The most Googled health queries of 2018

We all get tempted to Google our symptoms when we feel ill. In fact, many a times Google has shown results that connect our symptoms to a scary illness. No wonder then that most health experts advise against turning to internet for medical advice. Nevertheless, regardless of such advisories, people turn to Google and how. Below are some top health searches in the year 2018.

One of the recent studies revealed the most common health conditions searched this year. The study was conducted by the Medicare Health Plans, which analysed the most frequently Googled medical condition.

According to the study, the most Googled medical term for the year 2018 in the US was Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, also called ADHD. ADHD is a brain disorder which affects the attention span, ability to sit still and self control of a person.

In India, one of the top keywords searched this year was cancer. This can be because a lot of Indian celebrities were diagnosed with cancer. Actors Irrfan Khan and Sonali Bendre created a stir online once people got to know about their health condition.

Another highly searched health keyword in India is blood pressure (BP). With 1 in every 3 people suffering from hypertension, it makes it obvious for the keyword to fall in the top searched list.

India is the diabetes capital of the world, which can be a big reason why diabetes is one of the top searched keywords in 2018. More than 50 million people suffer from type-2 diabetes in India.

Typhoid also falls in the list of top searched health conditions. Typhoid kills around 128,000 to 161,000 people every year. A new vaccine with longer lasting immunity has been prequalified by the World Health Organisation in December 2017 to help prevent typhoid.

The outbreak of Dengue continues in India from the past few years, which makes dengue a commonly searched keyword here. Nearly 10,000 cases of dengue were diagnosed this year in India.

With some increased awareness and curiosity about mental health, the keyword psychology also makes it to the top list. This makes for good news because more knowledge leads to better awareness.

Loss of sleep also called insomnia is no more uncommon now. The latest data shows that nearly 93 per cent of Indians are sleep deprived (sleep for less than 8 hours). No wonder then, insomnia is one of the top searched health keywords of 2018.

Strangely ‘colour of poop’ is also among the top searches.

Some other health conditions that occupy the top searches for the year include constipation, diarrhoea, malaria, chikungunya, HIV/AIDS and depression.