Google has lengthy been a go-to software for a lot of who’ve health-related questions – and 2024 was no totally different.
Americans throughout the nation turned to the search engine for solutions to their medical considerations all year long.
Soliant Health, a health care job search web site primarily based in Georgia, analyzed 2024 Google search knowledge to establish standard questions from every state, in addition to a couple of of probably the most usually Googled medical queries.
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Below are seven of the top-searched questions, together with solutions from Australia-based registered nurse Karen Stockdale.
Many individuals flip to Google to ask about how contagious sure sicknesses are, the evaluation discovered. (iStock)
1. Is bronchitis contagious?
Bronchitis isn’t contagious, however Stockdale revealed to Soliant that the virus that causes it may very well be.
Illnesses like colds, influenza and RSV can all result in bronchitis, which could be contagious for a couple of days to per week, she mentioned.
2. Is pneumonia contagious?
While there are various sorts of pneumonia, the commonest are both viral or bacterial, in line with Stockdale.
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“Bacterial pneumonia is normally brought on by micro organism that already reside within the higher respiratory tract, and it develops after a chilly or the flu,” she mentioned. “These sorts of pneumonia could be contagious, however should not as simply unfold.”
Viral pneumonia may end up from different viruses, reminiscent of COVID-19, influenza, RSV and different contagious sicknesses.
Both bacterial and viral pneumonia could be contagious, a registered nurse mentioned. (iStock)
“These respiratory conditions are simply unfold to others through respiratory droplets within the air, which means the underlying viral infections are contagious,” the nurse added.
3. What is lupus?
Lupus is an autoimmune illness that causes an individual’s personal immune system to malfunction and assault wholesome tissues, in line with Stockdale.
“It is a long-term illness that causes irritation and ache in lots of elements of the physique, such because the pores and skin, joints and inside organs,” she mentioned.
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Since lupus can impression totally different elements of the physique, signs might fluctuate. The illness is most common in women aged 15 to 44, Stockdale famous.
4. How a lot water ought to I drink every day?
Americans have been inquisitive about how a lot water they need to be consuming.
While hydration is vital to good health, the particular quantity varies per particular person relying on gender, weight and different components, Stockdale mentioned.
The advisable quantity of consuming water per day varies per particular person, the professional mentioned. (iStock)
“For instance, a petite feminine’s consumption necessities would fluctuate significantly from a male bodybuilder’s,” she mentioned. “The finest approach to decide your optimum water consumption is to [consider] physique weight and exercise ranges.”
Stockdale referenced Penn Medicine’s suggestion of consuming 0.5 to 1 ounce of water per pound of physique weight, relying on the quantity of physical activity.
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“If you aren’t doing strenuous exercise, 0.5 ounces per pound must be adequate,” she mentioned.
“If you might be working exterior, enjoying a sport or are in any other case very energetic, 1 ounce of water per physique weight shall be wanted to replenish your physique.”
5. Is strep throat contagious?
The group of bacteria that causes strep throat, referred to as group A Streptococcus, is “very contagious,” Stockdale cautioned.
Strep throat micro organism is unfold by droplets from sneezes and coughs, in line with the nurse. (iStock)
These micro organism can unfold by droplets when an contaminated particular person sneezes or coughs, in addition to from sharing drinks or meals.
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“An individual with untreated strep throat could be contagious for as much as three weeks, infecting others,” the registered nurse warned.
6. How lengthy does the flu final?
The flu could be extraordinarily uncomfortable, and instances can last more than anticipated.
The common influenza case lasts 5 to seven days, in line with Stockdale. Common signs embody fever, physique aches, fatigue, congestion, diarrhea, coughing and sore throat.
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“Those with compromised immune programs might expertise an extended interval of signs,” the nurse mentioned.
The flu can final from 5 to seven days. Common signs embody fever, physique aches, fatigue, congestion, diarrhea, coughing and sore throat. (iStock)
7. What causes hypertension?
High blood pressure, also referred to as hypertension, normally develops “slowly over time,” Stockdale said.
The situation could be brought on by numerous medical situations, unhealthy life-style decisions and genetics.
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“People with weight problems, diabetes and low ranges of bodily exercise usually tend to develop hypertension,” Stockdale mentioned.
“Some girls also can expertise hypertension during pregnancy.”
