One "Room For Debate" really caught my eye because of how much I relate to it. "Are Medical Websites, Like WebMD, Healthful?" talks about how many people are looking up symptoms on Google. I am completely guilty of this. I could have the sniffles and suddenly I race to Google for the answer. If everything I've seen is true about my symptoms, I would probably have several diseases right now. Even though it may be scary, in rare cases it could be beneficial to look up your symptoms. Kevin Noble Maillard argues that looking up symptoms can save your life. He looked up his symptoms and was later diagnosed with cancer by a doctor later.
But in most cases, your symptoms aren't as serious as the Internet says they are. Arun Swaminath argues that looking up symptoms is bad for you health. What you read on the Internet scares us into thinking we have a serious disease when we don't. We would be better off with an actual doctor diagnosing us. Do you ever look up your symptoms? Do you think the Internet is more helpful than an actual doctor?
-Shannon Rodriguez
In my opinion, the internet is for sure not more helpful than a doctor. Doctors have spent years studying illnesses and their symptoms that it would be stupid to rely on the internet for answers. Yes it may be helpful when you get sick out of nowhere but it would be smart to check in at your local hospital or clinic.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe internet most of the time is unreliable when it comes to stuff that can have over hundreds of answers to. From personal experience I looked up some stuff I was experiencing with my ear and it jumped to the conclusion that I had a ruptured ear drum. I went to speak with my doctor a few days later and he said it was only a minor infection. After that happened I gave up on using the internet as a doctor. -Dominic Diaz
ReplyDeleteI am guilty of looking up my symptoms on Google. I know I shouldn't, but it is so convenient, and when you can't alway get an appointment to the doctor right away, this is where I go. Doctors are better and can write perscriptions for your pain, so I don't see the point of why I do this. The self-diagnosing has scared me and stressed me out, but whenever I feel sick, Google is the place for me.
ReplyDeleteI am in the same boat as you because I also do the same thing. I did this not too long ago because my teammate dropped a 25 pound weight on my big toe. My cousin told me that if it was black that I could lose my toe because all of the blood vessels were busted open. After he scared me, I looked it up and nothing showed up except to get it checked to see if it was broken or not. I was so relieved when I found this out.
ReplyDelete-Jared Pacion