Diagnosis: cyberchondria? Over half of EU citizens seek health information online

Searching the Web for symptoms can lead to cyberchondria. — AFP Relaxnews

Faced with mild symptoms, EU citizens are increasingly inclined to search for their diagnosis directly on Google, before even seeing a doctor. According to a Eurostat study, more than half of Europeans turn to the internet to seek online health information related to injury, disease, nutrition, improving health or similar subjects.

Has going to the doctor become outdated? Faced with the appearance of minor symptoms such as skin rashes, injuries or headaches, EU citizens are increasingly turning to a search engine to find the origins of their ailments.