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Are You A Cyberchondriac?

By Dr. Brian McDonough

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Are we becoming a nation of Cyberchondriac?

According to a Pew Research Center study, 72-percent of us went online to find health information in the past year, and 59-percent of the people said they went online specifically to figure out what medical conditions they have.

Web surfers admit they also look at what other people might have.

Women are the most likely to go online for a possible diagnoses as well as younger people and whites. Those in the highest income brackets and those with more education are also more likely to go online.

There is good news is 46-percent of online diagnosers say they actually go to doctors if they see they have a problem.

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