Everyone’s at it. You’ve probably been told not to. But you do it anyway because you can’t help it. However, if you can do it safely, maybe you’ll really benefit from doing it. And doing it lots. You know what I’m talking about. Googling your health problems.

You may have heard you shouldn’t Google your medical problems. You may also have been told you should Google your medical problems. So, what should you do? As a GP, I’d like to explain.

Some ways of using the internet may cause you problems. Other ways to use the internet may save your life.

The main problem with Google is trying to diagnose yourself. Let me explain the main way we diagnose patients. We don’t use a list of symptoms, like you may find on the internet. We usually diagnose patients by looking out for a recognised pattern of symptoms, including the particular they unfold for different conditions. In our minds, we also consider how likely different condition are to occur for our particular patient, all of which is rarely clear on the internet.

Imagine you saw an animal or a car that you did not recognise and you tried to use Google to find out what it was. If would be hopeless. But if you saw an animal or car you did know, you would recognise it in seconds. For us, diagnosing conditions is similar to how you may recognise animal and cars. We become experts in pattern recognition. Lists of symptoms can be very misleading.

So, how can the internet can be helpful?

If you have a diagnosis, it becomes a doorway into excellent web pages and support groups. So, ask what the diagnosis is, or even what it could be. Get this written down.

If you understand your medical problems, and you know how to manage them, sometimes this makes more difference than medication. Online, you can find practical tips to manage symptoms, ideas and support in making healthy changes or find people who share similar struggles.

How do you know which websites are reliable?

Even doctors use Google. But there are skills involved in how to search and assess the quality of the information you find.

Most reliable is to go to NHS online, a huge collection of trusted information. There is a health A to Z which covers 100’s of conditions, symptoms, and treatments. There is a medicines A to Z, which covers how medicine works, how to take them, side effects and answers to common questions. There are sections on how to live well, mental health, pregnancy, accessing social support and other NHS services.

When searching, there are no rules that guarantee finding good information. If NHS online isn’t enough, here are some tips that will give you a better chance. If you find the tips complicated, just stick to nhs.uk

1) ‘Put ‘NHS’ in the search’.

There are leaflets and websites produced by NHS providers that can be trusted, such as hospitals. The term ‘patient information’ can be helpful.

2) Consider what organisation outside the NHS can be trusted.

Large UK charities with a good reputation such as Age UK, British Heart Foundation or Macmillan.

3) Registered National Societies and Associations

often have trusted patient resources. For example British Association of Dermatology for skin conditions. This website has some good examples. https://libguides.sgul.ac.uk/mp/guidelines

4) Stick to UK websites.

Other countries have variable quality health services and standards. You can put ‘UK’ in the search. Or use a search engine that ends in .co.uk, and change the settings ‘UK only’.

5) Consider the purpose behind the website.

For example an NHS or charity organisation will usually be trying to improve peoples lives. If the organisation can make money from you in some way, it is possible that this will affect the information they are giving you.

6) Opinion.

Anything written by an individual on social media, a blog, chat, support group or a webpage may just be an opinion and lacks accountability. Organisations with a good reputation are careful to display facts accurately. Individuals giving opinions may not always be so careful. Opinions from a registered health professional is more likely to be reliable.

7) Avoid websites that give advice that conflicts with NHS information.

Occasionally new ideas emerge that challenge medical science and later become proven to be safe and effective. For example, acupuncture. However, there is a lot of unscientific advice that does not work and can be harmful. Therefore, I would recommend that you avoid advice that strays from that given by registered health professionals.

8) The ending of the web address can give clues to the organisation

Nhs.uk is NHS

.org is usually not for profit

.co.uk is usually for profit in UK

.com is not UK based, for profit and is better avoided.

9) Avoid the adverts.

Search results may be mixed in with adverts which are designed to look very similar.

10) Finally.

Symptom Checker, Health Information and Medicines Guide | Patient is written by health professionals and is highly regarded. For mental health this is excellent Self Help Leaflets — Cumbria, Northum berland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (ntw.nhs.uk)

So, in summary.

For working out the diagnosis, this is best left to health professionals. However, if you have a diagnosis, this is your key to learn more about your health so you can take the lead in managing it. Use NHS online. If you are going to search, first aim for NHS websites, large UK charities or registered societies. Be careful with individual opinions, although registered professionals are more likely to be trusted.

Now you know how to do it safely, hopefully you can get the benefits of doing it more often.