We’ve all been there. You feel a strange pinch in your side or spot an unfamiliar bug bite on your ankle. What’s the first thing you do? You turn to Google, of course! With the world’s largest search engine at our fingertips, it’s no surprise that most Americans use Google as a more private and accessible way of finding answers to their health concerns.
To better understand the health concerns Americans are searching for in the new year, Soliant analyzed 2024 Google search data to identify the health queries that each state searches more frequently than any other state and the District of Columbia. The research reveals the illnesses most prominent at the start of the year and identifies early trends in health across the nation. In addition, Soliant medical professionals provide trusted answers to some of the most Googled medical questions.
The Results
The results of the study reveal a diverse range of health concerns across the country, reflecting the unique demographic, environmental, and lifestyle factors of each state. Explore the medical questions each state Googles more than any other state below:
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
- What is pneumonia?
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?
Answers to Popular Medical Questions
To help Americans find trustworthy answers to common health concerns, Soliant worked with Karen Stockdale, MBA, BSN, RN, a registered nurse with over 20 years of experience, to answer the most popular medical questions that Americans Google:
Is bronchitis contagious? 176K monthly searches
Bronchitis itself isn’t contagious, but the illness that caused it might be! Common viruses like colds, influenza, and RSV can lead to bronchitis, and those conditions are contagious for a few days to a week.
Is pneumonia contagious? 148K monthly searches
There are many types of pneumonia. However, the most common types fall into two categories: viral and bacterial. Bacterial pneumonia is usually caused by bacteria that already live in the upper respiratory tract and it develops after a cold or the flu. These types of pneumonia can be contagious but are not as easily spread.
Viral pneumonia can stem from a variety of viruses—the COVID-19 virus, influenza, and RSV are the most common. These respiratory conditions are easily spread to others via respiratory droplets in the air, meaning that the underlying viral infections are contagious.
What is lupus? 135K monthly searches
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which means that a person’s own immune system malfunctions and begins to attack healthy tissue instead. 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.
Because Lupus affects different parts of the body, symptoms vary from one individual to the next. Anyone can develop Lupus, but it is most common in women, particularly those from ages 15 to 44.
How much water should you drink a day? 105K monthly searches
The old “8 glasses of water a day” has been around for a long time, but is it truly the right amount? There is no short answer to this question. Everybody is different; for example, a petite female’s intake requirements would vary considerably from a male bodybuilder.
The best way to determine your optimum water intake is to go by body weight and activity levels. Penn Medicine uses a rule of thumb of 0.5 to 1.0 ounces per pound of body weight. If you are not doing strenuous activity, then 0.5 ounces per pound should be sufficient. If you are working outside, playing a sport, or otherwise very active, then 1.0 ounce of water per body weight will be needed to replenish your body.
Is strep throat contagious? 92K monthly searches
Strep throat is caused by a group of bacteria called group A Streptococcus, and they are very contagious. The bacteria are spread through droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes and from sharing drinks, water fountains, and food. A person with untreated strep throat can be contagious for up to three weeks—infecting others.
How long does the flu last? 90K monthly searches
The average case of influenza lasts five to seven days, with symptoms like fever, body aches, fatigue, congestion, diarrhea, coughing, and sore throat. Those with compromised immune systems may experience a longer period of symptoms.
What causes high blood pressure? 78K monthly searches
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, can be caused by several different conditions, but it usually develops slowly over time. High blood pressure can be hereditary, and it can also happen as a result of unhealthy lifestyle choices. People with obesity, diabetes, and low levels of physical activity are more likely to develop high blood pressure. Some women can also experience high blood pressure during pregnancy.
At Soliant, we understand the importance of reliability and expertise, not just in healthcare information but also in staffing solutions. Whether you’re seeking answers to medical questions or exploring new career horizons in the healthcare field, we’re here for you. Explore fulfilling job opportunities and openings across the nation with Soliant!