Google's top trending health questions of 2018
By Ashley Welch
/ CBS News
While it's not always a good idea to Google your symptoms to diagnose an illness or source of pain, the internet can be a useful tool for learning about health. This year, people turned to "Dr. Google" to answer their questions on health questions ranging from the keto diet to ALS to endometriosis and much more.
Google has compiled data on the top trending health-related questions searched in the United States in 2018. While these were not necessarily the most frequently asked health questions, they were the topics that showed the greatest increase in searches over the previous year.
Here's a closer look at the health questions at the top of Americans' minds.
1. What is the keto diet?
Google says the top trending health question of 2018 was people looking for information on the ketogenic, or keto, diet.
The diet involves drastically reducing your intake of carbohydrates and replacing them with fats, forcing the body into a state of ketosis — when you burn fat instead of carbohydrates for energy. The notoriously restrictive diet calls for its followers not only to reduce intake of unhealthy carbs like sugar but also those that are normally considered healthy, like most fruits and certain vegetables.
Research has show that a ketogenic diet can help control seizures in children with epilepsy and may be beneficial to people with type 2 diabetes, but in 2018 it garnered particular interest for its potential weight loss benefits.
However, because it is so restrictive and difficult to adhere to, dietitians generally do not recommend the diet for weight loss.
2. What is ALS disease?
This year, people were also interested in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. Also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, it is a neurodegenerative disorder that attacks and kills the nerve cells that control muscle movement.
Over time, patients with ALS have difficulty chewing, walking, breathing and talking. Most die from respiratory failure within three to five years. ALS is rare, with a little more than 5,000 Americans diagnosed each year, according to the ALS Association.
World-famous physicist Stephen Hawking died of ALS in March 2018 at the age of 76. Hawking was diagnosed with ALS as a 21-year-old Ph.D. student and told he had only one or two years to live. Instead, he became a rare longtime survivor, though he spent much of the rest of his life in a wheelchair and largely unable to speak except through a voice synthesizer.
There is currently no cure for ALS.
3. What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is an often painful disorder in women in which the endometrium, or the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus, grows outside of the uterus.
Curiosity about it spiked in February 2018, when writer and actress Lena Dunham wrote a personal essay for Vogue in which she talked about her decision to undergo a hysterectomy due to complications with endometriosis.
The disease affects roughly 1 in 10 women during their reproductive years. There is no cure but symptoms can be treated with pain medication or hormone therapy. Surgery can also be performed to remove the endometriosis tissue. Surgery to remove the uterus and ovaries was once considered the most effective treatment for endometriosis but doctors have been moving away from that approach in recent years.
4. How long does weed stay in your urine?
With more states legalizing medical and recreational marijuana in 2018, Google saw an increase in questions about the drug.
There is no standard answer on how long marijuana is detectable in urine since it varies according to dose. According to a 2017 study looking at the effectiveness of drug testing, marijuana can be detectable in urine for anywhere between 1 to 30 days after the last use.
5. How long does the flu last?
The 2017-18 flu season was the worst in nearly a decade and prompted plenty of Googling by people concerned about the illness.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults typically develop flu symptoms one to four days after becoming infected with the influenza virus. The majority of people get better after about three to seven days, though some symptoms like coughing and fatigue can persist for two weeks or more.
However, young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to complications like pneumonia and additional infections, which can last much longer and lead to hospitalization and even death.
6. How long is the flu contagious?
People also turned to Google to find out how long the flu is contagious. According to the CDC, people with the flu are most contagious in the first three to four days of the illness.
Healthy adults may be able to pass the flu virus to others beginning one day before symptoms emerge and up to five to seven days after getting sick. That means it's possible to infect others even before you know you are sick.
Children and people with weakened immune systems may be able to pass the virus for longer than a week.
Generally, kids should be kept home from school for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone.
7. When does implantation bleeding occur?
Women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant may have questions about when implantation bleeding — typically defined as a small amount of light spotting or bleeding after conception — occurs.
The bleeding is thought to happen when the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus. According to the Mayo Clinic, this happens about 10 to 14 days after conception.
8. Why am I always tired?
It's no secret millions of Americans are overworked and sleep-deprived, and many turned to Google this year with questions about their fatigue.
Unfortunately, there is no easy answer. According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), most adults should be getting seven to 10 hours of sleep per night. The foundation also recommends making sleep a priority by following simple habits like sticking to a sleep schedule, practicing a relaxing bedtime ritual, exercising daily, sleeping on a comfortable mattress and pillow, avoiding electronics before bed, and avoiding alcohol and caffeine.
The foundation says to talk to your doctor if you're experiencing daytime sleepiness when you'd normally expect to feel awake or alert; if you snore or have difficulty breathing while asleep; or have prolonged insomnia or other symptoms that are preventing you from sleeping well.
9. What does heartburn feel like?
Many people turned to Google this year to learn about the symptoms of heartburn. According to the American College of Gastroenterology, more than 60 million Americans report having heartburn at least once a month.
The telltale sign of heartburn is a burning sensation in the chest just behind the breastbone that occurs after eating and lasts anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. Other symptoms include chest pain (especially after lying down or bending over), a burning feeling in the throat, difficulty swallowing, and hot, sour, or acidic taste in the back of the throat. It occurs when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus.
Certain eating habits can lead to heartburn, including eating large portions or foods like onions, garlic, tomatoes, chocolate, foods high in fat, citrus fruits and spicy foods. Drinking alcohol, smoking, stress, and eating shortly before bedtime can also bring on heartburn.
Heartburn can often be controlled with changes to lifestyle and eating habits. Medication is also available to relieve symptoms.
10. What causes high blood pressure?
High blood pressure is one of the most common chronic health conditions in the United States, affecting more than 100 million Americans, according to the American Heart Association. Many turned to Google in 2018 to find out its cause.
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is when a person's blood pressure, or the force of blood flowing through blood vessels, is consistently too high. Known as "the silent killer," it raises the risk of stroke, heart attacks, and early death.
High blood pressure can be caused by a number of factors, including an unhealthy diet high in salt, fat, and/or cholesterol, lack of exercise, being overweight or obese, tobacco use, drinking too much alcohol, stress, chronic conditions such as diabetes and kidney and hormone problems, and a family history of the condition. Some medications, including certain forms of birth control, may also lead to high blood pressure.
Treatment for the condition includes lifestyle changes and medications to lower blood pressure.
First published on December 29, 2018
© 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Ashley Welch 
Ashley Welch covers health and wellness for CBSNews.com
Twitter 
Top trending health questions of 2018
This year, people turned to Google to answer their questions about the keto diet, ALS, endometriosis, and more
updated 12M ago 
Mega Millions winning numbers for $370M jackpot
There hasn't been a winner since the massive $1.5 billion jackpot in October
5H ago 
Washington EMS says 911 capabilities restored throughout state
A number of police and fire agencies said earlier that callers dialing 911 received a fast busy signal
7H ago 
Baby born at nearly 15 pounds at Texas hospital
"It doesn't matter how big he is, I'm so blessed," said mom Jennifer Medlock
7H ago 
Maine Gov. signs off on election results he calls "stolen"
Gov. Paul LePage tweeted Friday that he decided to certify the result because it was no longer being appealed in federal court
10H ago 
Maine Gov. signs off on election results he calls "stolen"
Gov. Paul LePage tweeted Friday that he decided to certify the result because it was no longer being appealed in federal court
10H ago 
Trump lowers demand for border wall funding
Mick Mulvaney said he expected the shutdown to go on for a while, but revealed the president has come down from his initial asking price
11H ago 
A prolonged shutdown could stall home sales
A prolonged shutdown of FEMA's flood insurance could leave up to 40,000 homes unsold per month, real estate group warns
15H ago 
DHS Secretary visits border after migrant child’s death
She is scheduled to meet with emergency medical technicians and medical professionals, as well as local officials
15H ago 
Trump threatens to close border, says it would turn a "profit"
President Trump reiterated his threat to close the southern border and end aid to Central American countries
17H ago 
Strong undersea quake reported near Philippines
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center lifted its warning for a potential tsunami that could hit coastal areas of the southern Philippine and Indonesia
5H ago 
12-year-old alive after avalanche buries him for nearly an hour
The boy was skiing with six others in the French Alps when disaster struck
12H ago 
Twiggy, Monty Python's Michael Palin among recipients on New Year's Honors List
British divers who rescued young Thai soccer players trapped in a flooded cave and filmmaker Christopher Nolan also to be honored by the Queen
12H ago 
Roadside bomb strikes tourist bus near Egypt's Giza pyramids
Two tourists were killed and 12 others were wounded, Egypt's Interior Ministry said in a statement
17H ago 
Conflicting reports on Syrian military entry into key Kurdish-held town
Syria's military announced it entered Manbij while the U.S.-led coalition denies changes to military deployment
18H ago 
Twiggy, Monty Python's Michael Palin among recipients on New Year's Honors List
British divers who rescued young Thai soccer players trapped in a flooded cave and filmmaker Christopher Nolan also to be honored by the Queen
12H ago 
How to watch the ball drop in Times Square
You don't need to brave the crowds or even have cable to watch the iconic tradition
16H ago 
Frank Adonis, "Goodfellas" actor, is dead at 83
The actor's wife told TMZ that Adonis was struggling with various health issues
Dec 27 
Watch the trailer for "Black Mirror: Bandersnatch"
Netflix has officially dropped the trailer for the standalone "Black Mirror" movie
Dec 27 
Adam Lambert's cover of "Believe" brings Cher to tears
Lambert sang "Believe" as a tribute to Cher at the Kennedy Center Honors
22H ago 
NASA probe on track for historic New Year's flyby
Three years and a billion miles past Pluto, NASA's New Horizons probe is on the verge of another milestone
13H ago 
Russians probe mysterious hole in space capsule
A Russian cosmonaut who recently returned to Earth is revealing more details about the mysterious hole in a Soyuz capsule docked to the International Space Station
Dec 25 
"Ring of Fire" volcano triggered deadly tsunami
The deadly tsunami that struck Indonesia this weekend is just the latest in a series of seismic disasters along the "Ring of Fire"
Dec 25 
Upcoming app aims to give you big leg up in online privacy battle
FigLeaf's offering seeks to let you learn where your personal data's been been leaked across the internet and arm you with new tools to stay private
Dec 24 
In esports, parents push young players to excel
Forget soccer or piano lessons – these days, some parents are encouraging their kids' interest in video gaming
Dec 24
Top trending health questions of 2018
This year, people turned to Google to answer their questions about the keto diet, ALS, endometriosis, and more
updated 12M ago 
Measles warning issued for Newark airport travelers
Health officials are warning people who were at Newark Liberty International Airport on Christmas Eve that they have been exposed to measles
11H ago 
Shrimp recalled in 3 states over potential health hazard
Nation's largest grocery chain issues recall for shrimp sold in parts of Michigan, Ohio, Virginia
16H ago 
How to protect yourself in peak flu season
Flu season runs from October until about April, but usually peaks between December and February
18H ago 
Marijuana industry's highs and lows of 2018
The cannabis industry thrived in a hugely significant year for the legal pot movement, in the U.S, and beyond
16H ago 
More Sears stores closing as retailer on brink of liquidation
About 80 stores to close by March, on top of 182 stores already shuttering, as Sears Holdings seeks last-chance rescue
12H ago 
Stocks decline on Friday, capping a volatile week
Shares teetered between gains and losses, another sign of the volatility that's become a hallmark of the market
14H ago
A prolonged shutdown could stall home sales
A prolonged shutdown of FEMA's flood insurance could leave up to 40,000 homes unsold per month, real estate group warns
15H ago 
Wells Fargo to pay $575 million in settlement with 50 states
The settlement resolves investigations by all 50 states into Wells Fargo's fake account scandal and other practices
16H ago
Shrimp recalled in 3 states over potential health hazard
Nation's largest grocery chain issues recall for shrimp sold in parts of Michigan, Ohio, Virginia
16H ago 
College poisoning suspect tries to flee U.S. as possible 2nd case emerges
Authorities are investigating whether a second student was also poisoned with the chemical thallium
14H ago 
Suspect arrested in killing of California police officer
Newman Police Cpl. Ronil Singh was shot and killed during traffic stop just hours after Christmas
5H ago 
Armed standoff lasts 10 hours – then a SWAT member sang "White Christmas"
Authorities say an armed man who held off SWAT members for 10 hours surrendered after one of them sang him a Christmas carol
18H ago 
4 arrested weeks after West Virginia mine rescue
Kayla Williams, Erica Treadway, Cody Beverly and Eddie Williams entered the mine on Dec. 9. The criminal complaint said they enetered to steal copper wire
Dec 28 
"We will bring him to justice": Police hunt suspected cop killer
Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson said the suspect is in the country illegally
Dec 28
