I've noticed several 'answers' which are downright scary. I hope nobody actually takes medical advice given to them in a forum. It seems some people will even resort to answering health related questions just to boost their points. 'I get it all the time' does not mean that they can diagnose someones problem and provide treatment advice. Go and see a health professional in person for a proper examination!! Arghhh!! Do you not agree?!

Your concerns are justified.. First of all, the information given by the questioner is often sparse or inadequate. Some replies are flippant or downright wrong. Nevertheless, there are some good answers given in this forum, often far better than mine. Then again, often when I and others have given excellent or well researched answers, the asker chooses some ridiculously stupid and erroneous response as "Best Answer." Maddening.

Generally one should attempt to give the questioner a modicum of insight and information that might be helpful in reaching a diagnosis; or, to reassure a person that he or she is pursuing the correct approach. Very often, somewhere in the reply should be the phrase, "you should see (ask) your doctor about (if) (when)" etc. I have to agree. It frightens me, sometimes, when people with an obviously serious medical problem prefer to air it on a site that can sometimes be like a psychopaths' convention. Yes you are right, this is the wrong place to ask for amateur advice. Someday somebody will get advice that will make them ill. i agree people shouldn't be answering medical questions with junk just to get points, but i'm sure most of the people asking questions just want opinions and obviously aren't going to carry out advice from someone if it sounds stupid. i sometimes post questions about medical stuff and symptoms i have, while also seeing a doctor. i'm sure a lot of people do the same thing. No, I`ve got an under active thoroid and have given lots of advice to others who are unsure of the symptoms, before they have consulted their GP. What is wrong with people asking/answering health related advice? There are people on here who happen to be nurses or doctors and thus are qualified to give advice. Or some people may have experienced the same illness and thus can recommend what to do next! Obviously yes it is scary that some people do give advice when they have no knowledge of the matter, but surely a little common sense will allow the person asking the question to differentiate between good and bad advice!! I would never answer a question on a medical matter unless i knew what i was talking about.