Man woke up feeling like he 'got hit by a bus' after light workout — he asked ChatGPT about his symptoms and it saved his life
Using ChatGPT for everything has become a trend over the last few years. One that’s been buzzing over the last few months is the use of the AI tool to help with health diagnoses. According to a study done on 607 participants and published in the National Library of Medicine, around 38.1% of users were willing to try ChatGPT for self-diagnosis. But how reliable is it? While the latter is still a matter of discussion, a man who goes by u/Anaynymous717 revealed that the tool worked for him meticulously. He asked ChatGPT why he felt like he “got hit by a bus” after a simple workout. Not only did the result bring to light a health condition, but it also saved his life with a timely diagnosis, allowing him to quickly seek medical help.
The man mentioned he decided to do a workout that was not too intense and was a very basic, beginner-style exercise. However, he started feeling immense pain. “After 2 days of feeling this way, I explained my symptoms to ChatGPT and it recommended I immediately go to the hospital,” he noted. The result he received mentioned that his symptoms were “aligned with moderate to severe Rhabdomyolysis.” This is a rare condition wherein the muscles break, per the Cleveland Clinic. This happens due to intense workouts without rest or due to injuries and other factors. However, in the case of the man, it didn’t seem to be the reason since he had barely worked out.
According to a report published by the National Library of Medicine, around 26,000 cases of rhabdomyolysis are reported each year in the United States. The condition can be life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated. Though the man was unsure about the diagnosis he received from ChatGPT, he decided to act on it. “I explored my symptoms further with ChatGPT to ensure that it was accurate,” he noted. After getting confirmation from the tool, he finally decided to take a trip to the hospital and get a few tests conducted. “I also used ChatGPT to analyze my lab results,” he mentioned.
“Turns out, I had developed severe Rhabdomyolysis,” the man wrote. The analysis given by the tool was “on par” with the doctor’s opinion. His diagnosis was not only accurate but also timely. He asked the AI tool about his symptoms and not only learned about a new condition but also received timely treatment. The man had to stay in the hospital for a week with constant monitoring and an IV. Because he had used ChatGPT, he “knew what was going on before I was even told by the doctor.” A study from HAI (Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence) at Stanford University tested the theory.
Doctors entered data from cases of actual patients to see if the tool provided an accurate diagnosis. Surprisingly, ChatGPT scored about 92—the equivalent of an “A” grade. Co-lead author Ethan Goh, a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford’s School of Medicine and research fellow at Stanford’s Clinical Excellence Research Center, noted, “Our study shows that ChatGPT has potential as a powerful tool in medical diagnostics.”
Impressed by the tool, the man concluded, “I see those stories about ChatGPT saving other people's lives, but I never thought I'd be one of them. Thanks, ChatGPT!” u/PlayfulOpportunity5 said, “It's not at all a bad idea to talk to ChatGPT before you talk to your doctor.” u/slozaro added, “If you know how to talk to ChatGPT, it can really be a useful tool for being an advocate for your health!”
