Links to Medical Information

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DISCLAIMER

The information contained in this website is intended to help me find general information on certain topics only and are not intended to and do not offer healthcare/medical advice. This information should not be considered complete and should not be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice from your physician. I have no idea of the accuracy or quality of the information on these websites. If you have, or suspect you have, a health problem you should never disregard medical advice or delay seeking medical attention because of something you have read on one of these websites. If you have questions about a medical condition or seek advice, see your healthcare professional.

Links to these sites have been categorized for friends to identify and enjoy a variety of different sites. Absolutely no responsibility is taken by me for the accuracy of the information you receive from any of the referred links. I have absolutely no health care training or experience. Again, if you have questions about a medical condition or seek advice, see your healthcare professional. Most of the text on this page was obtained from other sites that assist people with finding health information online.

     ADD - Attention Deficit Disorder

     AIDS

     Allergies

     Alternative Medicine

     Alzheimer's

  - Information on living with Alzheimers and information for caregivers and health professionals make this the comprehensive site on Alzheimer's Disease. Fact sheets, information on diagnosis and management, planning ahead, a glossary and extensive Spanish language information as well as some information in Korean and Chinese add to its usefulness. Message boards and chat rooms provide support and additional information sharing.

     Arthitis

     Associations and Advocacy

- Provides links to credible health web sites recommended by the Information Services staff of the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Information in Spanish is also available.

     Asthma

- Information, advocacy, research, information on local chapters and support groups and a "Ask the Allergist" email feature make this an extremely useful website. Also included are some multimedia information, a pollen count by zip code feature, and information on clinical trials and new treatments. Some of their patient brochures can be downloaded as well as ordered via the mail (with a few of them in Spanish).

     Cancer

- Extensive information on types of cancer, treatments, coping with cancer, a dictionary of cancer terms, the NCI drug dictionary, cancer statistics, clinical trials, cancer prevention, genetics, and fulltext of NCI fact sheets form this important website. There is a link to PDQ (Physicians Data Query) which is NCI's comprehensive databases of cancer information and treatment for physicians. A telephone help line, live online chat service and email help support the extensive information found here. Information is also available in Spanish.

     Cardiology

- Extensive information on heart disease and stroke, children's health, healthy lifestyle, caregiving, a heart and stroke encyclopedia and information in Spanish make this the premier source for information on these conditions. There is also a link to the website of American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, which shares some of the same information on its website at www.strokeassociation.org. Local area events and local chapters are covered and some scientific and professional materials are also available.

- NHLBI site provides extensive information on conditions that affect the heart, blood vessels, lungs, and blood and on sleep disorders. Health assessment tools, educational tutorials and recipes provide useful additional information. Full text color versions of data fact sheets are also available. Information for healthcare professionals is included.

     Cholesterol

     Dental

- Includes extensive information on oral health, cosmetic dentistry, restorative procedures, and even games and animations for children and classroom resources for teachers. A glossary of dental terms, a directory of dentists and a section in Spanish add useful information.

     Dermatology

- "Dermatology A-Z" gives extensive information and fulltext of AAD pamphlets on most common skin and nail conditions from acne and aging skin to tanning and tattoos. Includes some pamphlets and information in Spanish, a directory of dermatologists, and Kids Connection section with information for children on skin conditions.

     Diabetes

- Extensive interactive tools add information and interest to this lively website. Diabetes assessment tools, recipes, weight-loss and exercise advice, latest diabetes research and a professional section add additional information. Information about ADA books, a message board, an email newsletter and information in Spanish are also included. en español

     Gasteroenterology

- The NDDIC site has an A to Z list of digestive disease topics and titles illustrated with drawings, statistics, list of clinical trials, links to patient organizations, and government agencies & resources. Special sections of easy-to-read information and information is Spanish are included.

     General Health Information Sites

- MedicineNet.com is owned and operated by WebMD and part of the WebMD Network. The web site provides easy-to-read, in-depth, authoritative medical information for consumers through its user-friendly, interactive web site. The content is produced and edited by a nationally recognized network of over 70 U.S. Board Certified Physicians. They claim their content is not influenced by any advertiser, sponsor, company, product offering, or third party.

- This site offers clear and concise patient hand-outs for common medical concerns and conditions. All information has been written and reviewed by physicians and patient education professionals at the American Academy of Family Physicians. "Conditions A-Z", make finding a hand-out easy and this section is also available in Spanish. Other helpful features are the Healthy Living Guides, a Smart Patient Guide, Health Tools section and a Health Tip of the Day.

- The National Institute of Health's umbrella website, encompassing 27 Federally Funded Scientific institutes- The National Cancer Institute, the Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the Human Genome Research Institute, and the National Institute of Mental Health. This is a website for both general information, and more specific knowledge.

- The Virtual Hospital is a great source of general information about "virtually" all health topics. Very solid basic information, with an emphasis on self-care and prevention. (University of Iowa Healthcare)

- MayoClinic.com offers a wealth of easy-to-understand health and medical information. In addition to diseases and conditions, the site has a number of healthy living guides and helpful resources such as Health Tools, Treatment Decision Guides and Ask a Specialist. Web site content is reviewed for accuracy by Mayo Clinic experts.

- Evidenced-based health information on 14 medical specialty areas, sponsored by Merck Medicus. Extensive information on each topic covered includes: News and alerts, Basic Information, Causes, Symptoms, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Prevention & Screening, Urgent Care, Self-care, Drug Therapy, Other Therapies, Alternative Medicine, Special Circumstances, Prognosis and Follow-up care.

- an information partnership of medical societies

  • Adam images - 30,000 medical illustrations

    •      Government Agencies and Resources

    - The CDC, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, deals with preventing and controlling disease, injury and disability and its website ably reflects this mission. One of the best government websites on the internet, its coverage is broad. Its "Diseases and Conditions" section covers major chronic and many infectious diseases including AIDS, bird flu, common childhood diseases like measles and more exotic diseases like Ebola. Birth defects, traveler's health, emergency preparedness, vaccine and immunization information, accidents and injury information, infectious diseases and workplace safety and health are all covered. The full text of many CDC publications are available as well as extensive public health information of all kinds. Rich in information and colorfully illustrated, it also provides information in Spanish.

    - Developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, healthfinder® links to carefully selected information and Web sites from over 1,500 health-related organizations. There's a wonderful children's interface with age-appropriate health information and much of the web site's information is available in Spanish. Find a Public Library, Doctor or other Health Care Provider, or Health Center or Home Health Care.

    - MEDLINEplus offers consumers accurate and current medical information. Find extensive information about specific diseases and conditions, including drug information. For those who want brevity, use the Medical Encyclopedia. Other offerings on this content rich site include health news, a dictionary, directories to find doctors, dentists and hospitals, interactive tutorials, clinical trials and surgery videos. The entire site is available in Spanish as well, with a handy toggle feature. Other languages are included but to a lesser extent. There is no advertising on this site. MEDLINEplus does not endorse any company or product. One stop shopping at its best.

  • ABMS Member Board Certified Specialists - Doctor's certification
  • VitalsSM health information exchange - Doctor's certification, specality, education etc.
  • HealthGrades - Rates hospitals by procedure (free), medical costs (not free)
  • Hospital Compare - Hospital Process of Care Measure Graphs
  • Leapfrog - Hospital Quality and Safety Survey Results

    •      Gynecological

         Headache

         Hearing & Balance

         Hospice

         Kids Health

    - Dr. Alan Greene, professor of pediatrics at Stanford, offers a site with health information about children. There are pages for parents, children, teens, and physicians. The site covers developmental stages, diseases and conditions, and parenting.

    - The American Academy of Pediatrics provides information about health topics, diseases and conditions, child development, and child safety.

    - The Nemours Foundation’s Center for Children’s Health provides current information about child development, nutrition and fitness, preventive health care, and diseases and conditions. Information is available in English and Spanish. There are sites for parents, children, and teens.

    - The pregnancy and parenting pages of iVillage.com offers information about fertility, pregnancy, and parenting as well as opportunities to participate in discussion and support groups.

    - This is a digital health sciences collection devoted to pediatrics created by physicians at the University of Iowa to meet the information needs of health care providers and patients. It includes textbooks, Web sites, and anatomy atlases.

          Lung

    - This is an excellent site with information on lung diseases, tobacco control, and air quality. Attractive and easy to use, it has special sections on asthma, allergy, treatment, how the lung functions and "Diseases A-Z" on lung disorders. There is a search by zip code for local chapter information, sign-up for a free email newsletter, and some information on current research efforts. A sub-section is available in Spanish.

          Medicine and Drugs

    - A project of the non-profit Alternative Medicine foundation(Am Foundation),this is a very Scientific description of legitimate research of most commonly-used herbal products (it does not include dietary supplements such as glucosamine or fish oil - plants only.

    - Helping People Connect to Government Programs for Medical Needs

    - This useful resource lists newly approved drugs; drugs in current clinical research; weekly trial results as well as a link to the PDR Family Medical Guide for Prescription Drugs.

    - This site provides not only prescription drug information and information from the drug manufacturers, but also provides information on diseases and links to various healthcare organizations and government sites. Also includes healthcare news and more!

    - Offers free medical online and PDA software including drug interactions and infectious disease databases.

    - The Food and Drug Administration oversees the regulation of pharmaceutical and food products, as well as medical devices. The site is a wealth of both consumer and professional information, including drug-specific information and tips for taking medications, buying generic drugs, and saving money on prescriptions. The site also features a consumer safety guide to buying medications online, along with information on medical product safety and both drug-drug and drug-food interactions.

    Compare prices for all FDA-approved prescription drugs at virtually every pharmacy in America. Find pharmacy coupons, manufacturer discounts, generics, comparable drug choices and savings tips all in one place. Save up to 80% at local pharmacies you already know. We’ll even send you refill reminders and alerts when prices change! Got insurance? GoodRx can often beat your co-pay or help with drugs that aren’t covered by your plan.

  • iGuard.org

    • -Checking the safety of your medications, screening for drug-drug and drug-disease interactions (recommended by Peoples Pharmacy)

    - UNC Chapel Hill, School of Medicine

          SOURCES ON HERBS and VITAMINS

    To check the research into effectiveness and safety of herbal products, try the National Library of Medicine's Medline Plus at medlineplus.gov, under Drugs & Supplements: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html

    You can also go to two other National Institutes of Health sites, one for the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (http://nccam.nih.gov/) and one for the Office of Dietary Supplements (https://ods.od.nih.gov/).

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers background on vitamins here: https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/InfantandToddlerNutrition/vitamins-minerals/index.html

    There's a paid subscription service at www.naturaldatabaseconsumer.com.

    The supplements industry backs a site called Life Supplemented at https://www.crnusa.org/Life-supplemented

    For a safety-oriented focus, here's a Consumers Union report: http://www.consumerreports.org/health/natural-health/dietary-supplements-to-avoid-1-08/overview/risky-supplements-ov.htm

    SOURCES ON PRODUCTS

    If you are looking into a specific brand, here are some places to check.

    You can start with the FDA's site, at www.fda.gov, where you can search to see if your product has been the subject of a warning letter or consumer alert. Another federal agency web site that may be worth checking is the Federal Trade Commission's, at www.ftc.gov. Look under Internet Fraud and Safety, then click on Health.

    You can look at the prohibited-substance list of the World Anti-Doping Agency at www.wada-ama.org, under "Resources for Athletes."

    Certification services can provide some outside verification that a product is safe. Here are their Web sites.

    NSF International lists those it has certified for sport at nsf.org. Click on "NSF Banned Substances Program."

    HFL Sport Science's list is at www.informed-choice.org

    ConsumerLab.com LLC charges for access to its reports, at www.ConsumerLab.com.

    MEDICAL JOURNAL ARTICLES

    For medical-journal publications, here are links to their abstracts:

    Generic Drugs It is virtually impossible to sue generic manufacturers for failing to provide adequate warning of a prescription drug’s dangers.

    Cancer patients plea for medical pot. Inhaled marijuana is the only medicine that gives me some relief from nausea, stimulates my appetite, and makes it easier to fall asleep.

         Mental Health

    - This site provides information about the signs and symptoms, treatment and resources available for mental illnesses. Full text of booklets and pamphlets on mental illness can be downloaded or printed. The latest news on mental illness, help in locating services, a link to clinical trials and pre-formatted Medline searches for the latest information add to the usefulness of this site. While the site isn't in Spanish, many of the booklets and pamphlets are available in Spanish and a link to information on MedlinePlus in Spanish is provided.

         Men's Health

    - This bilingual site from the New York Academy of Medicine and the New York Public Library includes basic health information for men as well as information on fertility, impotence, prostate health, safer sex, and gay men’s health.

    - The National Library of Medicine offers information on a variety of men’s health topics including circumcision, fertility, prostate disease, and testicular cancer. The site is available in Spanish and offers links to PubMed searches on men’s health information.

    - The Mayo Clinic offers general health information for men, including preventive care. It also has interactive tools and answers to FAQs from Mayo Clinic specialists.

    - This site offers health information from the nation’s medical societies about healthy living, reproductive and sexual function, prostate conditions, and other men’s health issues. Some is available in Spanish. The articles included are rated for level of difficulty.

    - The American Academy of Family Physicians offers information about a wide range of topics of interest to men including STDs, prostate health, reproductive issues, and fatherhood. Information is available in English and Spanish.

         Men's Sexual Health

         Multiple Sclerosis

         Naturopathy

         Nutrition

    - is a number calculated from a person's weight and height. BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.

    - Look up a food to get quick access to nutrition info for over 8,000 foods.

    - These posters show nutrition information for the 20 most frequently consumed raw fruits, vegetables, and fish in the United States.

    - The USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) works to improve the health and well-being of Americans by developing and promoting dietary guidance that links scientific research to the nutrition needs of consumers.

         Obesity

         Ophthalmology

    - A diagram of the eye, glossary of eye-related terms, fact sheets and some videos on eye diseases and condition and eye organization database make this site especially useful. Tips on finding an eye care professional and on financial aid for eye care, as well as information in Spanish, add to this site's usefulness.

         Orthopedics

    - Colorfully illustrated patient information is presented by body site and by category. Information on injury prevention, osteoarthritis, sports and exercise, joint replacement and tumors are covered thoroughly. Extensive Spanish language factsheets are provided as well as some information in Japanese, Portuguese, and Thai. A directory of orthopaedists by name, city, zip code and country is provided.

         Parkinson's

         Pharmacology

         Psychiatry

         Senior Health

    - The Department of Health and Human Services/Administration on Aging website is designed to assist older people and their families or caregivers to quickly obtain information on a variety of aging-related topics and government-sponsored programs. There is excellent information on Alzheimers Disease & research, housing, nutrition, elder rights & resources, promoting a health lifestyle, government services for seniors, and caregiver support programs.

    - The American Geriatrics Society Foundation website offers information on the health and care of older adults. There are four subpages: Aging in the Know offers uptodate information on how the aging process affects health; Eldercare at Home offers the complete text of the second edition of this resource for families and friends who are caring for older people at home; The FHA Physician Referral Guide offers to mail a list of physicians sensitive to the special healthcare needs of older adults and links to search for board certified geriatricians; and Health in Aging Stories where patients and health care providers can share their stories on the challenge of finding and providing health care for the elderly. The site also provides a directory of guide to federal government agencies and national not-for-profit organizations that address the special health care needs of older adults.

    - Information, services and support for caregivers and families of persons with chronic, disabling health conditions. It offers fact sheets in English, Spanish and Chinese on various conditions like dementia, Parkinson’s Disease and stroke. As an advocacy group it also offers statistics, public policy information, and reports. It includes caregiver advice and tips (also in Spanish and Chinese) and hosts online discussion groups.

      - Extensive links to government agencies and other organizations that provide services and programs for seniors. There are links to consumer protection resources for seniors, money and taxes, end-of-life issues, health and housing for seniors. Information is gathered by need rather than the government agencies that provides the service. Hospice care, nursing home comparison, and even how to request a birthday greeting from the President for persons over 80 are covered.

    - Originally created by the Novartis Foundation for Gerontology, the site has been turned over to the Health and Age Foundation. In addition to basic information on a number of common conditions, the site includes a news feed, a question-and-answer column, and full-text of a primer on geriatrics. There are special sections on men’s health, on women’s health and a caregiver’s center with articles on care giving. This attractive site also has a professional section with a news feed and summaries of current studies on aging for health care professionals.

    - Reviewed by Mayo clinic medical editorial staff, this site has very readable articles on aging, conditions that often affect older adults, and healthy living. Articles are authoritative, short and cover topics like sex and intimacy and anti-aging therapies that often aren’t found on other sites. Registration allows personalization of the website and interactive health management tools but isn’t required for access.

    - Created by the National Library of Medicine (NLM), this website contains links to trustworthy information throughout the web. It contains links to the latest news, overviews of senior health issues, research, statistics, aging organizations, clinical trials, and much more. Links guide you to pre-formatted searches on PubMed and to services and providers in your local area through the Go Local project. This page is also available in Spanish.

    - NIH Senior Health makes aging-related health information easily accessible for family members and friends seeking reliable, easy to understand online health information. A unique feature is that the website has a spoken language feature and also allows increases in contrast as well as size of type for easier viewing. Well-illustrated and readable, it includes some short videos and links out to MedlinePlus for additional information.

         Sexual Health

         Sleep

         Smoking

         Stroke

    - This site provides excellent information on the symptoms of stoke, risk factors, prevention and recovery. Information specifically for women, for men, for African Americans, and caregivers and families as well as medical and EMS professionals is provided. Full text of the consumer publication Stroke Smart and NSA pamphlets are available, as well as sign up for a free subscription. Some fact sheets are available in English, French and Spanish.

    - Extensive information on neurological disorders is provided at this website. The Disorders Index provides an alphabetic list of hundreds of neurological conditions, their treatments, prognosis, clinical research and contact information for organizations concerned with the condition. Clicking on the link to research literature under each condition leads you to a PubMed search on the condition. An accessible version of the web page is also provided. A news feed, list of patient resources and organizations and Spanish versions of some fact sheets on disorders can also be found at the NINDS website.

         Symptom Checker

         Travel Medicine

         Urology

    - This site provides information on a wide variety of urological conditions affecting men. It also has information about female and pediatric urological disorders.

         Women's Health

    - New York Online Access to Health is a bilingual (English/Spanish) health information site created by the City University of New York, the New York Academy of Medicine, and the New York, Queens Borough, and Brooklyn Public Libraries. The Women’s Health pages cover normal conditions such as puberty, pregnancy, and menopause as well as diseases and concerns such as endometriosis, women’s cancers, and STDs.

    - The FDA’s Office of Women’s Health provides information about medical devices, cosmetics, and drugs, current health news, and information about research on women’s health issues. It provides links to regulatory information, scientific projects, and publications.

    - The National Women’s Health Information Center of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers statistical information as well as coverage of women’s health topics and issues, health organizations, funding resources, and publications. It provides information in Spanish and has a site for girls, Girls Health.gov at http://www.girlshealth.gov/

    - This site is a clearinghouse for online infertility information. It covers diagnosis, treatment options, financial issues, legal issues, adoption, and support groups.

    - The National Women’s Health Resource Center is a non-profit, national clearinghouse for women’s health information. It develops original health materials and content for women and provides links to related news, educational opportunities, and national organizations. It also has information about books and contacts for local health departments.

    - The Boston Women’s Health Book Collective has created a companion Web site for their classic book, Our Bodies, Ourselves. It provides both clinical and psychosocial information about women’s health issues and offers resources in both English and Spanish. The site has current health news and Web links.

    - WebMD is an online information, education, and research community for consumers and physicians. It provides information and current news about health topics as well as message boards and a health newsletter.

    - The North American Menopause Society is a nonprofit organization devoted to research and promoting women’s health as they age. They study menopause and its health effects. The site has information for health care providers and consumers, including referral lists, educational materials, research, and participation in research studies.

         Women's Sexual Health

    - This is a directory of Web sites covering breast cancer, sexuality, reproductive rights, and general women’s health created by Feminist.com, a grassroots organization. It includes directories of midwives, birthing centers, and abortion clinics.

    DISCLAIMER

    The information contained in this website is intended to help me find general information on certain topics only and are not intended to and do not offer healthcare/medical advice. This information should not be considered complete and should not be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice from your physician. If you have, or suspect you have, a health problem you should never disregard medical advice or delay seeking medical attention because of something you have read on one of these websites. If you have questions about a medical condition or seek advice, see your healthcare professional.

    Links to these sites have been categorized for friends to identify and enjoy a variety of different sites. Absolutely no responsibility is taken by me for the accuracy of the information you receive from any of the referred links. I have absolutely no health care training or experience. Again, if you have questions about a medical condition or seek advice, see your healthcare professional.