Dangers of 'cyberchondria' and relying on 'Dr Google' for health

Everybody's been guilty of relying on 'Dr Google' for a quick self-diagnosis when something's niggling at them.

Often it can send you down a wormhole learning about multiple scary conditions, which only adds to your anxiety about a potential issue.

"There is so much medical information online, it's easy to come across conflicting and even incorrect information," psychologist Dr Rebecca Ray told Today Extra.

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"Their anxiety rises while they're reading that information and they then end up in this compulsive state where they continually check for symptoms online, which exacerbates their anxiety and can sometimes affect their ability to function on a daily basis."

This 'cyberchondria' can be harmful if you choose to self-treat without a proper doctor's diagnosis and is not a reliable substitute.

Australian Medical Association NSW President Dr Michael Bonning said professionals encourage people to be interested and engage in their own health, but warned there are so many non-reputable sources or conflicting information online that can reinforce fears unnecessarily.

"One of the areas where we see it is in breast cancer remission," he said.

"There is so much information about breast cancer out there that people get into these spirals of checking for a niggle or a feeling that they have and it's unfortunately incredibly reinforcing."

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With the current cost of living pressures, some Australians may also be looking online instead of paying for a GP check-up.

But if you choose to do that, Dr Bonning said there were more reputable sites to refer to.

"Start with focusing on trusted sites like Health Direct," he said.

If you feel your anxiety levels rising, Dr Ray said that's when it's time to stop researching.

"Turn it off and make sure that you confirm any concerns you have with a doctor," she said.

"It's really important you have a GP you can trust and be honest with and if you don't have that connection with your GP, it's time to find another one."

See what else Dr Bonning and Dr Ray had to say in the video above