Health
7 of Google’s most-searched health questions in 2024, with expert responses
Google has long been a go-to tool for many who have health-related questions – and 2024 was no different.
Americans across the country turned to the search engine for answers to their medical concerns throughout the year.
Soliant Health, a health care job search site based in Georgia, analyzed 2024 Google search data to identify popular questions from each state, as well as a few of the most generally Googled medical queries.
5 MAJOR ALZHEIMER’S DISCOVERIES SCIENTISTS MADE IN 2024
Below are seven of the top-searched questions, along with answers from Australia-based registered nurse Karen Stockdale.
Many people turn to Google to ask about how contagious certain illnesses are, the analysis found. (iStock)
1. Is bronchitis contagious?
Bronchitis is not contagious, but Stockdale revealed to Soliant that the virus that causes it could be.
Illnesses like colds, influenza and RSV can all lead to bronchitis, which can be contagious for a few days to a week, she said.
2. Is pneumonia contagious?
While there are many types of pneumonia, the most common are either viral or bacterial, according to Stockdale.
THE YEAR IN CANCER: ADVANCEMENTS MADE IN 2024, PREDICTIONS FOR 2025
“Bacterial pneumonia is usually caused by bacteria that already live in the upper respiratory tract, and it develops after a cold or the flu,” she said. “These types of pneumonia can be contagious, but are not as easily spread.”
Viral pneumonia can result from other viruses, such as COVID-19, influenza, RSV and other contagious illnesses.
Both bacterial and viral pneumonia can be contagious, a registered nurse said. (iStock)
“These respiratory conditions are easily spread to others via respiratory droplets in the air, meaning the underlying viral infections are contagious,” the nurse added.
3. What is lupus?
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes a person’s own immune system to malfunction and attack healthy tissues, according to Stockdale.
“It is a long-term disease that causes inflammation and pain in many parts of the body, such as the skin, joints and internal organs,” she said.
EGGS NOW QUALIFY AS ‘HEALTHY’ FOOD, FDA SAYS: HERE’S WHY
Since lupus can impact different parts of the body, symptoms may vary. The disease is most common in women aged 15 to 44, Stockdale noted.
4. How much water should I drink each day?
Americans were curious about how much water they should be drinking.
While hydration is key to good health, the specific amount varies per person depending on gender, weight and other factors, Stockdale said.
The recommended amount of drinking water per day varies per person, the expert said. (iStock)
“For example, a petite female’s intake requirements would vary considerably from a male bodybuilder’s,” she said. “The best way to determine your optimum water intake 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 physical activity.
‘I HAVE A BLOOD TEST COMING UP – HOW SHOULD I PREPARE?’: ASK A DOCTOR
“If you are not doing strenuous activity, 0.5 ounces per pound should be sufficient,” she said.
“If you are working outside, playing a sport or are otherwise very active, 1 ounce of water per body weight will be needed to replenish your body.”
5. Is strep throat contagious?
The group of bacteria that causes strep throat, called group A Streptococcus, is “very contagious,” Stockdale cautioned.
Strep throat bacteria is spread through droplets from sneezes and coughs, according to the nurse. (iStock)
These bacteria can spread through droplets when an infected person sneezes or coughs, as well as from sharing drinks or food.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
“A person with untreated strep throat can be contagious for up to three weeks, infecting others,” the registered nurse warned.
6. How long does the flu last?
The flu can be extremely uncomfortable, and cases can last longer than expected.
The average influenza case lasts five to seven days, according to Stockdale. Common symptoms include fever, body aches, fatigue, congestion, diarrhea, coughing and sore throat.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
“Those with compromised immune systems may experience a longer period of symptoms,” the nurse said.
The flu can last from five to seven days. Common symptoms include fever, body aches, fatigue, congestion, diarrhea, coughing and sore throat. (iStock)
7. What causes high blood pressure?
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, usually develops “slowly over time,” Stockdale stated.
The condition can be caused by various medical conditions, unhealthy lifestyle choices and genetics.
“People with obesity, diabetes and low levels of physical activity are more likely to develop high blood pressure,” Stockdale said.
“Some women can also experience high blood pressure during pregnancy.”
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
As colorectal cancer (CRC) is now the leading cause of cancer death in adults under 50, a new report reveals some surprising shifts in the incidence of the disease.
Although rates of CRC have been declining among seniors, those 65 and under are facing a rise in diagnoses, according to a report titled Colorectal Cancer Statistics, 2026, from the American Cancer Society.
Adults 65 and younger comprise nearly half (45%) of all new colorectal cancer cases — a significant increase from 27% in 1995, states the report, which was published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
The disease is rising fastest among adults 20 to 49 years old, at a rate of 3% per year.
Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in adults under 50. (iStock)
Among adults 50 and under, 75% of colorectal cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Half of the diagnoses in that age range are made between the ages of 45 and 49. Although that age group is eligible to receive routine screenings, just 37% do so.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
The report also revealed that rectal cancer is on the rise, now accounting for about one-third (32%) of all CRC cases — an increase from 27% in the mid-2000s.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
“After decades of progress, the risk of dying from colorectal cancer is climbing in younger generations of men and women, confirming a real uptick in disease because of something we’re doing or some other exposure,” said Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director, surveillance research at the American Cancer Society and lead author of the report, in a press release.
Among adults 50 and under, 75% of colorectal cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Half of the diagnoses in that age range are made between the ages of 45 and 49. (iStock)
“We need to redouble research efforts to understand the cause, but also circumvent deaths through earlier detection by educating clinicians and the general public about symptoms and increasing screening in people 45-54 years.”
It is projected that 158,850 new cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed this year, and that the disease will cause 55,230 deaths, per the report.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
More than half of CRC cases can be linked to high-risk behaviors, the researchers said. Those include lack of nutrition, high alcohol consumption, smoking, lack of exercise and obesity.
“These findings further underscore that colorectal cancer is worsening among younger generations and highlight the immediate need for eligible adults to begin screening at the recommended age of 45,” said Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer at the American Cancer Society.
When the disease is caught at a local (early) stage, the five-year survival rate is 95%. (iStock)
“The report also shines a light on the crucial importance of continued funding for research to help discover new therapies to treat the disease and advance patient care.”
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
When the disease is caught at a local (early) stage, the five-year survival rate is 95%, the report stated.
Related Article
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A new study suggests that middle-aged men may be more vulnerable to faster biological aging, potentially linked to exposure to “forever chemicals.”
The research, published in the journal Frontiers in Aging, examined how perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, more commonly known as PFAS, could impact aging at the cellular level.
PFAS are synthetic chemicals commonly used in nonstick cookware, food packaging, water-resistant fabrics and other consumer products, the study noted.
Their chemical structure makes them highly resistant to breaking down, allowing them to accumulate in water, soil and the human body.
Chinese researchers analyzed blood samples from 326 adults enrolled in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2000.
A new study suggests that middle-aged men could face accelerated biological aging at the cellular level due to exposure to PFAS. (iStock)
The researchers measured levels of 11 PFAS compounds in participants’ blood and used DNA-based “epigenetic clocks” — tools that analyze chemical changes to DNA to estimate biological age — to determine how quickly their bodies were aging at the cellular level, the study stated.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Two compounds, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA), were detected in 95% of participants.
Higher concentrations of those chemicals were associated with faster biological aging in men of certain age groups, but not in women.
“People should not panic.”
The compounds most strongly linked to accelerated aging were not the PFAS chemicals that typically receive the most public attention, the researchers noted.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“The associations were strongest in adults aged 50 to 64, particularly in men,” Dr. Xiangwei Li, professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and the study’s corresponding author, told Fox News Digital.
“While this does not establish that PFAS cause aging, it suggests that these widely present ‘forever chemicals’ may be linked to molecular changes related to long-term health and aging.”
The study found that two of the compounds were detected in 95% of participants, and higher levels were linked to faster biological aging in men ages 50–64. (iStock)
Midlife may represent a more sensitive biological period, when the body becomes more vulnerable to age-related stressors, according to the researchers.
Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, may influence biological aging markers, potentially increasing vulnerability to environmental pollutants.
While Li said “people should not panic,” she does recommend looking for reasonable ways to reduce exposure.
That might mean checking local drinking water reports, using certified water filters designed to reduce PFAS, and limiting the use of stain- or grease-resistant products when alternatives are available.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES
Meaningful reductions in PFAS exposure will likely depend on broader regulatory action and environmental cleanup efforts, Li added.
The researchers noted that midlife could be a particularly sensitive stage, when the body is more susceptible to stressors associated with aging. (iStock)
Study limitations
The researchers outlined several important limitations of the research, including that the findings show an association, but do not prove that PFAS directly causes accelerated aging.
“The study is cross-sectional, meaning exposure and aging markers were measured at the same time, so we cannot determine causality,” Li told Fox News Digital.
The study was also relatively small, limited to 326 adults age 50 or older, which means the findings may not apply to younger people or broader populations.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Researchers measured PFAS levels using data collected between 1999 and 2000, and today’s exposure patterns may differ.
Li added that while PFAS is known to persist in the environment and the body, these results should be validated through larger, more recent studies that follow participants over time.
Related Article
Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items.
Use escape to exit the menu.
Sign Up
Create a free account to access exclusive content, play games, solve puzzles, test your pop-culture knowledge and receive special offers.
Already have an account? Login
Donald Trump has no ‘phase two’ plan for Iran war, says US senator
Which Kurdish groups is the US rallying to fight Iran?
Man accused of plot to assassinate Trump testifies Iran pressured him, says Biden and Haley were other possible targets
Supreme Court blocks California ban on notifying students’ parents about gender transitions
Comer to say Tim Walz ‘enabled fraud,’ failed whistleblowers in bombshell Minnesota hearing
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
Which Kurdish groups is the US rallying to fight Iran?
Man accused of plot to assassinate Trump testifies Iran pressured him, says Biden and Haley were other possible targets
DHS defends McLaughlin against allegations husband’s company profited millions from ad contracts: ‘Baseless’
Fareed Zakaria’s takes on Trump and the collapse of nuclear stability
Sánchez defies Trump in political gamble as Madrid say no to war
-
World1 week agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts1 week agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Wisconsin3 days agoSetting sail on iceboats across a frozen lake in Wisconsin
-
Maryland4 days agoAM showers Sunday in Maryland
-
Florida4 days agoFlorida man rescued after being stuck in shoulder-deep mud for days
-
Denver, CO1 week ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Massachusetts2 days agoMassachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks
-
Oregon6 days ago2026 OSAA Oregon Wrestling State Championship Results And Brackets – FloWrestling