When you’re experiencing symptoms that may lead to an illness, do you run to your computer instead of your doctor? More people are using the information highway as a tool for medical reminders, checkups and guides. But, while knowledge is power, it’s best not to use it as your only checkup tool. Rhea Dhanbhoora & Dev Goswami tell you how to make the most of the internet without getting too dependent on it
Do you remember the last time you went to the doctor instead of logging on to a search engine? We thought so. Being net savvy means that the internet, books and television are becoming our one-stop guides to everything we need to know about health and fitness. There was a time when AIDS was known only as GRID (Gay Related Immune Deficiency) until doctor’s told us otherwise and medical research and information was available to, well, doctors and the medical fraternity.
But, in this day and age, we need to know everything and anything and aren’t satisfied unless we’ve checked and double checked our symptoms on the internet, visited forums to see what people are talking about and only then, if there’s no possibility of self-medication, do we head down to the doctor. We even read books about how to diagnose ourselves better and log on to websites for fitness videos! While there’s no replacing the good old white coats, we help you out with a few places you can log on to in order to make the most of health on the web…
Going overboard
The internet is a good tool for information, but here’s a slight word of warning that we can’t help but dole out. Doctor-patient relationships are suffering thanks to the internet and as Dr. Farah Ingale, an endocrinologist at Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, tells us, “Sometimes, patients self-medicate because of what they read on the internet. This could lead to complications that they can’t handle on their own and then they come to us in a later stage of their illness. Several complications can be avoided if they don’t use the internet as their medical crutch.” The reason you can’t use the internet for all your medical needs is simple. First of all, it isn’t as reliable as you may think. Also, as Dr. Farah reminds us, “Patient’s needs are always different and medication doesn’t react in the same way to everyone.
Something that works for one person may not work for you and sometimes there can be allergic reactions as well.” So, when you’re using the internet, make the most of its knowledge instead of self-medicating.
Making the most of it
While there are a lot of bad things lurking around the internet and you can’t trust everything you read, it’s good to be aware. Dr. Farah explains, “Being aware can really help. Earlier, people were not aware of things such as the dangers of smoking or how to prevent cold sores. Now, the internet can help you find out these things.” Using the internet as a tool to get more knowledge is a good idea.
Top Health Websites
Now that we’ve warned you about the risks and told you about the benefits, here are a few sites to log on to. “These websites have good tips and can help you learn more about diseases. But, keep in mind that treatment should be performed by a doctor. Websites work as supplementary information,” says Dr. Amit Rana, a physician at Fortis Hospital.
WebMD: One of the most well known medical sites out there, WebMD has information related to health care and includes symptom checklists, blogs with physician advice and information about any and every disease.
Log on to: www.webmd.com
MeIndia: For a more local flavour to your health and fitness information, log on to MeIndia. The site has directories, information about medical services across the country, blogs and online forums to help you gain as much knowledge as you can, as well as lead you to a good doctor.
Log on to: www.medindia.net
GoodHealthnYou: One of the largest healthcare portals, this website provides online doctors’ services, special guides, quizzes about health and fitness, articles about different diseases and tips on personal care and hygiene.
Log on to: www.goodhealthnyou.com
FortisHealthCare: The hospital has a website that not only tells you all about the services they offer, but also gives you great tips and the opportunity to ask their doctors questions and get reliable answers from actual medical staff.
Log on to: www.fortishealthcare.com
Aarogya: If prefer an ayurvedic lifestyle, this health portal is for you. With information about alternative medicine, allopathic and diagnostic practices and an interactive database section, Aarogya offers a wealth of information on every topic under the sun.
Log on to: www.aarogya.com
Doctor’s tips
Dr. Farah gives us a few do’s and don’ts to keep in mind while surfing the internet:
Do
- Check symptoms online, there’s no harm being prepared for things.
- Read about various diseases and their threats as it’s always good to be aware of things.
- Use the internet as a tool of communication with your doctor.
- Use it to see the dangers of your habits and lifestyle and be more precautious.
Don’t
- Self medicate yourself. It’s never a good idea.
- Trust what they say on the internet over what your doctor tells you.
- Play doctor and advise your friends and family instead of telling them to visit a doctor.
Internet vs Doctor
“I would use the internet to find out what illness I may be suffering from. I think it’s a great tool for finding out things and getting little hints and tips on how to make your illness more comfortable or your workout better. But, I’d still consult a doctor. Internet therapies could never replace a patient-doctor relationship.”
— Nikhil Bhatia, 24
“I may use the internet for some preliminary information gathering but I would never self-diagnose or self- medicate. Health is too crucial to put in the hands of research material on the web of which one doesn’t know the exact source or credibility of who's writing it. It can never replace a doctor.”
— Namrata Balwani, 36
BESY Health Books It’s not just websites and videos, books can give you a wealth of health information as well. Here are a few we suggest
The Merck Manual Home Health Handbook
This comprehensive medical resource extensively covers health care for newborns, the elderly and everyone in between. Written in simple language, the encyclopedia features more than 200 internationally respected medical experts. It contains reliable, up-to-date information on a broad range of medical conditions, illnesses, and situations, including accidents and injuries, ageing, cancer, diabetes, digestive disorders, heart disease and mental health disorders.
Price: `1,686
Patient’s Guide To Medical Tests
It’s important in this day and age to know what you’re going in for when you visit a hospital. That’s why this book, designed to make you more aware of tests and procedures that you may need to undergo in the course of your life, is the perfect tool to keep you aware.
Price: `395
The Doctors Book of Home Remedies
This practical guide contains several tips for common medical complaints. In this handy reference you will find curative techniques and symptom-relieving treatments for ailments such as bladder infections, depression, headaches, premenstrual syndrome and toothaches. You will also find invaluable at-home solutions for afflictions such as canker sores, dandruff and snoring as well as methods for coping with serious problems such as cholesterol, backaches and ulcers.
Price: `430
55 Most Common Medicinal Herbs
At a time when more and more people are turning to ayurveda to stay healthy, this book is a good tool for reference. Written by two pharmacists, the reference book provides information about popular medicinal herbs, alternative treatments and botanical descriptions of each herb. It will make natural treatments a lot more interesting and decrease your dependence on ‘babas.’
Price: `1,512
Fitness Ready
Medications and illnesses are not the only things you can surf the web for. There are a lot of fitness videos swimming around the place that are worth a look. We give you two great videos to start your search with:
15-minute desk workout
If you spend way too much time in front of the computer, watch this 15-minute office workout that can be practised right at your desk. The best part about the workout is that you don’t need anything other than a chair without wheels and a desk.
Log on to: www.youtube.com /watch?v=nKCPcRcJmqc&feature=player_embedded
Fitness channel
Scooby Werkstatt’s channel on YouTube is almost like an encyclopedia on fitness. In all the videos, you will be treated to a detailed explanation about every detail related to the workout, such as why you need to do something, what workouts suit whom and what you shouldn’t be doing.
Log on to: www.youtube.com /user/scooby1961