The health condition, which is fuelled by internet usage and medical self-diagnosing, is on the rise and could have serious consequences for millions of Brits
Experts warn an internet-fuelled condition could have dire consequences for Brits.
The convenience of online self-diagnosis has led to the emergence of a condition dubbed ‘cyberchondria’, a concern that arises from consulting ‘Dr Google’. Similar to hypochondria – a form of anxiety that leaves individuals constantly fretting about their health even when there’s no serious issue – the condition is said to be the result of an obsession with health that spirals into anxiety.
In 2023, British adults alone conducted nearly 50 million health-related Google searches. Further studies reveal that two out of five people end up diagnosing themselves with a severe illness after Googling their symptoms.
While heightened awareness and vigilance can be hugely beneficial in detecting illnesses early, experts warn there is a major downside. Health anxiety is estimated to cost the NHS more than £420 million annually, and if left unchecked, it can become crippling or even perilous.
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Mark Burdon, a pharmacist and adviser to the Proprietary Association of Great Britain (PAGB), which represents firms producing over-the-counter medicines, said: “Cyberchondria, or illness anxiety disorder, is a real challenge which is characterised by excessive online searches for health information. This can lead to people persuading themselves that their headache is really a brain tumour, or indigestion is an imminent heart attack.”
Professor David Veale, a consultant psychiatrist at two London hospitals and co-author of Overcoming Health Anxiety, told The Telegraph: “In the past you would go to encyclopaedias or family friends, or go off to see various doctors or alternative practitioners.
“But nowadays it’s just so easy to get it all on the internet in seconds. The problem is, of course, that the more information we get, the more likely we are to read things that are ambiguous and create further doubts.”
While cyberchondria is not yet a recognised medical definition, researchers are beginning to take it more seriously. A 2018 study by Florida State University found the practice was linked with ‘increased functional impairment and healthcare utilisation’ compared to health anxiety in its traditional form, and ‘may pose a significant public health burden’.
People diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are particularly susceptible to cyberchondria. A 2023 review of the condition described it as ‘a growing concern’ and questioned whether the habit of searching symptoms should be classified as a behavioural addiction – a similar condition to gambling, shopping or pornography.
A study published in the journal Comprehensive Psychiatry in 2020 analysed over 50 reports of cyberchondria worldwide. Scientists from the UK, Australia and two other countries warned ‘cyberchondria’ is likely to become an increasing public health issue due to the growing use of the internet.
It follows a report in July which identified ‘cyberchondria’ as a significant factor in the rise of young people seeking medical care for conditions that could have been managed at home.
The PAGB found Gen Zs and millennials are three times more likely than those aged 65 and over to book a GP appointment for a minor health problem. Its study also showed nearly one in 10 of those aged 18 to 24 have attempted to secure a doctor’s appointment for a blocked nose, compared to just three per cent of over-65s.
And the organisation suggested trust in social media was likely driving the increase of cyberchondria among younger adults. The PAGB also reported an “alarming decline” in Britons’ ability to treat minor ailments themselves in recent years, with the percentage of people who feel confident to self-care for the common cold dropping from 81 per cent in 2023 to 63 per cent in 2025.
The report also suggested one in 10 confessed they would go to A&E for minor health issues. “There is a disparity in the willingness of consumers to self-care versus the actions that they are taking in reality,” said PAGB chief executive Michelle Riddalls.
‘We need to see initiatives such as a national public awareness campaign, delivered at regular intervals, to improve peoples’ understanding of self-care and the pathways they can take.”