Why You Shouldn't Self-Diagnose
Currently, there are more than 10,000 diseases known to medicine globally, and each of them has several diagnoses and subcategories of diagnoses. The symptoms of a single disease may resemble those of dozens of other diseases.
We live in an era where information is just a click away, and the internet is brimming with knowledge that is partially founded on evidence and, at best, partially erroneous.
Self-diagnosis is when an individual performs an analysis of a medical condition in which they assess themselves according to symptoms or medical indications that they have found on Google, other search engines on the internet, or online forums and social networks.
Based on the outcomes of the results or advice received, they draw conclusions and diagnose themselves, which can become a dangerous phenomenon of self-diagnosis that may be inappropriate.
The reasons why you should not diagnose yourself:
Unnecessary concerns: the "result" of self-diagnosis may lead you to read apprehensive and alarming information, which may be occasionally unnecessary
Contradictory information on the internet: When individuals who do not practice medicine search for information, they may obtain inconsistent outcomes on various websites, resulting in confusion and a lack of trust in the information
Symptoms that are not always unique to a specific condition: The symptoms you experience may be applicable to several medical conditions, so the risk may also be associated with overlooking a more acute and serious condition than what was initially assumed
Inappropriate home treatment: Self-diagnosis may lead to inappropriate home treatment or a lack of treatment. In the absence of a professional medical diagnosis and appropriate treatment, the medical condition may deteriorate
Mistaken self-diagnosis: There are internet websites that provide non-evidence-based information that has not undergone medical professionals' scrutiny. Furthermore, there is no transparency regarding the sources of information. All this may lead to a mistaken self-diagnosis and worsen an existing medical condition
Attention
Attention
Self-diagnosis can be harmful to one's health and may not be beneficial
What steps should you take when you experience a new symptom
Contact your family doctor and make an appointment for a medical diagnosis.
If the symptoms are severe and unusual, do not wait and contact the nurses' call center at your HMO for a telephone consultation. If necessary, refer to the nearest ER in your residential vicinity.
