Google has lengthy been a go-to device for a lot of who’ve health-related questions – and 2024 was no completely different.
Individuals throughout the nation turned to the search engine for solutions to their medical considerations all year long.
Soliant Well being, a well being care job search website based mostly in Georgia, analyzed 2024 Google search information to determine standard questions from every state, in addition to a couple of of essentially the most usually Googled medical queries.
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Under are seven of the top-searched questions, together with solutions from Australia-based registered nurse Karen Stockdale.
1. Is bronchitis contagious?
Bronchitis shouldn’t be contagious, however Stockdale revealed to Soliant that the virus that causes it could possibly be.
Diseases like colds, influenza and RSV can all result in bronchitis, which may be contagious for a couple of days to per week, she stated.
2. Is pneumonia contagious?
Whereas there are numerous kinds of pneumonia, the commonest are both viral or bacterial, in keeping with Stockdale.
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“Bacterial pneumonia is normally attributable to micro organism that already stay within the higher respiratory tract, and it develops after a chilly or the flu,” she stated. “These kind of pneumonia may be contagious, however should not as simply unfold.”
Viral pneumonia may result from different viruses, equivalent to COVID-19, influenza, RSV and different contagious sicknesses.
“These respiratory circumstances are simply unfold to others through respiratory droplets within the air, which means the underlying viral infections are contagious,” the nurse added.
3. What’s lupus?
Lupus is an autoimmune illness that causes an individual’s personal immune system to malfunction and assault wholesome tissues, in keeping with Stockdale.
“It’s a long-term illness that causes irritation and ache in lots of components of the physique, such because the pores and skin, joints and inside organs,” she stated.
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Since lupus can impression completely different components of the physique, signs could fluctuate. The illness is most typical in ladies aged 15 to 44, Stockdale famous.
4. How a lot water ought to I drink every day?
Individuals have been interested by how a lot water they need to be consuming.
Whereas hydration is vital to good well being, the precise quantity varies per individual relying on gender, weight and different components, Stockdale stated.
“For instance, a petite feminine’s consumption necessities would fluctuate significantly from a male bodybuilder’s,” she stated. “One of the simplest ways to find out your optimum water consumption is to [consider] physique weight and exercise ranges.”
Stockdale referenced Penn Medication’s suggestion of consuming 0.5 to 1 ounce of water per pound of physique weight, relying on the quantity of bodily exercise.
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“In case you are not doing strenuous exercise, 0.5 ounces per pound needs to be adequate,” she stated.
“In case you are working exterior, taking part in a sport or are in any other case very lively, 1 ounce of water per physique weight might be wanted to replenish your physique.”
5. Is strep throat contagious?
The group of micro organism that causes strep throat, referred to as group A Streptococcus, is “very contagious,” Stockdale cautioned.
These micro organism can unfold via droplets when an contaminated individual sneezes or coughs, in addition to from sharing drinks or meals.
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“An individual with untreated strep throat may be contagious for as much as three weeks, infecting others,” the registered nurse warned.
6. How lengthy does the flu final?
The flu may be extraordinarily uncomfortable, and instances can last more than anticipated.
The common influenza case lasts 5 to seven days, in keeping with Stockdale. Widespread signs embrace fever, physique aches, fatigue, congestion, diarrhea, coughing and sore throat.
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“These with compromised immune programs could expertise an extended interval of signs,” the nurse stated.
7. What causes hypertension?
Hypertension, often known as hypertension, normally develops “slowly over time,” Stockdale said.
The situation may be attributable to varied medical circumstances, unhealthy way of life decisions and genetics.
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“Folks with weight problems, diabetes and low ranges of bodily exercise usually tend to develop hypertension,” Stockdale stated.
“Some ladies may expertise hypertension throughout being pregnant.”