Americans are most curious about which diseases are contagious and how much water they should drink, an analysis of Google medical searches shows.
Researchers in the US analyzed Google search data from the first weeks of 2024 for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
They found that nationally, Googlers were most interested in whether common winter infections occur bronchitis, pneumonia and strep throat – are contagious.
Also popular were searches for details about the autoimmune disease lupus, which affects 1.5 million Americans, including actress Selena Gomez.
However, answers varied by state.
Researchers from pharmaceutical recruitment firm Soliant Health analyzed Google search results to find the country’s most common medical questions
For example, Florida residents were most concerned about what happens if you eat mold, while people in Kentucky wanted to know if you can live without a spine – the answer, by the way, is no.
Meanwhile, Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut and West Virginia raised questions about monkeypox, now known as Mpox, which quickly spread across the US and UK in 2022.
And Minnesota and Wyoming were curious about the successful weight-loss drug Ozempic and its safety.
But with 176,000 monthly searches, the most popular question nationwide was “Is bronchitis contagious?”, according to a pharmaceutical recruitment firm’s analysis. Solitary health.
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lining of the bronchi, which transport air to and from the lungs.
This is usually caused by a virus and can lead to coughing up mucus, fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, fever and chills.
Risk factors include smoking, a compromised immune system and exposure to irritants such as chemical fumes.
According to the Mayo Clinic, bronchitis itself is not contagious, although the virus behind it could be. For example, influenza, which is highly contagious, has been shown to cause bronchitis.
The top five most Googled medical questions in America include questions about bronchitis, pneumonia and strep throat, all of which can be contagious
With 148,000 monthly searches, the second most popular question for Dr. Google was “Is pneumonia contagious?”
Unlike bronchitis, pneumonia inflames the air sacs of the lungs, causing them to fill with fluid or pus.
In addition to coughing up phlegm, the condition can cause chest pain when you breathe or cough, confusion, fatigue, fever, chills, low body temperature, nausea, and shortness of breath.
Bacteria, fungi and viruses such as Covid have been shown to cause pneumonia.
The American Lung Association (ALA) states that some forms of pneumonia are contagious, such as those caused by certain bacteria or fungi. For example, bacterial pneumonia is contagious for about 48 hours after you start antibiotics or after your fever goes away.
In third place for the most popular searches, with 135,000 monthly searches, was “What is lupus?”
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system attacks the body’s own healthy tissues and organs. Over time, it causes inflammation and pain in the skin, joints and internal organs.
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms include fatigue, fever, joint pain, swelling, a butterfly-shaped rash on the face, skin lesions, shortness of breath, chest pain and dry eyes.
Anyone can develop lupus, but it is most common in women between the ages of 15 and 45, as well as in people who are black, Hispanic, and Asian American.
Among the patients is singer Selena Gomez, who admitted in 2015 that she had the condition.
Symptoms are usually controlled with medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antimalarials, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressants.
Of 105,000 monthly searches, fourth on the list was “How Much Water Should You Drink a Day?”
The age-old advice is eight eight-ounce glasses every day.
However, some experts caution that there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this, as it depends on your height, weight and activity level, as well as pre-existing medical conditions that can lead to water retention.
Penn Medicine recommends drinking 0.5 to 1 ounce for every pound of body weight, depending on your activity level.
And in fifth place, with 92,000 monthly searches, was: ‘Is strep throat contagious?’
Strep throat is an infection caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes, also known as group A streptococci.
Symptoms include sore throat that comes on suddenly, painful swallowing, red and swollen tonsils, swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache, rash, nausea, vomiting, and body aches.
The infection is most common in children. If left untreated, it can lead to infections in the tonsils, sinuses, skin and blood, as well as inflammation in the kidneys.
Strep throat is highly contagious, although this decreases after 24 to 48 hours of antibiotic use.