As the worldwide web has grown in popularity through the years, so too has the number of people turning to the internet for medical information. All too often, the thought of turning to your favorite search engine or online symptom checker is met with a scoff. How can spending half an hour reading about a rare disease compare to the years of training a doctor undergoes? Why run the risk of Google insisting your typical headache is actually brain cancer?
As it turns out, though, the internet’s popularity as a source of health information has no shortage of benefits. Of course, it’s important to do your due diligence and turn to reputable sources, like MediFind. But, when used responsibly, the internet can be an incomparable resource in managing your health.
The internet fits in your budget.
Particularly in the United States health system, healthcare is an expense that can quickly become a burden. From managing long-term care for a chronic health condition to undergoing new treatments and testing to increase your chances of optimal health outcomes, each step of the diagnosis and treatment processes comes with a new bill. Even with insurance, seeking out better care and the top doctors in a particular field adds up.
Searching the internet for solutions to a challenging health condition can bring you closer to answers without an added cost. Even without an at-home internet connection, a trip to the public library or another spot with free WiFi can help you to make informed health decisions—including whether you should invest in a trip to the doctor.
Second opinions can make a world of difference.
When you’re comparing treatment options or another aspect of your health, few factors are as important as the ability to make informed decisions. Choosing the right care team is the first step to making those better health choices and, in many cases, will involve some trial and error.
Turn to the internet for ideas of what to ask your doctor or promising treatment protocols you could mention. Or, use a program like the MediFind doctor finder to help you find the best care team for your needs, whether that’s getting a second opinion from other medical experts or finding a healthcare professional who’s more knowledgable about research findings focused on your rare disease.
The internet is vast.
Unlike the limitations of even the most highly trained healthcare provider’s knowledge, there is no end to the information a patient can find on the web. Looking for the latest research and clinical trials available? Turn to the internet. Searching for a way to connect with others facing the same medical challenges? Head online. Thanks to the vast horizons that make up the worldwide web, you can find the information you need, even if you don’t yet realize you need it.
Online resources are largely accessible.
Even the best care available will be underappreciated if you can’t interpret the jargon your doctor uses to share it. Thanks to the internet, you can find that same information written in a more natural language. For the first time, you just might be able to learn about that new treatment option your GP suggested in a way that you actually understand. That same principle applies to finding the initial information you need. From searching for a new doctor to learning the basics of health insurance coverage, the internet provides valuable resources, even where in-person tools may be limited.
The internet is convenient.
Online health resources like MediFind and important for many reasons, not the least of which is simple convenience. The modern adult hasn’t got much time or energy to spare. Visiting a doctor involves scheduling an appointment, finding the time to attend it, additional stops, like trips to the pharmacy, and, recently, the unavoidable risks of COVID-19. Turning to the internet for healthcare advice, though, is as simple as pulling out a smartphone and typing a few words before you scroll.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual health solutions have surged in popularity. But, with so many benefits to the internet’s infinite well of medical information, it’s clear that the worldwide web’s place in our health system will stay strong as time goes on. From getting a second opinion with a doctor you found through MediFind to utilizing an online symptom checker to see what conditions you’re most likely facing, the internet is truly a universal resource when it comes to managing your health and medical needs.
