Satyarth Prakash Nayak, New Delhi: Hypochondriacs are getting more and more hyper with all the health information available on the Internet and have lead to the creation of cyberchondriacs.

“This is a category of people who are very sensitive about their body. They are always anxious about the smallest of problems. They have a hypochondriac trait in them like if anybody is talking about illness they think it could happen to them.

So, these people are sensitive to any information regarding health on the Internet,” psychiatrist at MAX Hospital, Dr Samir Parikh says. But many like Publishing Director of Prevention, which is a health website, Mala Sekhri say it’s unfair to blame the net.

“I think it's very positive because people now need to be more aware and in-charge of their health. More so because hospitals and doctors are far too busy,” says Sekhri.

With a zillion health sites offering unregulated information at the click of a mouse, experts warn that one should take most of the material with a pinch of salt. “You read something and then you tend to take your own decisions like stopping a treatment or taking medication on your own.

That could be dangerous,” warns Parikh. However, Sekhri agrees that she is “concerned about the fact that all the information on the net may not be credible but the onus lies on you.” Hypochondriacs can't help being unnerved end up becoming a problem for their family also.

“They compromise their own life and work and hence others also suffer,” says Sekhri. So, if you are worried or someone you know is a hypochondriac then here is some advice.

“It’s important for a doctor to explain to a patient the exact nature of the disorder and the treatment opportunities available,” says Sekhri.

Trust your doctor better and if the net bothers you too much then just switch it off.