Tuesday, March 11, 2025

ELIE- Activity 4.2 Reflection (question no. 1)

“Should You Trust Medical Websites for Diagnosing Yourself?“

     I’ll be honest—I’ve done it. One weird symptom pops up, and before I know it, I’m deep in a Google rabbit hole, convinced I have some rare, incurable disease. A mild headache? Must be a brain tumor. A sore throat? Clearly something life-threatening. And don’t even get me started on symptom checkers. They always make things worse. So, can medical websites actually help me diagnose my health problems? Short answer: No, not really. Long answer: They’re fine for general information, but they’re absolutely not a substitute for a real doctor.

     I’ve realized that medical websites are unreliable for a few reasons. First, they don’t know me. They only take in the symptoms I type, but they don’t consider my medical history, lifestyle, or the fact that I have a tendency to overthink every little thing. Second, they’re often wrong. Studies say symptom checkers are only accurate about 34% of the time, which means there’s a 66% chance I’ll get a completely wrong diagnosis. That’s worse than flipping a coin. Third, some of these websites have hidden agendas. I’ve noticed that a lot of them just happen to suggest treatments that involve buying specific medications or supplements. Coincidence? I doubt it. And lastly, symptoms overlap way too much. Fatigue could mean anything from stress to anemia to a vitamin deficiency—or maybe I just need to sleep like a normal person. A website can’t figure that out for me.

     Now, I get it. Going to the doctor takes time, and sometimes I just want quick answers. But I’ve learned the hard way that self-diagnosing online isn’t worth the stress. Doctors actually look at the bigger picture—they don’t just match symptoms to diseases, they run tests, ask questions, and make sure they’re considering everything before giving me a diagnosis. They also create a real treatment plan, instead of leaving me to randomly try over-the-counter meds or some “miracle cure” I found online. Plus, seeing a doctor helps me avoid unnecessary panic. I can’t count the number of times I thought I was seriously ill, only to be told I was just dehydrated.

     That said, medical websites aren’t completely useless. I do use them for general knowledge—like if I want to understand what iron deficiency actually does to my body. They also help me prepare for doctor visits, so I can ask better questions instead of sitting there nodding at medical terms I don’t fully understand. But if I’m going to use them, I make sure I’m looking at reputable sources, like government (.gov) or medical organization (.org) websites, instead of some random blog promising a “one-week cure” for everything.

     At the end of the day, I know medical websites are just a starting point, not a final answer. If I’m genuinely worried about my health, the smartest thing I can do is go see a doctor. Because let’s be honest—Google has tried to convince me I’m dying way too many times when all I really needed was some water and a long rest.


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