Google has long been the go-to tool for many with health-related questions — and 2024 was no different.
Americans across the country turn to search engines to find answers to their medical problems throughout the year.
Soliant Health, a Georgia-based healthcare job search site, analyzed 2024 Google search data to identify popular queries from each state, as well as some of the most frequently Googled medical queries.
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Below are the seven most searched questions, along with answers from Australian-based registered nurse Karen Stockdale.
More people are turning to Google to ask how contagious certain diseases are, the analysis found. (Stock)
1. Is bronchitis contagious?
Bronchitis is not contagious, but Stockdale revealed to Soliant that the virus that causes it can be.
Illnesses such as colds, flu and RSV can all lead to bronchitis, which can last a few days to a week, he said.
2. Is pneumonia contagious?
Although there are many types of pneumonia, the most common are viral or bacterial, according to Stockdale.
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“Bacterial pneumonia is usually caused by bacteria that live in the upper respiratory tract, and it starts after a cold or flu,” she said. “These types of pneumonia are contagious, but they don’t spread easily.”
Viral pneumonia can be caused by other viruses, such as COVID-19, influenza, RSV and other infectious diseases.
Both bacterial and viral pneumonia can be contagious, says the registered nurse. (Stock)
“These respiratory conditions are easily spread to others through respiratory droplets in the air, which means that viral infections are contagious,” added the nurse.
3. What is lupus?
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes a person’s immune system to malfunction and attack healthy tissue, according to Stockdale.
“It is a chronic disease that causes inflammation and pain in many parts of the body such as the skin, joints and internal organs,” she said.
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Since lupus can affect different parts of the body, symptoms can vary. The disease is most common in women ages 15 to 44, Stockdale noted.
4. How much water should I drink a day?
Americans were curious about how much water they should drink.
Although hydration is important for good health, the specific amount varies from person to person depending on gender, weight and other factors, Stockdale said.
The recommended amount of water to drink per day varies from person to person, says the expert. (Stock)
“For example, the nutritional needs of young women can be very different from male bodybuilders,” he said. “The best way to determine how much water you drink is to [consider] body weight and activity levels.”
Stockdale referenced Penn Medicine’s recommendation of drinking 0.5 to 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight, depending on the amount of exercise.
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“If you’re not doing heavy work, 0.5 ounces per pound should be enough,” she said.
“If you work outside, play sports or are very active, you will need an ounce of water per body weight to replenish your body.”
5. Is strep throat contagious?
The group of bacteria that cause strep throat, called group A Streptococcus, is “highly contagious,” warns Stockdale.
Strep throat bacteria are spread by droplets from sneezing and coughing, according to the nurse. (Stock)
These viruses can be spread by droplets when an infected person sneezes or coughs, and by sharing drinks or food.
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“A person with untreated strep throat can be contagious for three weeks and infect others,” warns the registered nurse.
6. How long does the flu last?
Colds can be very uncomfortable, and infections can last longer than expected.
A case of the common cold lasts five to seven days, according to Stockdale. Common symptoms include fever, body aches, fatigue, congestion, diarrhea, cough and sore throat.
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“Those with compromised immune systems may have long-lasting symptoms,” said the nurse.
A fever can last five to seven days. Common symptoms include fever, body aches, fatigue, congestion, diarrhea, cough and sore throat. (Stock)
7. What causes high blood pressure?
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, tends to develop “slowly over time,” Stockdale said.
This condition can be caused by various medical conditions, poor lifestyle choices and genetics.
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“People who are overweight, have diabetes and don’t exercise very much are more likely to develop high blood pressure,” says Stockdale.
“Some women can also develop high blood pressure during pregnancy.”
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