Hey, Dr. Google: The Most Common Health Searches in Each State

With no co-pay and instant access, the internet is often a first pass for anyone experiencing a health issue. By looking at Google search data for the past year, a new study(Opens in a new window) offers a trove of information on the nation’s top concerns.

The coronavirus remains top of mind for many—so much so that the organization behind the study, RegisteredNursing.org, removed all COVID-19-related searches “as to not make the list of top terms too monotonous.”

Otherwise, the most commonly searched health topics across all US can be narrowed down to these 13: ADHD, allergies, anxiety, blood pressure, calorie consumption, concussions, depression, diabetes, flu, heart attacks, kidney stones, RSV, and UTI.

The remaining data shows a focus on asking about symptoms, which dominate the top 10 search terms. “Flu symptoms” claimed the number one spot, followed by “diabetes symptoms.”

Mental health is also on Americans’ minds: Two of the top five queries were about ADHD and anxiety symptoms. Other items on the list can also be linked to mental health; commonly, “stress-induced like anxiety, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea,” the study says(Opens in a new window).

(Credit: RegisteredNursing.org)

Search queries for allergy symptoms and how to get rid of a headache decreased between February 2022 and February 2023. Others increased in volume year over year, including what is RSV, what are the symptoms of a urinary tract infection, and menopause symptoms.

Each state and region turns to the web for different reasons. Southern states seem most concerned about flu symptoms, while the plains states (Montana, Wyoming, Colorado) search the most about concussion symptoms. But people all across the country want to know how many calories they should eat.

(Credit: RegisteredNursing.org)

When looking at the combined search data for the 25 most populous cities, the top terms were “flu symptoms” and “how many calories should I eat.” California cities (Los Angeles, San Diego) searched for ADHD symptoms the most, while residents in chilly Chicago and Philadelphia sought out information on “depression symptoms.” In general, the top mental health issues cities searched for were about depression, anxiety, and ADHD.

(Credit: RegisteredNursing.org)

It’s important to note that searching for health information on the web is not a replacement for visiting a doctor. For mental health in particular, social media and TikTok can be especially damaging.

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