deep breath before you get started.
Also, beware the danger of self-diagnosis. While you may be focusing on a single symptom or body part, your doctor may look into your eyes or on the soles of your feet and see something else. Let the Web educate you about health concerns; then use that information to ask better questions when you see a doctor.
Yale University Hospital and other experts offer these cautions:
Triple-check what you read. Even reputable sites may post errors or out-of-date information.
Don’t be satisfied with one-size-fits-all information. Check by ethnicity, gender, age and nationality when possible.
Consider the source. Trustworthy websites label their content to discern among news, feature stories, interviews with physicians, studies, sponsored content and blogs (conversations).
Check the reviewers. Reputable sites identify their writers.
Still, check them out; a “Dr.” in front of a name doesn’t make the person a physician.
Don’t give out personal information until you trust the site’s privacy policy. Most medical information sites don’t ask for money or anything other than user fees. To be safe, don’t give out more information than could be found out about you in a phone book.
Step 2: Start with symptoms. Let’s say the front of your head hurts behind the eyes and forehead. Several sites can help with making a potential diagnosis. In this example we started with: WebMD (symptoms.webmd.com/default.htm). This is the best – and most fun – free symptom-checker on the Web.
For a headache, for example:
Click on the human body, and punch the buttons for age and gender.
Click on the forehead: 85 symptoms show up, including an option for “headache.” Click on “headache.” A series of pop-up boxes will ask viewers to describe their headache. After responding to the questions, the Web site will suggest potential diagnoses – from tension headache to diabetes.
If you’re curious, click on each. To the left will appear a simple overview of the condition. You can print what you find or e-mail the information to yourself. The results are consumer-friendly and credible but not overly scientific.
Step 3: Get answers. To get more information on a specific condition, check out one of the many medical research sites on the Web, such as MedlinePlus (nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/medlineplus.html). Type in key search words, such as “stress headache,” on the home page, and Medline will pull up dozens of related articles.
The options come from health information organizations and databases that are members of the National Institutes of Health.
Step 4: Do some clerical work. Bookmark the sites you like to save time in the future. Make notes on the search process so you don’t have to start from scratch the next time.
Step 5: Take your information to your doctor. “Health information websites -and reference books in a library, for that matter – are designed to help you learn more about a particular condition, treatment, diagnosis or even wellness issue,” says Dr. Michael W. Smith, chief medical editor for WebMD.com.
“However, no health information site or medical book is a substitute for professional medical advice.
