Doctor, have I got cyberchondria?

As more and more people turn to the net for medical advice, reporter Rebecca Malcolm does some Googling on common symptoms.

Could it be scarlet fever? Or maybe a case of the bird flu?

Then there's the three types of cancer that are associated with night sweats and a sore throat.

Or - and this sounds bad - it might be the rare and rather interesting sounding epiglottitis, which is apparently a life-threatening illness that could be stopping air getting to my lungs. Of course, it's probably more likely to be the common cold, a case of strep throat or tonsilitis that is easily treatable with a quick trip to the local GP, but when faced with an array of dozens of different exotic - and scary - sounding symptoms it's easy to see how one could start to write that bucket list and plan for the worst.

It's so common it's got its own name - cyberchondria - and is a growing concern among healthcare practitioner as patients can research any and all symptoms and work themselves into a state of medical anxiety.

And it's easy to see why.

Try typing in nausea and a headache. Fairly common symptoms but not necessarily a common illness, according to Dr Google.

It could be anything from ebola to anthrax, or a brain tumour, aneurism or brain abscess.
But just before you go rushing up to the hospital, relax. It could also be as simple as being a bit dehydrated, or a case of caffeine overload after that extra cup this morning.

Phew.