PEACHTREE CORNERS, Ga. — From “How do you get monkeypox?” to “From what happens when you eat mold?” millions of Americans hit up Google to ask health-related questions on a daily basis. With this in mind, Soliant Health, a health care staffing company, has tapped into Google search data to shed light on the health concerns dominating Americans’ minds as we step into 2024.
The study meticulously analyzed Google searches to pinpoint which health topics each state investigates more frequently than others, including the District of Columbia. The findings illustrate a vast spectrum of health issues, ranging from dietary concerns to infectious diseases, indicative of the various lifestyle, environmental, and demographic influences at play across the country.
For example, Floridians want to know what happens when you eat mold. People in Kentucky ask if people can live without a spine. Maryland residents question what happens when you swallow gum. Meanwhile, New Jerseyans wonder if diabetes is genetic.
Scroll down to see the most popular medical searches by state
To bridge the gap between curiosity and credible information, Soliant has enlisted the expertise of Karen Stockdale, a registered nurse with over two decades of experience, to address some of the most Googled health questions. These answers aim to provide the public with reliable and understandable health information.
Is bronchitis contagious? 176,000 monthly searches
- While bronchitis itself is not contagious, the viral infections leading to it, such as colds, influenza, and RSV, are. This distinction is crucial in understanding how and when the illness can spread from person to person.
What is lupus? 135,000 monthly searches
- Lupus is spotlighted as an autoimmune disease that can affect multiple body parts, causing inflammation and pain. This explanation sheds light on the complexity and variability of the disease, which predominantly affects women aged 15 to 44.
How much water should you drink a day? 105,000 monthly searches
- Addressing the age-old question about daily water intake, the study emphasizes individual differences, suggesting that water needs vary based on body weight and activity level, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Is strep throat contagious? 92,000 monthly searches
- Highlighting the contagious nature of strep throat, caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria, this answer underscores the importance of hygiene and caution to prevent spreading the infection.
What causes high blood pressure? 78,000 monthly searches
- The research delves into the multifaceted causes of high blood pressure, including genetic factors, lifestyle choices, and conditions such as obesity and diabetes, providing a nuanced understanding of this common health issue.
The Most Common Medical Searches By State:
Alabama
- How do you get monkey pox?
- Why do I sweat in my sleep?
- How to get rid of allergies?
Alaska
- How many calories should I eat a day?
- What is considered a fever?
- What does monkeypox look like?
Arizona
- How many hours of sleep do you need?
- How to relieve bloating?
- How long do allergies last?
- Can allergies cause a cough?
Arkansas
- What is gout?
- What causes hemorrhoids?
- What causes diabetes?
- How to treat ear infection?
- Are sinus infections contagious?
- How to stop a nosebleed?
California
- How many hours of sleep should you get?
- What is a juice cleanse?
- Can you live without a kidney?
- Why do I keep yawning?
- How to stop vertigo?
- How to stop night sweats?
- Why do I pee when I sneeze?
- Is swallowing gum bad for you?
- How to remove an ingrown toenail?
- Is it bad to sleep with your bra on?
Colorado
- How to relieve lower back pain?
- How to stop mosquito bites from itching?
- How much fiber do I need?
Connecticut
- What does monkey pox look like?
- How long does pink eye last?
- How to prevent a stroke?
Delaware
- How to get rid of hiccups?
- How much water should I drink a day?
- How many bones are in the human body?
- What is anemia?
District of Columbia
- How long does strep throat last?
- How to break a fever?
- What does heartburn feel like?
- Is poison ivy contagious?
Florida
- What happens when you eat mold?
- How to relieve tension headache?
- How to relieve sinus headache?
- How to prevent arthritis?
- How do I know if I have pneumonia?
- How much melatonin is too much?
Georgia
- Why do I cough at night?
- How to treat ingrown toenail?
- How to stop acid reflux?
- How to stop tinnitus?
- How to relieve sciatica pain?
Hawaii
- What causes vertigo?
- How to get rid of sore throat?
- How to get rid of a headache?
- Why do I have a headache?
Idaho
- Is melatonin safe?
- What causes low blood pressure?
- How do you get pink eye?
- How to pop your ears?
- How much caffeine is too much?
Illinois
- Can you live without a spleen?
- Why do I drool when I sleep?
- What causes restless legs?
- What kills toenail fungus?
- How to prevent heart disease?
Indiana
- What is a normal blood pressure?
- What is a bunion?
- Why am I always hungry?
- How to relieve gas pain?
- How to get rid of a cold sore in 24 hours?
Iowa
- What is a pap smear?
- What causes migraines?
- How to stop bug bites from itching?
Kansas
- How to stop coughing?
- How long does a cold last?
- What is a normal heart rate?
- How to remove a tick?
- How to get rid of canker sores?
- How long does stomach flu last?
- What does ringworm look like?
Kentucky
- Why does coffee make you poop?
- Can you live without a spine?
- Is poison ivy contagious?
- How to prevent diabetes?
- How to prevent blood clots?
- What causes allergies?
Louisiana
- Can allergies make you cough?
- How to treat eczema?
Maine
- How to relieve sinus pressure?
Maryland
- What happens when you swallow gum?
- What causes skin tags?
- What causes sleep paralysis?
- Why are my eyes red?
- Can allergies cause headaches?
Massachusetts
- Is it bad to crack your back?
- What causes high cholesterol?
- How to prevent shin splints?
- How to prevent pneumonia?
Michigan
- How much protein do I need?
- How to stop leg cramps?
Minnesota
- What causes psoriasis?
- Is Ozempic safe?
- What does shingles look like?
- What does pink eye look like?
- How to relieve ear pain?
Mississippi
- How to get rid of stye?
- What are hemorrhoids?
- How to get rid of heartburn?
- What does a spider bite look like?
Missouri
- How long can you go without sleep?
- Can you live without a liver?
- How to get rid of bloating?
- Why does my stomach hurt after I eat?
- What causes muscle spasms?
- What does a tick bite look like?
- How to relieve ear pressure?
Montana
- How long does the flu last?
- Is pneumonia contagious?
Nebraska
- What causes canker sores?
- What does skin cancer look like?
Nevada
- What does strep throat look like?
- What is a good resting heart rate?
New Hampshire
- What causes kidney stones?
- What is hypertension?
- How to get rid of stuffy nose?
New Jersey
- Is diabetes genetic?
- What kills stomach virus?
- How to prevent dementia?
New Mexico
- How long can you go without food?
- What causes high blood pressure?
- What causes heartburn?
- Are ear infections contagious?
- Can allergies cause a sore throat?
New York
- Why are my hands so dry?
- How to treat food poisoning?
- Why are my gums swollen?
- Are allergies genetic?
- Can you get allergies in the winter?
North Carolina
- What happens if you drink too much water?
- Why do I feel lightheaded?
- What causes excessive gas?
North Dakota
- How to lower cholesterol?
Ohio
- Can you die from a broken heart?
- How to stop a panic attack?
- How to prevent kidney stones?
- Can allergies cause swollen lymph nodes?
Oklahoma
- How much coffee is too much?
- What is the rarest blood type?
- What causes eczema?
- How to get rid of tonsil stones?
Oregon
- Why are my feet swollen?
- How to stop ear ringing?
Pennsylvania
- Is breast cancer genetic?
- How often should I workout?
- Why do I always feel tired?
- Is rainwater safe to drink?
- How to relieve period cramps?
- What kills toenail fungus instantly?
Rhode Island
- What causes hiccups?
- How to get water our of your ear?
- What causes seizures?
- What causes a stroke?
South Carolina
- Why do I bruise so easily?
South Dakota
- What is lupus?
- How long does food poisoning last?
- What side is your appendix on?
- What is vertigo?
- Why does my stomach hurt?
Tennessee
- What causes tonsil stones?
- Why does my throat hurt when I swallow?
- How to treat strep throat?
- Why are my ankles swollen?
Texas
- Why do I pee when I cough?
- What do blood clots look like?
- Why do I keep getting hiccups?
- How to relieve neck pain?
- Why do I keep sneezing?
- Why do I hear ringing in my ear?
- How long should you shower for?
Utah
- How to get rid of dandruff?
- Why do I sweat so much?
- How to treat a burn?
Vermont
Virginia
- Can allergies make you tired?
- Is it bad to crack your neck?
Washington
- What causes sleep apnea?
- How to treat a sinus infection?
- Is ringworm contagious?
West Virginia
- How to stop snoring?
- How to get rid of a headache?
- What is a hernia?
- How is monkeypox transmitted?
- What causes dizziness?
- What is sleep apnea?
- What do bed bug bites look like?
Wisconsin
- Why is my eye twitching?
- How to get rid of nausea?
- Can allergies cause a fever?
- How to remove ear wax?
Wyoming
- What is Ozempic?
- What happens if you eat mold?
- What temperature is a fever?
- How long is flu contagious?