How we are going to play doctor ourselves

Guest blog by Sebastiaan Eikholt

For the digital age it was natural to immediately visit the doctor in case of ailments. Or at least a well-known doctor, such as an uncle or niece in the family. But that wasn't always nice. It is nevertheless a certain form of privacy that was given up, while there was by no means always something wrong. And that caused many people to become more reluctant to test themselves for a certain condition.

Online expertise

These days it's all different. On television we are constantly informed of the possible pains that we have. Do you suffer from heartburn? Then take this. Do you have pain in the intestines? Then use that. You would almost believe that it is normal to walk around with all these ailments. Fortunately you can always search online Whether or not the painful heartburn actually means that you take the medicine out of it TV commercial must swallow. It is doubtful whether all the information on the web has improved.

You depend on the expertise on a website and you still try to find your own truth. Does one website say that I am sick? Then we just look further, until we read that nothing turns out to be wrong! Nevertheless, it does not mean that your symptoms actually result in a condition. But it can give a certain amount of peace of mind. That the dizziness you have does not necessarily mean that you are diabetes have incurred. Or that a lump means that you have cancer. But it is wise to go to the doctor to know for sure if there is a risk.

Home testing

We see more and more that the medical world is coming closer to us. Measuring the heart rate can be accomplished with a watch. In addition, the number burned calories and steps taken can be retrieved with the smartphone. But those are innocent measurements that determine the condition more and make you aware of your overweight beer belly. A more prominent development is being able to perform medical tests from home. With the help of reliable and accurate measurements, a self-test can be performed, which tests for STD or diabetes, for example.

It does not mean that one doctor can be replaced, but it ensures that a barrier is missing. The lack of a barrier ensures that a certain condition can be determined at an early stage. If you suffer from a burning sensation while urinating, the result may be that you have tested positive for chlamydia. And then it's time to go to the doctor with the results. But if you test negative and the burning sensation remains, then there may be a different condition. Also a moment to visit the doctor!

Self-care

Yet we are seeing more and more self-tests appearing on the market that can test for multiple disorders. And with STDs you can make targeted measurements. I predict that the doctor will come closer and closer in the coming years. That we self-care products for almost all disorders. Consider a blood test, from which much can be deduced. And that we then also get the medication ourselves. And that the doctor only talks to you online. During the online conversation just turn your phone and show the spot on the skin that you think is wrong. We no longer have to sit uncomfortably with the neighbors in the waiting room. We came out the door anyway.

Sebastiaan Eikholt