Health Information
Here are some of the best sites we’ve found for reliable health information and resources.
HealthFinder.gov – A site from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services with interactive tools, including risk assessments and health trackers
American Heart Association – www.Heart.org
American Cancer Society – www.Cancer.org
American Diabetes Association – www.Diabetes.org
Centers for Disease Control – www.CDC.gov
Childhood Obesity – www.LetsMove.gov
Emergencies – http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/emergencymedicalservices.html
Men’s Health – www.MensHealthNetwork.org
Mental and Behavioral Health – www.nmha.org
National Kidney Foundation – www.Kidney.org
National Stroke Association – www.Stroke.org
Senior Health – www.NIHSeniorHealth.gov
Sleep Disorders – www.SleepFoundation.org
Women’s Health – www.WomensHealth.gov
Health Information
Millions of consumers get health information from magazines, TV or the internet. Unfortunately, sometimes it’s not easy to separate the good from the bad, the accurate from the biased, the research from the ads. You want to make sure you are finding the most current, unbiased information that is based on research.
Unfortunately, while the growing popularity of the Internet has made it easier and faster to find health information, it also allows fast and widespread distribution of false and misleading information. That’s according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is charged with enforcing consumer protection laws.
Before searching for medical information on the internet, we recommend that you educate yourself about how to evaluate the information you find. Here are several resources that can help:
- Evaluating Health Information on the Internet – A brief Q&A fact sheet developed by The National Institute of Health
- Evaluating Internet Health Information – A tutorial from the National Library of Medicine
- Health on the Web: Finding Reliable Information – A guide, also available in Spanish, from the American Academy of Family Physicians
- MedlinePlus Guide to Healthy Web Surfing – A guide from the National Library of Medicine
Finally, never forget that it is vital – after carefully considering the source of the information – to discuss it, along with your medical history and any symptoms, with your health care provider.
Here are links to a few of the websites from national non-profit organizations and the government that you may find useful. Remember that clicking on any of these links will take you to the website for a different organization, not related to this hospital.
At Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center
Saint Mary’s Live Well – A Lunch And Learn Series
This blog is dedicated to helping you live your healthiest. Learn more about the latest health topic we’re discussing at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center.