What the Internet Has Made Obsolete & Cool Health Care Hacks
Something You Should Know
Deep Dive
Why is covering your other ear when on a noisy phone call ineffective?
Ambient noise around you enters your mouthpiece and mixes with the other person's voice, making it harder to hear. Muting the phone or covering the mouthpiece while listening improves clarity.
Why is it important to discuss what the internet has taken away from us?
It helps us reflect on how we used to function without constant connectivity and understand the trade-offs of our current digital lives.
How has the internet changed the concept of knowing someone?
It has democratized access to connections, making it less significant to know someone personally. Social media allows everyone to be linked to celebrities and public figures with ease.
Why is boredom important in the context of the internet?
Boredom provides empty moments necessary for creativity and generating original ideas. Without these moments, our minds are constantly filled with external information, leaving little room for personal thought.
How can people effectively use health information they find online?
By adopting a differential diagnosis approach, considering multiple possibilities for symptoms, and using reliable sources like CDC or Mayo Clinic. This helps in making informed decisions and discussing them with healthcare providers.
What are the potential downsides of direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical marketing?
It can lead to patients self-diagnosing and demanding specific medications, which may not be appropriate for their condition, complicating the doctor-patient interaction.
How can the internet both help and harm people in their health journeys?
It can empower individuals with knowledge to seek timely medical attention (e.g., recognizing serious symptoms) but also lead to cyberchondria, where people become overly anxious about minor symptoms due to extensive online research.
What strategies can improve memory for names when meeting new people?
Positive self-talk about being good at remembering names and focusing attention on the name when it's introduced can significantly improve recall.
- Covering the mouthpiece or muting the phone helps block ambient noise from mixing with the caller's voice.
- This technique improves clarity and understanding during phone calls in noisy settings.
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