Microsoft examines causes of 'cyberchondria'

A new survey from Microsoft suggests that self-diagnosis by search engine frequently leads Web searchers to conclude the worst about what ails them.
The New York Times

The story "Microsoft examines causes of 'cyberchondria'" published November 24, 2008 at 9:30 PM is no longer available on CNET News.

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[Vegaman_Dan]

Let's see... chest pains, burning sensation in the stomach, sweating profusely... yes, that's it, I'm having a heart attack. It's the only possible cause. Call the medics, I need help immediately!

....or I might have had too much sauce on the spaghetti.

Interesting study, but those people who 'suffer' from this won't believe any such study anyways. They prefer to believe the worst and nothing will sway them. Some even have medical text books in their possession to continue their misdiagnosis along. Now they have the Internet to supplement those fears.

As for me, I think I'll just take an antacid instead.

Oh, and it's Microsoft's fault, of course. You know, just because their name is mentioned.

[Chatboy91]

Ya I know of Cyberchondria all too well. I've had tailbone problems twice now, and unfortuanately some of the people I know are taking it too seriously thinking its chronic, after readiung a few webpages on the internet. That's not to say that it's always terrible. It's nice to know for simpler problems such as a sore throat what home remidies there are, and stuff like that. Just like that episode of House, the interwebs make people take everything too seriously.