Take Charge of Your Health with the WebMD Symptom Checker

Imagine waking up one morning with a throbbing headache or a nagging pain in your abdomen. It’s natural to wonder, “What should I do? Should I call my doctor or rush to the emergency room?” Well, let me tell you about a helpful tool that can provide you with some answers – the WebMD Symptom Checker.

The WebMD Symptom Checker is like having your own personal medical detective. It’s a website and app that can help you figure out what might be causing your symptoms.

• If you have an iPhone or iPad, you can download the WebMD Symptom Checker from the App Store.
• If you’re an Android user, don’t worry – the WebMD Symptom Checker is also available for download on Google Play.

Whether you use the website or the app, the WebMD Symptom Checker is there to guide you. It can help you determine what might be going on with your body and suggest potential steps you can take. Of course, nothing can replace a visit to a healthcare professional, but when that’s not an option, the WebMD Symptom Checker is a valuable resource that can provide you with some peace of mind.

How to Use the WebMD Symptom Checker

Okay, let me walk you through how to use the WebMD Symptom Checker. It’s pretty straightforward, so don’t worry!

First, you’ll arrive at the initial screen. Don’t stress, it’s quite self-explanatory! Just fill in the details about yourself or the person you’re searching for – like gender and age. Feel free to skip the Zip code and email sections since they’re not necessary for checking symptoms. However, if you want to reach out to WebMD, go ahead and fill them in. Once you’re done, click on Submit.

Next, you’ll be taken to a page with a body image. Click on the area of the body where you want to check for symptoms. If you’re not sure where to click, don’t panic! Simply enter your symptoms in the search box at the bottom of the image. Additionally, if you can’t spot the exact location on the image, just click on the “More symptoms here” option.

After you’ve pinpointed the area, it’s time to select the specific symptoms. You’ll see a list next to the image, showing a range of symptoms commonly associated with the area you selected. Look for the symptom that closely matches what you’re experiencing or researching.

Once you’ve chosen a symptom, a question box will appear. It aims to gather more information about your symptoms through a series of targeted questions. Answer them as accurately as possible, and when you’re done, click on Next. Finally, click on Finish to complete the questions.

In the next section, called “Your Choices,” you’ll find the symptom you selected earlier. In the third section, titled “Possible Conditions,” you’ll see a list of potential causes for your symptoms. They’re arranged in order of how likely they are to be the culprit. You’ll notice a progress bar indicating the probability. The fuller the bar, the more likely it is to be the cause of your problem.

To learn more about each symptom, including possible causes and what you can do about it, simply click on them. It’s up to you to decide if you need professional help or not, based on the information provided.

What to Keep in Mind when Using the WebMD Symptom Checker

Let me start by saying that nothing can replace a diagnosis from a medical professional. The WebMD Symptom Checker is good at what it does, but it can’t cover every possible illness or situation that may be causing your concern. While it’s helpful to use an app for a medical diagnosis, it’s important to remember that it shouldn’t replace a diagnosis from a doctor.

It’s also important to be cautious if you’re susceptible to suggestion. It’s easy to latch onto a simple diagnosis because it sounds interesting or likely, especially if you have a tendency for hypochondria. However, once again, I want to emphasize that nothing can replace a professional diagnosis from a doctor.