Exeter residents rank 23rd in the UK for Googling their health symptoms 

The cities that use Dr. Google most to self-diagnose

Durham is officially the city where residents are most likely to turn to Google to self-diagnose, according to new research. Chester and Glasgow follow ranking 2nd and 3rd respectively. 

Residents of Exeter rank 23rd in the UK for Googling their health symptoms. Each month, residents make on average 4770 health-related searches, but the real number is likely much higher. 

The conditions residents of Exeter are most likely to search the symptoms of on Google are diabetes, anxiety, depression, flu and chlamydia. This suggests these conditions are the ones residents are most worried they’re showing symptoms of. 

The study, conducted by online contact lens retailer Lenstore, analysed terms used to search for the symptoms of over 70 health conditions to determine where in the UK people are likely to be struggling with Cyberchondria. 

Cyberchondria is a term used to describe a person’s anxiety about their health created or exacerbated by using the internet to search for medical information. In the UK, people are now 114% more likely to search health-related terms online than three years ago. 

The 20 UK Cities That Use Dr. Google Most to Self-Diagnose

Searches were compared per capita and the table below shows the top 20 cities where residents Google their health symptoms.

For the full ranking, visit https://www.lenstore.co.uk/eyecare/uk-cyberchondria-capitals.  

The health conditions we’re most worried about, according to search data

The analysis revealed diabetes is the condition we’re checking for the most in the UK, followed by mental health-related conditions such as anxiety and depression.

The flu, lung cancer, chlamydia and high blood pressure are all in equal fourth place, with an average monthly search volume of 60,500.

When it comes to eye-related health conditions, we’re most worried about the symptoms of glaucoma, a condition where the optic nerve becomes damaged. Symptoms for the condition include severe headache, eye pain, nausea, and vomiting.

The second most-searched-for condition is dry eyes, with the UK searching on average 10,020 times per month. People experiencing symptoms of dry eye may have stinging, burning, or scratchy sensations in their eyes, sensitivity to light, and eye redness.

While searching symptoms online might be a more convenient option, where we do this in the hope for peace of mind that what we’re experiencing are not symptoms of scary illnesses, but completely normal.

However, if we see this is the case, we may skip the doctors and risk missing something that could have been an early indicator of a potentially life-threatening disease. 

Or, what we often find is that the information provided could lead us to believe that our symptoms are more serious. This kind of result could actually make people avoid seeing the doctor because they fear bad news is coming and can be incredibly anxiety-inducing.

Either way, if people are experiencing symptoms that are not usual for them, it’s best to check with a healthcare professional just to rule out anything more sinister and get help.