'Pregnancy symptoms' topped the list of diagnostic search on Google 2013, a survey states.
The survey also found that apart from the patients, even physicians were found to search for symptoms various other medical conditions, reported Medical Economics.
According to the Pew Internet, of the 81 percent Americans who used internet, 59 percent were to be looking for information on health in 2013. A survey conducted in 2011 by Wolters Kluwer found that 53 percent of the physicians said that patients who searched online for various medical conditions is a positive trend. But, 20 percent of the doctors said that this habit could also lead to incorrect self-diagnosis among people.
Furthermore, the poll found that increased number of doctors Googled for information on diseases. Around 63 percent of the physicians said they looked for "online resources change their initial decisions about patient care," reported Medical Economics.
Apart from pregnancy, the other most-searched symptoms for different medical conditions were influenza, and diabetes, anxiety, thyroid, HIV, mononucleosis, lupus, herpes, and pneumonia. Heart attack, which was in the top 10 in 2012, and cancer, two of the leading causes of death, were not in the top 10 most searched symptoms.
1. Pregnancy Symptoms
2. Influenza Symptoms
3. Diabetes Symptoms
4. Anxiety Symptoms
5. Thyroid Symptoms
6. HIV Symptoms
7. Mononucleosis Symptoms
8. Lupus Symptoms
9. Herpes Symptoms
10. Pneumonia Symptoms
