The Internet these days contains all sorts of information, ranging from useful and valid to utterly asinine and pointless. Searching out accurate medical advice has become the norm, but the problem lies in knowing what information to trust. The last thing you want to do is second guess yourself when trying out treatments at home. Should I really use a cold compress on this area? The area feels tender – is this safe?
For the most part you can rest assured that there aren’t very many websites out there devote to actively falsifying medical information. At the very least you may find a message board with uninformed people on it giving homegrown advice to others. However, if you find dozens upon dozens of professional websites all giving the same information, nine out of ten times it will be safe to assume that the information is solid and useful. For example, if you have bleeding hemorrhoids, you will likely see every place you go telling you that you can relieve symptoms by sitting in a bath of warm water. Even professional sites will tell you this so there is a microscopic chance that the information is some joker’s idea of tricking everyone.
If you still aren’t too keen on the idea of using Google to find medical advice, there are plenty of other locations to look. The American College of Gastroenterology specializes in gastrointestinal problems and has their own website full of legitimate information. Places like WebMD.com are also available, though even they will warn that the advice offered is not intended to take the place of a doctor’s.
On that note, there’s always the option of calling your doctor. Your clinic may have pamphlets on bleeding hemorrhoid information and it can’t hurt to see if you can get your doctor to speak with you just for a few minutes. Physicians have been trained for this exact situation and will have some of the more up-to-date information available.
If the internet makes you uncomfortable, try your local library or bookstore. Search the health section and look up information about bleeding hemorrhoids and how to treat them. Often these books are written by professionals for either general public use or for nurses in training. If you feel embarrassed asking for help searching for the subject, you could use both the internet and the library or bookstore in conjunction. Search online for references at medical sites or do a general keyword search at bookstore websites and see what comes up. Then try finding the actual book and give it a good look through.
We live in the information age. There are plenty of ways to find what you are looking for and methods of helping you get through your problem. Just make sure to keep a clear head in order to avoid misdiagnosing yourself and if your symptoms ever become more severe, don’t continue doing things yourself – go straight to a doctor!