What’s that rash? Put some thought into asking Google for medical help

Dr. Google is often on call for worried patients, but it may not give the best advice. Doctors say internet searches for medical information should be done cautiously, especially with artificial intelligence playing a growing role. Information from the right websites can teach patients about symptoms and prepare them for a doctor’s visit. But a poorly done search might inflame anxiety well before someone reaches the waiting room. It’s important to know the source of the information you find and to avoid trying to diagnose your health issue. “We’ve gotten so used to clicking on that first link,” says John Grohol, a psychologist who specializes in online behavior. “For your health information, especially when it is personal, you want to think about it.” Some companies pay to have their websites listed at the top of a results page. Those links may be listed as sponsored. Scroll for results that come from a source you can trust for medical information. That can include big health systems like the Mayo Clinic or sites run by government agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More people are using artificial intelligence to get quick answers pulled from a variety of internet sources. Some searches will also generate an AI summary at the top of the results page. But an AI answer may not say where it got the information. That makes it hard to judge credibility. Doctors say patients should search for information based on symptoms, not an expected diagnosis. Focusing on a diagnosis means you may miss other explanations, especially if you just click the first few links listed in the results. For some issues, you should skip the search altogether. If you are having chest pains, experiencing dizziness or showing signs of a stroke, seek help immediately. “You don’t want to delay something that should be treated within a certain amount of time,” said Dr. Olivier Gherardi, medical director of Brown University Health Urgent Care. Some testing and a visit with a doctor who knows your medical history may be the best medicine in these situations. This article was provided by The Associated Press.