If you’ve ever wanted to quickly identify the cause of a symptom,
chances are you’ve wished for a medical search engine. Here are some
ways to effectively use a medical search engine for maximum benefit.
First,
take time to know your symptom. If you’re experiencing abdominal pain,
for instance, consider: is it more pronounced on one side than the
other? If so, it could be appendicitis or an ectopic pregnancy. Is is
sharp? Dull? Concentrated? Spread out? These are questions that your
doctor will ask you anyway, so it’s good to be prepared. If you’re
experiencing severe pain, get yourself to the E.R. right away or call
an ambulance—it could be serious. Using a medical search engine might
waste valuable time if you are experiencing major pain. Leg pain could
be an indication of deep vein thrombosis, a serious problem.
Next,
assuming your pain isn’t severe, you can research different symptoms.
It might be useful to write down a list of potential diseases or health
issues based on the research that you’ve done with a medical search
engine. Then, you can ask the doctor about your symptoms. It’s good to
be pro-active when it comes to your medical care, and although your
doctor will certainly have a better grasp of your condition than a
medical search engine will, extra information never hurts. Look for a
doctor who is not too rushed to fully listen to your concerns.
Finally,
when you visit the doctor, bring a comprehensive list of symptoms and
describe your symptoms as well as you can. This will help your doctor
determine what course of treatment to take. Be sure to notify your
doctor of anything like allergies, potential pregnancy, or family
history of heart disease or cancer. A medical search engine can help
you be an educated patient, which can in turn help you stay healthy and
fight illness.