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The search engine Google is one of the most useful information tools to emerge in modern times.  “Google” is a recognized verb.  Googling, “how to cook gluten-free recipes” is harmless and informative.  Googling, “is my husband having a heart attack?’ can be deadly.  Approximately eight out of 10 Americans search for medical information on the internet. When is it safe to use the internet to learn about health symptoms and treatment and when are you playing with your life? Hypochondria has now turned to Cyberchondria. We turned to Dr. Niket Sonpal, a New York City internist and gastroenterologist for some answers.

The Perils of Using Google For Health Questions/Symptoms

1)    You don’t know how reliable a site is

You have to pay attention to things like, how old is the information on that site? Is it backed by real clinical studies from Universities or institutions like the Mayo Clinic? Does this site have an agenda? Have they put information up there as “clickbait” to lure you into buying a product they are selling such as a supplement, diet program, or book?  If you google the information on other sites, so other sites corroborate what was said? Are the quotes coming from a physician who is board-certified in his or her sub-specialty and can you find this physician online?

2)    Googling Symptoms Can Cause Health Anxiety

Google just about any symptom and there’s bound to be results that suggest surgery or connect the symptom with a form of cancer. These extreme conclusions can cause serious anxiety, especially for people who are already afraid of health problems. This anxiety happens so frequently today, there’s a name for it—cyberchondria. According to the British news source DailyMail.com, millions suffer from it. Cyberchondriacs turn to the Web for comfort about their health issues instead of a health professional. They can become obsessed and the amount of time they spend checking the Web for information can interfere with their daily lives.

3)    Stay Away from Health Message Boards

Don’t share your worries on message boards or ask for prescription drug recommendations. Dr. Sonpal has seen people ask questions such as: Has anyone tried Prozac for depression? They hear one person with a negative experience and then shy away from trying a drug that could potentially help them.

 If you go to a random message board with your concerns, people are going to reply with horrific diagnoses, potentially lethal information, and their own experiences with prescription drugs that won’t be identical to yours. Physicians don’t moderate these message boards. If dangerous/erroneous advice is given, there is nobody to stop it from being published.

4)    You can misdiagnosis yourself for better or worse

Perhaps you awake one morning to strange bumps all over your body. You put your symptoms into google and decide that based on several pages of descriptions, you have prickly heat and you treat it yourself according to what is published on google. What if the reality is that you have adult chickenpox and you leave it untreated?  Conversely, the hypochondriac side can immerge, where you google symptoms and over-diagnose yourself because you have been having some chest pain that day. You think you are having a heart attack when the reality is, you were simply having upper gas pain.

5)    Don’t use Google in the midst of a health crisis

If your infant suddenly stops breathing now is not the time to Google, “how to perform CPR.”  This is when you call 911 and get medical help on the ground as soon as possible and take the direction that the operators give you on the line while medical help is on the way.  It is a good idea to google how to perform CPR in a non- crisis situation from a reliable website such as https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/performing-cpr/cpr-steps

6)    Google does not know you and has never seen you

When you visit an internist or any other responsible medical doctor, you fill out an extensive form. This form includes, among other things, your age, height, weight, sex, gender race, medical history, medications you are taking, surgeries you have had, allergies, family health history, diseases you currently, suffer from,

mental health history etc. A doctor uses all of this to gather information in making his/her diagnosis and make sure that if he/she is dispensing medication that none of it interacts with what you are already taking.  Google does not know any of this!

When it is OK to use Google as a tool for basic health questions?

Dr. Sonpal says, “the simpler the question, the better. If you are absolutely sure of what an ailment/injury is, and you have had it or seen it before, then visiting a reliable site for information can be useful.

Examples of Topics that are Safe to Google

What constitutes high blood pressure? (if you have it seek treatment)

How do you treat a mild sunburn?

How do you remove a splinter?

What is better to lower a fever, Tylenol or Advil

Should I put hot or cold on my joint if I fall?

What should I do if I’m dehydrated?

How should I treat a minor cut or abrasion?

What food can I eat if I have an upset stomach?

Should I starve myself if I have a cold and feed myself If I have a fever?

How should I treat a bee sting?

How much water should I drink each day?

How do I treat a bloody nose?

Some Reliable Sites For Health Information

Drugs.com

MedlinePlus.gov

ClevelandClinic.org

Family Doctor.org

Mayoclinic.org

Cdc.gov

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There are endless winter health myths that we have heard from well intentioned grandparents and parents. They have become so ingrained in us that we take them as cold hard facts. Many of these myths have no more basis in reality than Santa Claus.  Of course, everyone wants to stay as healthy as possible during the frosty months. In order to do so sensibly, we turned to Board Certified NYC internist and gastroenterologist Dr. Niket Sonpal.

Myth: Allergies go away in the winter

Allergies might be the real source behind your stuffy nose and scratchy throat this season. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, one in five people suffer from indoor/outdoor allergies, and the indoor variety can actually be worse in the winter. Dr. Sonpal cautions that, “If your symptoms last longer than 10 days or ease up after taking an antihistamine, it might be time to visit an allergist.”

Myth: I wash my hands all the time with hand sanitizer, so I should be fine.

Hand sanitizer will kill most viruses, but not all. You must make sure you use the right amount of hand sanitizer and let it dry completely. Dr. Sonpal points out that,” Some viruses, like norovirus, which causes vomiting, is not killed by hand sanitizer. Soap and water are best to get rid of all bacteria and viruses, but the hand sanitizer is better than nothing at all.”

Myth: It’s cold out, I don’t need sunscreen.

The sun’s rays are just as strong in the winter months as they are in the other seasons. Snow and ice can reflect even more sunlight, up to twice as much. Grab the SPF 30 and put it on, regardless of the temperature. Don’t forget those sunglasses to keep your eyes safe as well.

I’ll just drink some alcohol to keep myself warm.

Although it may feel like drinking alcohol is making you warmer, it does not. Dr. Sonpal says that, “when you drink, the blood vessels dilate or get bigger, and blood flows to your skin and away from your internal organs. So, it may feel like you are getting warmer, but you are not.”

Myth: The Flu Shot Gives You the Flu

According to a new survey from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and Rite Aide, 44 percent of American women view the flu as a serious threat to their health. Yet nearly half (49 percent) do not intend to get a flu shot this year because they believe the vaccine can give them the flu. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the flu shot for anyone older than 6 months of age. Dr. Sonpal stresses that, “The shot does not contain a live virus, making catching the flu from it impossible.”

Winter weather makes you store fat and gain weight

Our bodies do not go into some kind of winter hibernation mode, stockpiling every ounce of fat to use for the lean times. It seems logical, like a throwback to our days living in caves foraging for food, but in reality, any weight gain comes from our winter habits. Dr. Sonpal points out that, “we tend to exercise less in winter. We eat more hearty meals and comfort foods, including more sugary snacks and desserts (especially around the holidays).”

Myth: You Lose Most Heat Through Your Head

The saying goes “we lose 90 percent of our body heat through our heads.”  But a 2006 study found that the head accounts for about 7 percent of the body’s surface area, and that heat loss in the region is fairly proportional, according to LiveScience.”Your head is another extremity, and it’s susceptible to cold, so you should wear a hat, but it doesn’t lose any more heat than another part of your body,” says Dr. Sonpal.

Myth: Chicken Soup Will Cure Colds

Many cultures teach us to drink warm liquids like tea, hot apple cider, and soups when we’re dealing with colds. It’s true that something like chicken soup may help soothe and ease congestion, but much like vitamin C, hot soup won’t do immediate wonders.

Myth: Being Cold Gives You a Cold

No matter what your grandma might have told you, spending too much time in the cold air doesn’t make you sick. One study found that healthy men who spent several hours in temperatures just above freezing had an increase in healthy, virus-fighting activity in their immune systems. In fact, you’re more likely to get sick indoors, where germs are easily passed.

Myth: Feed a cold, starve a fever

Dr. Sonpal says that, “This is another myth that comes from a time when people didn’t understand the science of body chemistry. The thought was that if you had a cold, food would warm you up. Conversely, if you had a high fever, not eating would cool you down. This is just patently bad medical advice. In both cases, good nutrition gives your body the fuel it needs to fight infections and recover from an illness. When you have a fever, your body is burning energy at a rapid rate, and that needs to be replenished. So, by all means feed your cold; but also feed your fever, or any other illness. Even if you have stomach issues, find a way to take in lost fluids and electrolytes.”

About Dr. Niket Sonpal:

Dr. Niket Sonpal is a native of Long Island NY and a graduate of Medical University of Silesia – Hope Medical Institute in Poland. After completing his residency in Internal Medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital, he was selected to be the 2013‐2014 Chief Resident at Lenox Hill Hospital–Northshore LIJ Health System. He is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine and Clinical instructor at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, Brooklyn. Dr. Sonpal has completed his Fellowship in gastroenterology & hepatology at Lenox Hill Hospital and will continue his work in the field of medical student and resident test preparation. He now serves as the associate program director for the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Brookldale University medical center.

He is the co‐author for the best-selling Master the Boards: USMLE Step 2 CK, Master the Boards Step 3, And Master the Boards: Internal Medicine. He is also the Chief Operating Officer for Medquest Test Prep, Director of Medical Education for Picmonic Test Prep, and a recognized expert on medical test prep.

https://tourocom.touro.edu/academics/faculty/harlem/niket-sonpal.php

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CRYSTAL Deodorant announces that actress, best-selling author, and health advocate, Alicia Silverstone has signed on as Brand Ambassador due to her longtime use and loyalty to their product. Since its founding 35 years ago, CRYSTAL has been providing an effective mineral-based line, that’s vegan, and cruelty-free. The ingredients are non-toxic and the packaging’s eco-friendly. CRYSTAL is committed to the safety, health, and welfare of both their customers and the environment, which aligns perfectly with Silverstone.

“I’ve used CRYSTAL Deodorant for over 20 years because it’s safe, vegan and most importantly it works! I am proud to partner with a company that shares my values and is committed to making healthier and kinder products,” said Silverstone.Silverstone has been an animal rights activist for over two decades. She is the recipient of Mercy for Animals Hope Award and PETA’s 35^th Anniversary Humanitarian Award. Last year she made several trips to Washington, DC and Sacramento lobbying for cruelty-free and plant-forward legislation.   

Silverstone recently hosted an event sponsored by CRYSTAL at The Gentle Barn, a non-profit animal sanctuary that stands up for the innocent, and helps animals and children alike remember they matter. “I’ve been visiting The Gentle Barn for 20 years. I had my 25^th birthday there! When I saw CRYSTAL, my favorite deodorant, was sponsoring a non-profit like The Gentle Barn, I knew I had to be involved. It was wonderful celebrating The Gentle Barn’s 20^th anniversary with my friends from CRYSTAL. I wish everyone was cruelty-free and conscious like these two entities are,” said Silverstone.  ]

“It makes perfect sense that we would choose Alicia, who has been such a devoted, longtime fan of our products, to represent our brand,” said Martin Floreani, CEO and President of CRYSTAL. “There couldn’t be a more authentic partnership, and we are excited to work with her.”
About CRYSTAL DeodorantCRYSTAL Deodorant is a recognized leader and innovator in mineral based hypoallergenic deodorant. For more information on CRYSTAL Deodorant, visit thecrystal.com.

About Alicia SilverstoneSilverstone, best known for her generation-defining turn in Clueless also recently starred in the lead role of American Woman. She also appeared in Book Club and worked with director, Yorgos Lanthimos on the acclaimed thriller, The Killing of a Sacred Deer. Through film, television and theatre, her performances have garnered awards and critical praise including Emmy and Golden Globe nominations and a National Board of Review award. Silverstone, a dedicated activist in the wellness space, chronicled her journey towards a more conscious way of eating in her New York Times bestseller, “The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide to Feeling Great, Losing Weight, and Saving the Planet” and her second book, “The Kind Mama: A Simple Guide to Supercharged Fertility, a Radiant Pregnancy, a Sweeter Birth, and a Healthier, More Beautiful Beginning.” Silverstone co-created the mykind Organics vitamin line, and her website, THEKINDLIFE.com is a platform for health and eco-living.

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