It is late at night. A young person feels a headache and searches for the reason. Soon, a headache seems connected to several serious diseases. The pain may not have changed, but the fear has.This is how “Dr Google” has become part of our lives. In Jammu and Kashmir, people can find health information within seconds through Google, YouTube, Instagram, WhatsApp and AI tools. It becomes a problem when online information is treated as medical advice.

There is nothing wrong with searching for health information. The internet can help us understand diseases, prevention and medical terms. For people in remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir, it can provide basic information when reaching a doctor or specialist takes time. Still, there is a clear difference between learning about health and diagnosing or treating ourselves.Health information means learning about a condition. Self-diagnosis means deciding that we have a disease without proper assessment. Self-treatment means starting treatment on........

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