# Cyberchondriacs Population Surfing for Sickness Reaches 160 Million By Ben Preiss | Published 2007-08-01 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cyberchondriacs-survey-says-psychologically-sick-surfers-suffering-soaring References: [news.yahoo](http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/cyberchondriacs_tech_dc_ylt=AiOUM9VtQpg_85vh1HyP6FcWr7sF) & [telegraph](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/main.jhtmljsessionid=CFIO4A1G1ZP2ZQFIQMFCFFOAVCBQYIV0?xml=/health/2006/05/15/hcyber15.xml&page=2) Are you surfing for sick? According a new poll the number of “cyberchondriacs” surfing the net looking for health info has soared to about 160 million people in 2006 -- a 37 percent rise in two years. The Telegraph reveals, "Worried about that niggling pain in your arm? Concerned about those persistent headaches? If you've searched online for information about [medical woes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/human-health) you're not alone. The nationwide telephone poll of 1,010 adults conducted earlier this month showed cyberchondriacs on average [search the Internet](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/digital-dependency) almost six times per month and the majority find what they are looking for. Eighty-six percent of people questioned in the poll said the [health information they found online](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-online-health-community) was reliable, which was a slight drop from the previous year when 90 percent were satisfied with the data." ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.7/10 - Activity: 12% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Health](https://www.trendhunter.com/health) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Increased Health Information Seeking:** The number of 'cyberchondriacs' searching for health information online has risen to 160 million people, presenting opportunities for innovation in health information platforms and services. - **Growing Reliance on Online Health Information:** The majority of cyberchondriacs believe the health information they find online is reliable, indicating a need for improved digital health platforms and tools to ensure accuracy and trustworthiness. - **Rise of the Cyberchondriac Phenomenon:** The increase in cyberchondriac behavior, with people frequently searching for medical information, suggests a demand for innovative solutions that provide personalized, easily accessible and up-to-date health information. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Healthcare:** The healthcare industry can leverage the rise of cyberchondriacs by developing user-friendly and reliable digital health platforms that cater to the needs of information-seeking individuals. - **Technology:** The technology industry has the opportunity to create innovative tools and applications that provide accurate and trustworthy health information to meet the demands of cyberchondriacs. - **Digital Marketing:** The growing population of cyberchondriacs opens up avenues for digital marketing professionals to reach targeted audiences with specific health information and services. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Online Mental Health Resources](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cerebral.md) - [Digitized Skincare Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/skin-surveyor.md) - [Home Healthcare-Ready Televisions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/webmd-tv.md) - [Online Mental Health Communities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/side-by-side1.md) - [Health Misinformation-Addressing Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/health-misinformation.md) - [Condition-Specific Digital Communities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/myhealthteam.md) - [Cutting-Edge Mental Health Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/diall.md) - [Youth-Focused Therapist Networks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zencare.md) - [Inclusive Women's Health Forums](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-online-health-community.md)