Like most of us, you’re probably spending at least a couple hours
a week searching Google for some sort of health-related information. Whether
you’re trying to lose weight, lower your cholesterol or find what
the symptoms are for Lyme disease, the majority of the population turns
to online sources for health information.
But what are the best website for finding reliable health information online?
You are wise not to believe everything you read, especially when it comes
to your health and medical information on the web. To help you sort through
the online clutter and locate reliable, trustworthy medical information,
here are a few tips to follow, along with some top-rated sites you can
always turn to with confidence.
Making Sure
Generally, health and medical information websites sponsored by the U.S.
government, not-for-profit health or medical organizations, and university
medical centers are the most reliable resources online. While sites supported
by for-profit companies, such as pharmaceutical manufacturers or insurance
companies who may be trying to sell you something, are usually not the
best option for dependable information.
To find out who is really sponsoring a site and where the information is
coming from, click on the “About Us” tab on the site’s
home page. “About Us” can sometimes be hidden at the bottom
of the page so be sure to check there as well.
Top Health Sites
While there are dozens of fantastic websites that provide reliable, trustworthy,
unbiased health information, here are two of the best all-purpose sites
that are easy to use:
Medlineplus.gov is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
and managed by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, Medline Plus provides
information on more than 900 diseases and conditions in their “Health
Topics” section, and links to other trusted resources.
It also provides a directory of hospitals, clinics and healthcare providers,
a medical encyclopedia and medical dictionary, tutorials on common conditions,
tests and treatments, extensive information on prescription drugs, supplements
and herbs, and links to thousands of clinical trials. It even offers a
senior-specific health site (nihseniorhealth.gov) that makes age-related
health information easier for you.
MayoClinic.com is owned by the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and
Research, this site is produced by more than 3,300 physicians, scientists
and researchers from Mayo Clinic, and provides in-depth, easy-to-understand
information on hundreds of diseases and conditions, drugs and supplements,
tests and procedures. It also offers a nifty “Symptom Checker”
tool and “First-Aid Guide” for fast answers to all types of
health conditions, along with medical blogs, expert answers, videos and
links to additional resources.
Disease Specific Sites
There are dozens of other sites dedicated to specific diseases and conditions.
Some of the top-rated sites are American Cancer Society (cancer.org),
American Heart Association (americanheart.org) and American Diabetes Association
(diabetes.org).
Have specific health-related questions or looking for specific information?
Please email us at
library@mcmc.net.