‘Cyberchondria,’ or when a little medical knowledge is a dangerous thing
In another sign the English language is evolving, you can add a new word to your vocabulary: “cyberchondria.” It’s the term for what happens when you go looking up your health symptoms online and wind up coming to the worst conclusion. A new survey by Microsoft showed this phenomenon on the rise. The Takeaway is joined by Cary Cooper, professor of Psychology and Health at Lancaster University in the UK, to look at why you’re as likely to conclude your headache is from a brain tumor as from caffeine withdrawal.
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