Health and Medical

QUICK LINKS/GENERAL:

Best Medical Sites, Full Text Medical Sites
Diseases and Symptoms, Tests and Procedures
Directories to Other Sites, Indexes to Medical Journals
Physicians, Organizations, Hospitals, and Support Groups
Health Fraud, Health Insurance
Información en Español, Information in Russian

SPECIFIC TYPES OF HEALTH INFORMATION:

Children's Health, Teen Health Page
Men's and Women's Health Issues, Death and Dying
Dental Health, Mental Health, Drug Abuse

NUTRITION, MEDICINES, AND WELLNESS:

Alternative Medicine, Drugs and Pharmaceuticals, Nutrition and Wellness

Note: These links are suggested as starting points. It is not our intention to provide medical advice, rather to provide users with information to better understand their health and diagnosed disorders. To be sure that you have the most current information and get advice on interpreting it, you should check with a qualified medical professional. Seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues.

Best Medical Sites

Medline Plus (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus)
Often cited as the best medical site on the Web, it includes information on drugs, a dictionary of medical terms, directories of doctors and hospitals, links to health organizations, and a link to Medline. It also includes a very extensive collection of articles on health topics which cover recent research, treatment/drug therapies, legal issues and more. This is an excellent first stop for medical research.

Healthfinder (http://www.healthfinder.gov/)
This site also includes a dictionary, a directory of clinics and doctors, and a large collection of articles on health topics. Also included is a special collection of articles relating to specific groups of people such as infants, children, men and women, ethnic groups, caregivers and professionals.

Información en Español

El Instituto Nacional Sobre el Envejecimiento (http://www.nia.nih.gov/Espanol)
Parte del gobierno federal de los Estados Unidos, y a través de este sitio le ofrece la información más reciente que le ayudará a mantener una buena salud y fortaleza física para toda la vida. Nuestras publicaciones son gratuitas.

Health Information in Russian

MedInfoRus (http://medinforus.homestead.com/MedInfoRus.html) Three Russian-American medical librarians have created a Web site that provides access to both professional and lay material in Russian. The site has links to e-books, e-journals, dictionaries, encyclopedias and directories.

General Medical Sites with Full Text Articles

Merck Manual (http://merck.com/)
Go to the company's home page, choose the link "The Merck Manuals", and click on the specific manual you need.

Medscape Health for Consumers (http://my.webmd.com./webmd_today/home/default)
This site offers health news and a collection of articles on topics such as nutrition, sexual health, weight management, diseases, senior health, and caregiver issues. It also includes a link to Medscape (a large, technical site for medical professionals)

National Center for Health Statistics provides quick access to statistics on topics of public health importance and is organized alphabetically. Links are provided to publications that include the statistics presented, to sources of more data, and to related web pages.

NOAH: New York Online Access to Health (http://noah-health.org/)
This site provides a collection of articles on health topics in English or Spanish.

Directories to Other, Recommended Sites

Hardin MD (http://lib.uiowa.edu/hardin/md)
This service provides an extensive directory to some of the best sites on the Web under broad topics such as pediatrics, dentistry, oncology, etc.

MedWeb (http://MedWeb.Emory.Edu/MedWeb)
This site includes links to others on clinical practice, consumer health, diseases, drugs, health care administration, institutions, mental health, and databases, textbooks, etc.

NIH Senior Health (http://nihseniorhealth.gov)
Health information for seniors from the National Institutes of Health

Oregon Health & Science University, Consumer Health Resources Center (http://ohsu.edu/library/consumerhealth)
Includes links of special interest to school nurses and consumers.

World Health Organization (http://who.int)
The World Health Organization is the health section of the United Nations. This site is especially useful for information about worldwide epidemics and specific country information.

Indexes to Medical Journal Articles

PubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=PubMed)
This is the largest medical journal index with coverage back to the 1960s. Material indexed here is often very technical. Many articles are represented by citations only, and not full text. However, you may request copies of the articles through our library’s interlibrary loan service.

Databases and Indexes on our Web site for access to full text consumer and professional medical articles.

Alternative Medicine

Are You Considering Using Complementary and Alternative Medicine? (http://nccam.nih.gov/health/decisions/index.htm) Good guidelines to use when evaluating complementary and alternative medicine.

CAM on PubMed (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/nccam/camonpubmed.html)
Easily search PubMed for articles relating to complementary and alternative medicine. The subject heading for alternative medicine is automatically added to your search terms.

Alternative Medicine Foundation (http://www.amfoundation.org/)
Articles on topics such as choosing an alternative practitioner, and how to make sense of contradictory medical research. Also includes resource lists of books, organizations, and web sites.

Alternative Medicine Homepage (http://www.pitt.edu/~cbw/altm.html)
Links to internet resources on alternative medicine.

Ask Dr. Weil (http://www.drweil.com/)
Questions and answers on medical topics, mostly from an alternative perspective.

Bastyr University Library: Internet Bibliographies (http://www.bastyr.edu/library/resources/online/default.asp)
A list of recommended links from one of the world's leading academic centers for natural medicine, located in Seattle.

Complementary and Alternative Therapies (http://www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/booth/booths/altmed.html) This site looks at research to gather the best evidence available about complementary and alternative therapies. From Bandolier, a print and Internet journal about health care, using evidence-based medicine techniques to provide advice about particular treatments or diseases for healthcare professionals and consumers. The content is 'tertiary' publishing, distilling the information from (secondary) reviews of (primary) trials and making it comprehensible.

HealthWorld Online (http://www.healthy.net/)
Integrates main stream (allopathic) and alternative medicine.

HerbMed (http://www.herbmed.org/)
Provides hyperlinked access to the scientific data underlying the use of herbs for health. It is an evidence-based information resource for professionals, researchers, and general public. HerbMed® is a project of the Alternative Medicine Foundation

MedlinePlus : Alternative Medicine (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alternativemedicine.html)
Articles on selected topics, news, and links to information on research, clinical trials and organizations.

MEL: Alternative Medicine (http://web.mel.org/viewtopic.jsp)
Links to government, academic, and organization web sites which focus on alternative medicine, providing a balanced approach to research.

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (http://nccam.nih.gov/)
Fact sheets on selected topics, and consensus statements on particularly controversial issues.

Sloan Kettering - about Herbs, Botanicals and Other Products
(http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/11570.cfm)
Physician-oriented website from a cancer research center.

WholeHealthMD.com (http://www.wholehealthmd.com)
"WholeHealthMD.com is dedicated to providing the best in complementary and alternative medicine."

Children’s Health and Development

Pediatric Internet, American Academy of Pediatrics (http://www.aap.org/)
This service offers a listing and review of some of the best Internet sites related to children’s health.

KidsHealth for Parents (http://kidshealth.org/parent/)
Articles on infections, emotions and behavior, nutrition, first aid and other topics.

Parenting iVillage (http://parenting.ivillage.com/)
Questions and answers on parenting topics including health and development.

Death and Dying

Beyond Indigo (http://www.beyondindigo.com)
A collection of message boards, and articles on grief support, planners, and health news.

Compassion and Choices (http://www.compassionandchoices.org/cid/)
Provides national leadership for client service, legal advocacy and public education to improve pain and symptom management, increase patient empowerment and self-determination and expand end-of-life choices to include aid-in-dying for terminally ill, mentally competent adults.

Growth House: Guide to Death, Dying, Grief, Bereavement and End of Life Resources (http://www.growthhouse.org) An award-winning site providing resources ranging from hospice care and pain management to grief and bereavement.

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (http://www.nhpco.org)

On Our Own Terms: Moyers on Dying (http://pbs.org/wnet/onourownterms)
Articles on topics such as care options and therapy, as well as links to other sites.

With Eyes Open (http://www.pbs.org/witheyesopen)
Shared discussions and full text articles on grief, intensive care, watch and ward, and afterlife.

Dental Health

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (http://www.aapd.org/)
Links to other sites and "brochures" on such topics as sedation, mouth protectors, sealants, and more.

ADA.org (http://www.ada.org/)
Dental care news, advice on finding a dentist, and articles on such topics as gum disease, cleaning teeth, health insurance, and more.

Physicians, organizations, hospitals and support groups

Centers for Disease Control Traveler's Health
(http://cdc.gov/travel/diseases.htm)
An excellent site to learn about re-emerging diseases, with an emphasis on vaccinations and precautions for travelers.

ClinicalTrials.gov (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/)
Current information from U.S. National Institutes of Health on clinical research studies.

Familydoctor.org (http://familydoctor.org/)
Large collection of full text articles on consumer health topics including diseases, drugs, alternative treatments.

InteliHealth (http://www.intelihealth.com)
Includes information on various conditions, articles on medical tests, and selected links to other sites including those posted by specific organizations such as the Thyroid Foundation.

Medem (http://www.medem.com/pat/pat.cfm)
Connecting physicians and patients.

MEDLINEPlus Medical Encyclopedia (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyclopedia.html)
An excellent place to browse symptoms or disorders.

NORD - Rare Diseases Database (http://www.rarediseases.org/)
Search the largest database of understandable information on rare disorders.

PROMED-MAIL
(http://promedmail.org)
The Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases is a disease outbreak reporting system produced by the International Society for Infectious Diseases. Unlike the World Health Organization, ProMED-mail does not need bureaucratic clearance before posting outbreak reports, and thus the information posted is extremely current.

Diseases and Symptoms
The overall best medical sites are excellent resources for finding information on specific diseases. Also, the support groups and organizations listed in the previous section can provide information. Examples of specific sites:

American Cancer Society (http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp)

American Diabetes Association (http://www.diabetes.org/home.jsp)

American Heart Association (http://www.americanheart.org/)

National Cancer Institute (http://www.cancer.gov/)

National Eating Disorders Association (http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org)

Oncolink (http://oncolink.upenn.edu/)

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS): (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/index.htm) Information from the Center for Disease Control

USGS West Nile Virus Maps: (http://westnilemaps.usgs.gov/

Drugs and Pharmaceuticals

Rite Advice (http://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/monographs/)
Database about prescription drug safety from Rite Aid.

MedlinePlus Drug Information (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html) Includes access by brand or generic name with descriptions, and information on side effects.

Consumer Drug Information (http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/DrugSafety/DrugIndex.htm) Information on newly approved prescription drugs.

RxList (http://www.rxlist.com/drugs/alpha_a.htm) Includes ingredients, brand names, availability in other countries, and patient use information in English and Spanish.

Drug Abuse

Betty Ford Center (http://www.bettyfordcenter.org/resources/)
Articles on addiction, it’s relation to family issues, and more as well as links to other sites.

Prevline (http://www.health.org/)
Includes news, facts on drugs of abuse, and links to other sites.

Addictions.org (http://www.addictions.org/recoveryworks/)
Full text articles and links to other sites on a number of addictions including addiction to drugs.

Web of Addictions (http://www.well.com/user/woa/)
Mostly links to recommended sites with "fact sheets" on drugs, and contact information for organizations.

Health Fraud

National Council Against Health Fraud (http://www.ncahf.org/)
Position papers on such topics as acupuncture, herbal remedies, and homeopathy. The site also includes a list of links to other sites.

Quackwatch (http://www.quackwatch.com)
Information is provided in English, Spanish and other languages. The site includes articles on specific techniques such as aromatherapy, iridology, and more. Pros and cons of specific herbal medicines are also reviewed.

Health Insurance

National Association of Health Underwriters (http://www.nahu.org/consumer/)
Consumer page with database for help in locating an insurer.

Health Insurance Consumer Guides (http://www.healthinsuranceinfo.net/)
Georgetown University Health Policy Institute's health insurance guides.

Questions and Answers About Health Care Services
(http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/insuranceqa/)
A consumer guide from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Mental Health

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (http://www.aacap.org)
The "Facts for families" section provides brief information on a variety of topics including abuse, ADHD and depression.

American Psychiatric Association (http://www.psych.org/)
Under "site guide" choose "public information" for consumer articles on mental health topics such as psychiatric medicines, choosing a psychiatrist, etc.

American Psychological Association (http://www.apa.org/)
Includes articles on current research of interest to the consumer.

Dr. Grohol's Psych Central (http://psychcentral.com/grohol.htm)
Annotated directory of mental health links.

Mental Health Net (http://mentalhelp.net/)
Includes articles on specific disorders such as depression with associated information on treatment, research and online resources. Also included are symptoms lists and advice on finding a therapist.

National Institute of Mental Health (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/)
Fact sheets, clinical trials and current news.

National Mental Health Mental Health Information Center (http://www.mentalhealth.org/)
Includes information for kids, a services locator, information on specific disorders, medication, housing, and employment.

Neurosciences and the internet (http://www.neuroguide.com/)
Mostly links to recommended sites on such topics as brain chemistry, strokes, etc.

Gateway to Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (http://www.ptsdinfo.org)
Gateway to four nonprofit sites that offer PTSD information and resources including articles, references, web-links, mini-courses, 800 phone access and e-mail pen-pal resources.

Men’s and Women’s Health Issues

American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (http://www.acog.com/)
Large collection of full text articles on sexuality, birth control, and more.

Hisandherhealth (http://www.hisandherhealth.com/)
Includes full text articles on sexual health.

NewShe (http://newshe.com/)
Articles on women’s sexual health.

Nutrition and Wellness

HealthierUS.gov (http://www.healthierus.gov/)
Part of the president’s Healthier US initiative, this site provides consumer-oriented information on physical fitness, nutrition, preventative screening, and controlling risk factors.

Household Product Database (http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/)safety and toxicity information from the National Institute of Health.

International Food Information Council (http://ific.org/)
Articles on a variety of nutritional topics such as food safety and biotechnology.

Oldways Preservation and Exchange Trust (http://www.oldwayspt.org/)
Information on healthy diets in a variety of cultures including Latin America and Asia.

USDA Nutrient Database (http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/cgi-bin/nut_search.pl)
Detailed nutritional content of foods.

Tests and Procedures

YourSurgery (http://www.yoursurgery.com/index.cfm)
Includes information on the anatomy of the operative site, description of the procedure, alternative options, complications, post-operative care.

Lab Tests Online (http://www.labtestsonline.org/)
Designed to help you to better understand the many clinical lab tests that are part of routine care as well as diagnosis and treatment of a broad range of conditions and diseases.