2025 health search trends: Top concerns & what people searched Googled
TOI GLOBAL DESK | TOI GLOBAL | Dec 31, 2025, 20:26 IST
Most searched on Google results
Image credit : AP
As 2025 unfolds, online searches reveal a rising tide of public concern surrounding flu outbreaks, COVID-19 lingering effects, and increasing cases of dengue. People are actively looking for effective strategies to control high blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and insulin sensitivity related to diabetes.
<p>FILE -This is the Google logo on a building in New York, Oct. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)</p>
In 2025, global Google searches for health information revealed widespread concerns about infectious diseases like flu, COVID-19, and dengue, alongside a significant focus on managing chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes. People also sought answers regarding persistent fatigue, potential cancer symptoms, basic hydration and sleep needs, and the impact of technology on mental well-being, all while grappling with the challenge of discerning trustworthy health information online.
Searches for "What are the symptoms of flu, COVID and dengue?" remained prevalent as individuals sought to quickly identify serious conditions based on symptoms like fever, cough, body pain, or rash. This continued interest stems from the public's confusion and fear surrounding coexisting medical conditions and visible outbreaks or seasonal increases. Users were looking for information on hospital visits, isolation periods, and testing schedules, driven by a desire to act responsibly but hindered by a lack of easy access to local health guidelines.
"Many people still google flu, COVID-19 and dengue symptoms to quickly check if their fever, cough, body pain or rash could be something serious. The public develops confusion and fear about medical conditions which coexist, because outbreaks and seasonal increases become visible. Users searched for \"flu symptoms\" and infection-related terms in 2025, because they are still worried about respiratory viruses and mosquito-borne diseases. People are looking for information about hospital visits, isolation periods and testing schedules, because they want to behave responsibly, yet lack easy access to local health guidelines."
The question "What particular steps can I take to lower my blood pressure readings and cholesterol levels?" highlights a growing public interest in managing cardiovascular risk factors. People frequently inquired about the necessity of medical treatment versus lifestyle changes and when they could expect to see improvements in their health metrics. Heart and metabolic issues, including blood pressure, cholesterol, and A1C levels, were consistently prominent search trends across various regions. This indicates a recognition of future health dangers like heart attack and stroke, though a complete understanding of how diet, exercise, stress, and sleep influence these risks is still developing.
"People are asking more questions about blood pressure, and cholesterol, because these parameters are super important for gauging heart risks in someone. Users frequently ask about the requirement for medical treatment versus adopting lifestyle changes, and when their health numbers will start to improve. Search trend reports indicate heart and metabolic issues including blood pressure, cholesterol and A1C levels appear frequently throughout different geographic areas. People recognize the future health dangers of heart attack and stroke, but they do not completely grasp how diet, exercise, stress levels and sleep patterns affect their health."
Diabetes emerged as a leading health-related inquiry globally, with searches like "How do I lower my A1C?" and "Is prediabetes reversible?" reflecting efforts to prevent or delay complications. Analyses across 155 countries showed diabetes appearing in the top three health searches in over a third of them, underscoring its status as a dominant chronic concern. These searches are driven by daily challenges in food and medication choices, worries about potential health issues, and difficulties in navigating conflicting online information.
"People around the world including India, and numerous other nations, search for diabetes information which stands as their most popular health-related inquiry. People search for questions like “How do I lower my A1C?”, “What should my blood sugar be?”and “Is prediabetes reversible?”as they try to prevent, or delay complications. Analyses of Google trends across 155 countries show diabetes appears in the top three searches in more than a third of them, making it one of the most dominant chronic concerns. People conduct these searches because they face actual daily challenges when selecting food and medications, while they worry about potential health issues and struggle to understand conflicting information available on the internet."
The persistent question "Why am I so tired all the time?" was a common query across all age groups, with individuals suspecting anemia, thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies, and long COVID. They also questioned the impact of stress, sleep quality, and screen time on their energy levels. Research on 2025 health search patterns indicated a strong interest in chronic fatigue and lingering brain fog symptoms post-COVID-19 infection. Self-diagnosis attempts often led to confusion due to the multitude of potential causes for fatigue.
"Chronic fatigue, low energy and “Why am I always tired?”- people from all age groups ask these questions. The public suspects anemia together with thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies, and long COVID, but they also question the impact of stress, sleep quality and screen time usage. Research on 2025 health search patterns shows that people are most interested in learning about chronic fatigue and the ongoing brain fog symptoms which occur after COVID-19 infection. People who try to diagnose their fatigue by themselves, become confused because fatigue can result from various possible causes."
Concerns about potential cancer symptoms, such as headaches, chest pain, lumps, unexplained weight loss, and changes in bowel habits, were reflected in searches like "Do I have Cancer?". The public's continued interest in cancer information is attributed to its widespread impact on families and its often terminal nature. Searches also included queries about pain, diarrhea, and bleeding symptoms, with individuals using search engines to check symptoms before determining if emergency medical assistance was required.
"People search for answers about their health through search trends which show that headaches, chest pain, lumps and unexplained weight loss and bowel habit changes, can be symptoms of cancer. The public continues to ask about cancer, because this disease affects many families, and is often terminal. People across different nations search for cancer information as their most popular query which also includes searches for pain, diarrhea and bleeding symptoms. People start by searching online through search engines to check their symptoms, before they determine if they require emergency medical assistance."
Simple living questions, such as "How many glasses of water should I drink?", also ranked high, alongside inquiries about sleep duration and physical activity. Questions like "How many hours of sleep do I need?" and "Is this food healthy?" were frequently searched. Users sought clarity on daily water intake due to unclear information and unsuitable general recommendations, desiring personalized advice rather than standard averages for sleep, step counts, and heart rate zones.
"The following questions about simple living need answers, because people check about water consumption, sleep duration and physical activity levels. \"How many hours of sleep do I need?\", “Is this food healthy?” and many such questions top the list. People searched for daily water intake information through Google during 2025, because they remained unclear about this topic due to false information, and unsuitable general recommendations. The data shows that users want recommendations which match their individual needs, instead of receiving standard average suggestions for sleep duration, step counts and heart rate zones."
Mental health queries, particularly concerning "Is my anxiety or ADHD normal?", were prominent, especially among young adults in the United States. Research indicated a growing interest in understanding the impact of social media and artificial intelligence on mental well-being, adding to existing anxieties. People sought to understand how daily technology use affects their focus, memory, and emotional state, and whether social media platforms have detrimental effects on brain operations.
"Research shows that \"ADHD symptoms\" and \"anxiety symptoms\" represent two of the most searched health topics in the United States which young adults search for the most. Research about 2025 trends shows people are becoming more interested in understanding how social media platforms and artificial intelligence systems impact mental health, which creates additional stress for an already anxious population. People now ask about the effects of AI tools and social platforms which they use every day, on their ability to focus, memory function and emotional state. Users want to know if social media platforms produce any detrimental impacts on their brain operations. 20205 trend reports show that people are increasingly interested in two specific subjects, which fall under mental health: AI and mental health, and social media brain effects. People want to use technology, but they are concerned about how it affects their ability to focus, their sleep patterns and emotional state, yet they remain unclear about what constitutes appropriate use."
The critical question "How do I know which health information to trust?" emerged as a major challenge in 2025. The rapid spread of misinformation regarding supplements, fad diets, miracle cures, and conspiracy theories on social networks contrasted with the struggle of accurate health information to gain traction. Studies highlighted how social media and AI-generated content exacerbate the spread of false information, eroding public trust in scientific knowledge and medical professionals. The internet's role as a primary source for symptom and treatment information has created a significant digital health literacy challenge for the current decade.
"With so many answers online, one of the crucial questions of 2025 is “How do I know if this health advice is real or fake?” Supplements, fad diets, miracle cures and conspiracy theories spread rapidly through social networks, while accurate health information struggles to gain popularity. Multiple studies indicate that social media platforms, together with AI-generated content, create conditions which strengthen false information, thus damaging public confidence in scientific knowledge and medical professionals. The internet serves as the primary resource for people to find information about symptoms and treatment options, which has resulted in a major digital health literacy challenge for this decade."
Searches for "What are the symptoms of flu, COVID and dengue?" remained prevalent as individuals sought to quickly identify serious conditions based on symptoms like fever, cough, body pain, or rash. This continued interest stems from the public's confusion and fear surrounding coexisting medical conditions and visible outbreaks or seasonal increases. Users were looking for information on hospital visits, isolation periods, and testing schedules, driven by a desire to act responsibly but hindered by a lack of easy access to local health guidelines.
"Many people still google flu, COVID-19 and dengue symptoms to quickly check if their fever, cough, body pain or rash could be something serious. The public develops confusion and fear about medical conditions which coexist, because outbreaks and seasonal increases become visible. Users searched for \"flu symptoms\" and infection-related terms in 2025, because they are still worried about respiratory viruses and mosquito-borne diseases. People are looking for information about hospital visits, isolation periods and testing schedules, because they want to behave responsibly, yet lack easy access to local health guidelines."
The question "What particular steps can I take to lower my blood pressure readings and cholesterol levels?" highlights a growing public interest in managing cardiovascular risk factors. People frequently inquired about the necessity of medical treatment versus lifestyle changes and when they could expect to see improvements in their health metrics. Heart and metabolic issues, including blood pressure, cholesterol, and A1C levels, were consistently prominent search trends across various regions. This indicates a recognition of future health dangers like heart attack and stroke, though a complete understanding of how diet, exercise, stress, and sleep influence these risks is still developing.
"People are asking more questions about blood pressure, and cholesterol, because these parameters are super important for gauging heart risks in someone. Users frequently ask about the requirement for medical treatment versus adopting lifestyle changes, and when their health numbers will start to improve. Search trend reports indicate heart and metabolic issues including blood pressure, cholesterol and A1C levels appear frequently throughout different geographic areas. People recognize the future health dangers of heart attack and stroke, but they do not completely grasp how diet, exercise, stress levels and sleep patterns affect their health."
Diabetes emerged as a leading health-related inquiry globally, with searches like "How do I lower my A1C?" and "Is prediabetes reversible?" reflecting efforts to prevent or delay complications. Analyses across 155 countries showed diabetes appearing in the top three health searches in over a third of them, underscoring its status as a dominant chronic concern. These searches are driven by daily challenges in food and medication choices, worries about potential health issues, and difficulties in navigating conflicting online information.
"People around the world including India, and numerous other nations, search for diabetes information which stands as their most popular health-related inquiry. People search for questions like “How do I lower my A1C?”, “What should my blood sugar be?”and “Is prediabetes reversible?”as they try to prevent, or delay complications. Analyses of Google trends across 155 countries show diabetes appears in the top three searches in more than a third of them, making it one of the most dominant chronic concerns. People conduct these searches because they face actual daily challenges when selecting food and medications, while they worry about potential health issues and struggle to understand conflicting information available on the internet."
The persistent question "Why am I so tired all the time?" was a common query across all age groups, with individuals suspecting anemia, thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies, and long COVID. They also questioned the impact of stress, sleep quality, and screen time on their energy levels. Research on 2025 health search patterns indicated a strong interest in chronic fatigue and lingering brain fog symptoms post-COVID-19 infection. Self-diagnosis attempts often led to confusion due to the multitude of potential causes for fatigue.
"Chronic fatigue, low energy and “Why am I always tired?”- people from all age groups ask these questions. The public suspects anemia together with thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies, and long COVID, but they also question the impact of stress, sleep quality and screen time usage. Research on 2025 health search patterns shows that people are most interested in learning about chronic fatigue and the ongoing brain fog symptoms which occur after COVID-19 infection. People who try to diagnose their fatigue by themselves, become confused because fatigue can result from various possible causes."
Concerns about potential cancer symptoms, such as headaches, chest pain, lumps, unexplained weight loss, and changes in bowel habits, were reflected in searches like "Do I have Cancer?". The public's continued interest in cancer information is attributed to its widespread impact on families and its often terminal nature. Searches also included queries about pain, diarrhea, and bleeding symptoms, with individuals using search engines to check symptoms before determining if emergency medical assistance was required.
"People search for answers about their health through search trends which show that headaches, chest pain, lumps and unexplained weight loss and bowel habit changes, can be symptoms of cancer. The public continues to ask about cancer, because this disease affects many families, and is often terminal. People across different nations search for cancer information as their most popular query which also includes searches for pain, diarrhea and bleeding symptoms. People start by searching online through search engines to check their symptoms, before they determine if they require emergency medical assistance."
Simple living questions, such as "How many glasses of water should I drink?", also ranked high, alongside inquiries about sleep duration and physical activity. Questions like "How many hours of sleep do I need?" and "Is this food healthy?" were frequently searched. Users sought clarity on daily water intake due to unclear information and unsuitable general recommendations, desiring personalized advice rather than standard averages for sleep, step counts, and heart rate zones.
"The following questions about simple living need answers, because people check about water consumption, sleep duration and physical activity levels. \"How many hours of sleep do I need?\", “Is this food healthy?” and many such questions top the list. People searched for daily water intake information through Google during 2025, because they remained unclear about this topic due to false information, and unsuitable general recommendations. The data shows that users want recommendations which match their individual needs, instead of receiving standard average suggestions for sleep duration, step counts and heart rate zones."
Mental health queries, particularly concerning "Is my anxiety or ADHD normal?", were prominent, especially among young adults in the United States. Research indicated a growing interest in understanding the impact of social media and artificial intelligence on mental well-being, adding to existing anxieties. People sought to understand how daily technology use affects their focus, memory, and emotional state, and whether social media platforms have detrimental effects on brain operations.
"Research shows that \"ADHD symptoms\" and \"anxiety symptoms\" represent two of the most searched health topics in the United States which young adults search for the most. Research about 2025 trends shows people are becoming more interested in understanding how social media platforms and artificial intelligence systems impact mental health, which creates additional stress for an already anxious population. People now ask about the effects of AI tools and social platforms which they use every day, on their ability to focus, memory function and emotional state. Users want to know if social media platforms produce any detrimental impacts on their brain operations. 20205 trend reports show that people are increasingly interested in two specific subjects, which fall under mental health: AI and mental health, and social media brain effects. People want to use technology, but they are concerned about how it affects their ability to focus, their sleep patterns and emotional state, yet they remain unclear about what constitutes appropriate use."
The critical question "How do I know which health information to trust?" emerged as a major challenge in 2025. The rapid spread of misinformation regarding supplements, fad diets, miracle cures, and conspiracy theories on social networks contrasted with the struggle of accurate health information to gain traction. Studies highlighted how social media and AI-generated content exacerbate the spread of false information, eroding public trust in scientific knowledge and medical professionals. The internet's role as a primary source for symptom and treatment information has created a significant digital health literacy challenge for the current decade.
"With so many answers online, one of the crucial questions of 2025 is “How do I know if this health advice is real or fake?” Supplements, fad diets, miracle cures and conspiracy theories spread rapidly through social networks, while accurate health information struggles to gain popularity. Multiple studies indicate that social media platforms, together with AI-generated content, create conditions which strengthen false information, thus damaging public confidence in scientific knowledge and medical professionals. The internet serves as the primary resource for people to find information about symptoms and treatment options, which has resulted in a major digital health literacy challenge for this decade."