Medical Sites

Access top-quality sites offering information, interactive tools, and other resources, by visiting the URLs listed in this section. Sites are categorized according to the disease, condition, or medical concern they address.

ALLERGIES

The Allergy Connection
This outstanding resource for patients offers comprehensive information and news for allergy sufferers and their families, clearly and concisely written and organized for ease of use. Specific features include background data on allergies for children and adults, the answers to frequently asked questions, in-depth scholarly articles, annotated links to related online resources, and profiles of sufferers that illustrate important concepts in the day-to-day management of allergies.

The Allergy Learning Lab
This site offers a huge archive of information and tools for sufferers. Basic facts on “Allergy 101,” “Seasonal Allergies,” “Year-Round Allergies,” and other relevant topics are explored in detail, with tips and advice on allergyproofing your home, finding a physician, traveling with allergies, handling a child with allergies, and much more also provided. Feature articles cover timely topics in the treatment of allergies, relay instructive stories about allergy sufferers, or explain what to expect when you visit an allergist. Visitors who choose to register at the Learning Lab can also maintain an “Allergy Diary” and compare their experiences with those of other patients, access daily pollen forecasts, receive customized articles via e-mail, and obtain confidential advice from the site’s Medical Board.

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

About Alzheimer’s disease
The American Health Assistance Foundation (AHAF) sponsors this website that offers an overview of Alzheimer’s disease, its symptoms and effects, treatment options, and news on the latest research developments. Visitors can view several medical illustrations of a brain with Alzheimer’s, have their questions answered by medical experts, and link to support groups, government agencies, and other resources to learn more about this disease.

The Alzheimer’s Association
This national organization’s site includes a directory of over 200 local US affiliates, several brochures, fact sheets, statistics, research, information about enrolling in clinical trials for new drugs in development, links, and an extensive bibliography.

ARTHRITIS

AllAboutArthritis.com
The name of this site is quite apt. Patients will find a variety of interactive tools and calculators, such as a body mass index calculator, a daily pain record, a personal arthritis archive, and a medication and appointment reminder calendar. Other features include a search option that provides details on medications used to treat arthritis, an eNewsletter, and informative articles, such as “Rheumatoid Arthritis and Childbirth: Is there a connection?” Information is all user-friendly and easy to find.

RAacademy
RAacademy is “designed to provide support in managing the daily challenges associated with rheumatoid arthritis” and features online polls, the latest news from Reuters, an e-mail service for communicating with other RAacademy members, and other tools. One such tool, the “Daily Planner,” allows patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to monitor and track appointments, medication schedules, visits to the doctor, changes in their condition, exercise routines, changes in weight, and other tasks and events. The “Healthy Living” section offers advice on coping with RA on a day-to-day basis, including exercise tips and information intended specifically for women with RA. The “Getting Help” section assists members in finding support groups and occupational therapists, and also features a link to an online Arthritis Store that sells products designed to make life easier for people with RA.

BIPOLAR DISORDER

Bipolar Disorder Sanctuary
The provision of support to individuals suffering from bipolar disorder is the goal of this site, which also offers information on bipolar disorder and a huge archive of links to related resources. Book reviews, discussion groups, personal stories from patients afflicted with bipolar disorder, and some very basic articles work in support of this mission. Paul Markovitz, MD, PhD, is also on hand to answer questions submitted by visitors.

Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation
This resource provides help, education, and support for families raising children with bipolar disorder; the Foundation is a parent-led, not-for-profit, Web-based membership organization (free for families). Visit the Learning Center to access many valuable tools, including audio/video presentations, conference reports, assessment scales and screening tools, practice guidelines for the treatment of bipolar disorder, and information on legal issues. The Community Center houses message boards, online support groups, and chat rooms, while the Resources section links to similar websites.

CANCER

The Breast Clinic
This well organized, information-rich website is authored by Dr. Stephen Kettlewell and provides patient-oriented information on breast cancer organized into two categories: General Information and Breast Disease. Under “General Information,” patients will find facts about breast anatomy, breast cancer symptoms, self-examination instructions, mammography and other screening techniques, and the risk factors associated with breast cancer. The “Breast Disease” section offers information on benign breast disease, an overview of the types of breast cancer, descriptions of several surgical procedures, discussion of breast reconstruction, advice on post-operative exercises, and prognosis and staging information. Links to other online breast cancer resources recommended by both Dr. Kettlewell and site visitors are also available.

CancerSymptoms.org
Previously known as CancerFatigue.org, this site has expanded its content to include information on five additional symptoms commonly associated with cancer treatment; now, along with resources for treatment-related fatigue, patients can also access information about anorexia, pain, depression, neutropenia, and cognitive dysfunction. Information on each symptom is divided into one of two categories: Learn or Manage. The “Learn” section provides “information that explains the causes and effects of each treatment-related symptom,” including links to other resources and detailed articles. The “Manage” section “ provides helpful ideas on how to control or minimize the effects of that symptom. Read helpful “what to do” lists that can make a huge difference in how you feel daily.” Visitors may also submit questions and receive a reply from an oncology professional within two business days.

DIABETES

Diabetes Information Guide: Diabetic Health and Diet Resources
Not only does this site offer extensive information on diabetes, it also includes several tools necessary for diabetics, namely, glucose charting, a food diary and analyzer, a diabetic cookbook (complete with pictures), supply guide, dictionary, health calculators, and a diabetic checklist. The site also allows visitors to bookmark certain articles and pages, and, once a visitor logs in, the site stores the individuals’ health charts and records as well as their fitness and nutrition information. Lastly, visitors can seek advice from hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes, and nutrition and fitness experts, read success stories, post comments, and sign up for a free newsletter.

Diabetes Station
Offering a “place for intelligent conversation about diabetes,” Diabetes Station does not require registration; “all you need is your name and e-mail address to join a discussion with diabetic people from all over the world, and to attend programs with the world’s foremost researchers and clinicians.” The site features a program schedule, program notes and transcripts, a message board, and an area devoted solely to “teen talk.”

FAMILY MEDICINE

FamilyDoctor.org
All of the infomation on this site is written and reviewed by members of the American Academy of Family Physicians; the site also subscribes to the Health on the Net (HON) Foundation Code of Conduct. Essentially a basic information site, familydoctor.org is distinguished by the volume and reliability of that information, as well as the outstanding way in which it is organized.

MDAdvice
Go to MDAdvice for reliable, easily understood medical information on hundreds of topics. Visitors may browse through the site’s daily medical news, health library, drug information, journal articles, reference materials, free answers to medical questions from experts, links to community support groups, live health chats, and interactive tools. Specific information is available in the areas of children’s health and pediatric diseases, men and women’s health-specific issues, senior health, nutrition, specific illnesses, surgery, prescription and over-the-counter medications, sports-related injuries, vitamins and other supplements, and many others.

HEART HEALTH

HeartCenterOnline for Patients
An exhaustive resource, this site gives equal attention to diseases that affect the heart and to ways to keep the heart and cardiovascular system healthy in the first place. HeartCenterOnline serves as a colorful and useful starting point for patients looking to improve their heart health; current content on this outstanding, information-rich site includes an article on high blood pressure and the African American patient, by Hilton M. Hudson, MD, a variety of new additions to the site’s “Video Library,” and ongoing patient-to-patient discussions on heart healthy lifestyles, coronary artery disease, and a range of other topics.

Your Guide to Lowering High Blood Pressure
Created by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health, this site provides people who are concerned about their own blood pressure or that of a loved one with evidence-based information and advice on reducing hypertension. Special features include self-assessment quizzes for patients, detailed, nonclinical information about various medications used to treat hypertension, information about National Blood Pressure Education month, and illustrative, real-life examples of topics covered on the site. Information specific to women, focusing on the ways conditions that uniquely affect women can impact on high blood pressure, is also provided.

MEDICAL NEWS

Intelihealth
From daily news updates to in-depth information on diseases and conditions, this site has it all. Categories of interest cover such topics as addiction, weight management, facts on workplace health, complementary medicine, and nutrition, gender and age specific information collections, data on medical procedures and tests, prescription and OTC medications, and an online medical dictionary.

MSNBC Health
An excellent source for consumer-oriented health care news, MSNBC Health offers daily headlines and research news, a bioterror information resource, and sections on bioethics, nutrition, sexual health, fitness and exercise, environmental health, and a variety of other departments and special features.

MEDICATIONS/PHARMACY

MyPillbox.org
Improving patient compliance is the goal at the heart of this innovative site, which enables users to create and print a detailed daily, weekly, or monthly medication schedule. The site also includes a database containing pictures of dozens of medicines, enabling easy recognition. Registration is required in order to utilize the service, which is otherwise free of charge.

SafeMedication.com
Use this site’s “Med Master” search engine, based on the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists’ Medication Teaching Manual: The Guide to Patient Drug Information, to find information on prescription medications by searching using either the drug’s generic or commercial name. Search results offer easy-to-understand patient-oriented information about the particular drug’s uses, dosage information, precautions that patients should be aware of, associated dietary restrictions, potential side effects, storage instructions, and other important facts. Special sections of the site offer further information on alternative medicine, medication safety, and antibiotics. “News You Can Use” contains the latest health news and medication research updates. Patients can also download .PDF files explaining the correct use of eye drops and ointments, eardrops, inhalers, and other medication delivery systems.

MEN'S HEALTH

Erectile Dysfunction Infocenter
This site provides “medical information concerning the diagnosis and treatment of the conditions pertaining to erectile dysfunction.” Visitors will find “physician-monitored descriptions of conditions, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, management, and resources related to erectile dysfunction.” Browse discussions on treatment options, general information about erectile dysfunction, and links to other sites and organizations.

MEDLINEplus: Impotence
MEDLINEplus offers general overviews of erectile dysfunction (ED), an interactive slideshow, coping advice, links to industry-sponsored clinical trials, resources on coping with the physical and psychological effects of ED, articles on the screening and diagnosis of ED, information on specific conditions related to ED, treatment guidelines, links to other organizations that provide information on this topic, statistics, and Spanish-language resources.

What To Do If Prostate Cancer Strikes: A Helpbook for Patients
A partnership project of the American Cancer Society and the Cancer Research Institute, this website provides basic information on both the prostate and prostate cancer. It instructs readers on the significance of PSA blood tests and what happens when cancer is found. It also guides patients through choosing a therapy, as well as where to look for information on new investigational treatments. A “learn more” section lists books, support groups, and websites that all deal with prostate cancer.

Your Surgery.com: Prostatectomy
The award-winning YourSurgery.com offers this resource for patients faced with undergoing a prostatectomy. Herein, you will find information on the anatomy and physiology of the prostate, the pathology of prostate disease and prostate cancer, the diagnosis and detection of prostate cancer, and the Jewett and TNM cancer staging systems, a description of stage-specific treatment options, including radical prostatectomy, a list of possible complications, discussion of what patients can expect following surgery, and information on alternative therapies.

MENTAL HEALTH/PSYCHIATRY

At Health: Consumer Connection
This site offers clear, readily comprehensible information for patients with mental health concerns, as well as the friends, family, and caregivers of such individuals. Reference information and recent news, organized by disease category, are offered to users free of charge, along with a directory of mental health professionals and treatment centers, medication information, and a top-notch eNewsletter.

Mental Health Matters
Mental Health Matters includes information on mental health, self-help, and psychology information and resources for consumers, students and supporters, houses a QuickLinks section that consists of nearly 100 different conditions and disorders for fast access, as well as dozens of articles. Symptoms, treatments, medications, advocacy information, support and a find a therapist function also exist at this site.

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

MS Outreach
This site, developed by patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), is intended to provide information and support to other patients with the same condition. Basic facts and statistics are provided regarding diagnosis of the condition, obtaining second (and third) opinions, handling disease-associated depression, and sorting out the many possible treatment options available for MS patients. A large message board community, enabling these patients to discuss treatment, personal stories, fatigue, depression and its treatments, specific drugs, and other topics with one another, is also offered at the site.

OSTEOPOROSIS

Ask NOAH About: Osteoporosis
The award-winning Ask NOAH site offers links to several articles covering “the basics” of osteoporosis, material on the condition’s causes and associated risk factors, specific information about osteoporosis in children, men, and various ethnic groups, information on prevention and diagnosis, details about the tell-tale signs and symptoms of osteoporosis, the facts about bone density testing, and advice and information about living with osteoporosis, including exercise tips, clinical trial reports, material on preventing falls, and more.

FORE Osteoporosis: Featured Videos
Twenty-eight online videos on various topics in the management of osteoporosis are archived on this site, along with complete printed transcripts of each. Selected titles include “Psychological Issues in Osteoporosis,” “Why Menopause Speeds Bone Loss,” “Milk and More: Eating Right For Your Bones,” “Exercise for Bone Health,” and “Osteoporosis in African Americans.” All videos are provided by the Foundation for Osteoporosis Research and Education.

PEDIATRICS

Kids Learn About Diabetes
Designed for children with diabetes by children with diabetes (under the supervision of pediatric endocrinologist Kathleen M. Link, MD), this excellent site contains clear, understandable descriptions of diabetes, its impact on the body, and the treatments required to manage it, all written in a practical fashion that helps kids know what to expect if they suffer from the condition. Information about testing, diet, and much more is also provided, along with a chat room. If they wish, visitors can view the site as an interactive tutorial where questions are asked after each section to assess the taker’s understanding of the preceding material.

Parentstages.com
Parentstages.com offers parenting advice, information, and products for expecting parents, parents of newborns, and parents of toddlers and small children. The site features developmental charts, interactive games, products and services, a “symptom finder” enabling parents to search for possible illnesses based on the symptoms exhibited by a child, and various featured articles.

Pediheart: KidZone
A cartoon chicken guides children through a series of images, colorful diagrams, and clear, no-nonsense explanations intended to shed light on the function of the heart and the congenital conditions that may affect that organ. This site is an outstanding way to educate very young heart patients about the diseases from which they may suffer, as it is understandable but never condescending.

RESPIRATORY HEALTH

Complete Home Medical Guide: Respiratory Diseases and Lung Health
Covering everything from asthma to pneumothorax, from emphysema to coup, this site offers patients a complete rundown on respiratory problems that affect all ages, other lung complications, chronic pulmonary diseases, heart and lung diseases, diseases that affect children and infants, and occupational lung disease. It begins with a list of threats to respiratory infection, such as air pollution, indoor pollutants, and others, and then continues on to explore each separate category in greater depth. It concludes with a general summary on the prevention of respiratory problems.

LungLifeCenter
Lung Life Center offers information on asthma, bronchitis, COPD, emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonia, lung cancer, tuberculosis, and sarcoidos. Upon registering, visitors with questions can make use of the site’s ask the expert feature, and have their concerns answered by board-certified physicians, as well as refer to the site’s news banner at the bottom of the page, which features the day’s latest news articles.

WEIGHT LOSS/OBESITY

Aim for a Healthy Weight
More than 100 million adult Americans are overweight or obese. The extra weight puts people at a greatly increased risk of developing heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and certain kinds of cancer. Go to this site, sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for a set of guidelines offering a new approach for determining if you are overweight or obese and steps to safe and effective weight loss.

Cyberdiet
This one-stop diet and nutrition website offers something for everyone from the athlete looking for fuel for optimum performance to expectant mothers worried about getting enough vitamins, from parents of children with allergies to people looking for advice on losing those last ten pounds. Visitors will find tips on changes to make for a healthier lifestyle, a weight-loss forum where dieters can exchange infomation, offer support, and share their goals.

WOMEN’S HEALTH

Society for Women’s Health Research
The Society “works to increase public and private funding for research on women’s health, promote the inclusion of women in medical research studies, and encourage the scientific examination of the basic biological and physiological differences between men and women and how those differences affect both health and disease through the emerging field of sex-based biology.” Their website offers information on clinical trials, sex-based biology, policy and advocacy issues, a report on the “facts and fallacies about women’s and men’s health,” and updates from the General Accounting Office on the FDA’s progress in monitoring medications for sex differences.

Women’s Health Interactive
Billing itself as an “interactive learning environment for women,” Women’s Health Interactive offers a great deal of useful information packaged in an accomplished design. Patients who visit the site can begin by taking a series of quizzes in order to assess how much they already know about health topics important to them. Articles, news reports, research summaries, and the like will help visitors fill the gaps in their knowledge, while an active series of message boards enables interaction between patients.