Only two decades ago, it was inconceivable that reliable medical information can be obtained from anywhere other than a health care professional. Sudden onset of symptoms reported visiting a doctor, talk to a nurse or a trip to the emergency room. The Internet has changed the way we look at the symptoms. Nowadays, most people turn to the Internet for health education first touch as a doctor.
What may seem like a quick, convenient and cost-free way to determine whether you really need a doctor or not, you may actually be putting your health at risk. Sometimes even minor symptoms can be a prelude to a serious medical event may follow within hours or days. In addition, a number of serious diseases presentation of common and non-specific symptoms that might not seem like cause for concern.
The question is not subject to websites offering reliable medical information, but also the way the user understands that in order to make a medical decision. The misinterpretation may turn out that the question of life or death. What could have been avoided, or at least should be reduced instead of immediate medical intervention is delayed for a minimum because “I told internet.”
Take a burning pain in the chest, for example. Most people immediately think that this heartburn symptom that is usually not a cause for concern. Heartburn is the result of stomach acid flows back into the food pipe (esophagus). While uncomfortable and often overwhelming, heartburn is not life threatening.
However, what seems like heartburn could in fact be a heartbreak, and even that can be a heart attack. The vast majority of medical websites claim that the typical crushing chest pain or heart attack absorbing nature. Unfortunately, the human body does not always typical.
A burning pain in the chest may actually be due to the impending heart attack, and even the one that is currently occurring, or was made. Needless to say, prolonged medical treatment of a heart attack can make the difference between a bed in the ER or the final resting place of the local cemetery.
Therefore, careful use of the information on the Internet as a guide when medical matters, but do not let that be the last word on medical care. This is the best of the specialist physician. Even the most thorough search research will never be able to replace the advice and evaluation of the doctor, pharmacist or nurse.