As a result, 61 percent of Americans now turn to the Web for specific health information up from 25 percent in 2002, according to a Thursday study from the Pew Internet & American Life Project.
But before you think we're all running to WebMD rather than making a doctor's appointment, Pew found that 86 percent of people still consult health professionals, and 68 percent go to friends and family before powering up the laptop for a diagnosis. About 57 percent have consulted the Web for general health information.
It's likely that you're not even searching for information about yourself about half of online health searches were related to someone else's health condition, Pew found.
What are people finding online? A personal touch is appreciated, as 41 percent of people have read someone else's first-person account, or a blog. About 24 percent have reviewed online rankings for doctors and hospitals, and 13 percent have listened to a podcast.
Fewer people are likely to contribute themselves only 5-6 percent of people commented on blog posts, online forums, or review sites.
Patients are also not in favor of broadcasting their health information via social networking sites. About 39 percent of "e-patients" use sites like Facebook or MySpace, and 12 percent use Twitter, but only a "small portion" used those services to discuss health issues.
But is the information effective? About 60 percent of people who search online for health information have been helped by what they found, and only 3 percent reported being harmed by the data.
Sixty percent of those people said the information they found affected decisions about treatment, 56 percent came away with a different outlook on maintaining health, and 53 percent were inspired to ask more questions or get a second opinion.
Pew noted a "surge of interest" in exercise and fitness queries from 21 percent in 2002 to 38 percent last year.
Despite the already large usage rates, Pew expects those numbers to climb via the spread of wireless devices and generational shifts. Patients age 18 to 49 are currently more likely than older people to surf the Web for health information.
"As younger adults face more health care questions and challenges, they may turn to the tools they have sharpened in other contexts of their lives and gather and share health advice," the study concluded.
Pew conducted its study via phone interviews with 2,253 people in December 2008.