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(CNN) - Google users in the United States had many questions about blood pressure, ketogenic diet and hiccups in 2019.
Those topics were among the 10 most searched questions related to health in the search engine this year, according to new data from Google.
The list was based on the search terms collected between January and early December.
Last year, the main health-related questions searched on Google by people in the US they included what is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, what is endometriosis and how long does marijuana remain in the urine.
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In 2017, what is lupus, how long does the flu last and what causes hiccups were some of the health-related questions that made Internet users turn to Google.
For 2019, these are the 10 most important health-related questions people asked on Google, and their answers.
1. How to lower blood pressure
Approximately 1 in 3 US adults, some 75 million people, have high blood pressure and only 54% have it under control, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Therefore, it should not surprise us that “how to reduce blood pressure” topped the list of health-related questions most searched on Google in 2019.
High blood pressure or hypertension is usually diagnosed when a person has a blood pressure reading greater than 130/80. It is recorded with two numbers, the upper number called systolic blood pressure and the lower number as diastolic blood pressure.
Eating a healthy diet with less sodium and more potassium, losing weight, exercising more and relieving stress can help reduce blood pressure, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
The health benefits of controlling blood pressure include reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke and even dementia.
2. What is keto?
When looking for information on the ketogenic diet, most people simply use the word "keto" ("keto" in English), for short.
The keto diet was the main search term related to health on last year's list and ranked second this year.
The diet is high in fat, moderate in protein and very low in carbohydrates, and forces the body to a state known as ketosis. Ketosis causes the body to break down ingested and stored body fat in molecules called ketones, which are then used as energy. "Ketones circulate in the blood and become the main source of energy for many body cells," according to the National Cancer Institute.
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The keto diet has grown in popularity, and many people promote its effectiveness in weight loss, but last year, US News and World Report placed it at the top of its list of the best diets.
Health experts were concerned about the high fat content of the diet, approximately 70% of the daily caloric intake, and its low carbohydrate requirement, of about 15 to 20 net carbohydrates per day.
The government's dietary guidelines for Americans between 2015-2020, recommend that people receive up to 65% of the daily caloric intake of carbohydrates and less than 10% of saturated fats.
“When you are on the keto diet, you drastically reduce your carbohydrates to only 20 per day. That's less than an apple! ”Said nutritionist Lisa Drayer, a CNN contributor.
For some, “the ketogenic diet is not sustainable in the long term. It doesn't teach them how to acquire healthy eating habits, ”said Drayer. "It's good for a quick solution, but most people I know can barely give up pasta and bread, much less beans and fruit."
3. How to get rid of hiccups
A question about the causes of hiccups topped the list of questions related to Google's health in 2017, and now, in 2019, how to get rid of hiccups ranked third.
The hiccups seem to start and stop without an obvious reason, but the US National Library of Medicine He notes that hiccups often occur when something irritates your diaphragm, such as eating too fast, drinking alcohol, feeling nervous or excited, or taking certain medications.
Most cases of hiccups usually go away on their own after a few minutes.
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For chronic hiccups (hiccups that last more than a few days or keep coming back), a person should contact a health care provider to discuss the underlying causes and treatment options.
The 10 most searched questions about health
There were more questions that people searched on Google in 2019.
The complete list of the most sought-after health questions in the United States this year also included questions about influenza, kidney stones and human papillomavirus or HPV:
1. How to lower blood pressure
2. What is keto?
3. How to get rid of hiccups?
4. How long does the flu last?
5. What causes hiccups?
6. What causes kidney stones?
7. What is HPV?
8. How to lower cholesterol?
9. How many calories should I eat a day?
10. How long does alcohol stay in my system?
Sandee LaMotte of CNN contributed to this report.
Google Diets Blood Pressure