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. Click on a link below to go directly to that section.

ASTHMA AND ALLERGIES

Allernet
This site boasts a thorough and varied collection of resources, including daily reports of allergy risk from pollen and mold spores (with color-coded maps), a slide presentation featuring RealAudio and entitled “All About Allergies,” a second slideshow on fire ants, and an extensive photo library showing visual representations of various allergens. A huge amount of additional enduring material is also available.
http://www.allernet.com

Is It an Allergy or Is It Asthma?
Patients who seek more in-depth education about the facts behind asthma may wish to visit this site, which offers an extensive list of video presentations dealing with the condition. Topics include medication compliance, pulmonary function tests, medication methods such as inhalers and nebulizers, treatment options, and many others. RealPlayer or Windows Media Player is required to view these video clips.
http://www.medicalview.com/Topic.asp?ProgID=21&CatID=25

Virtual Children’s Hospital: Managing Asthma for Patients and Families
This site acts as a supplement to medical information about asthma given to patients and caregivers by their physicians. The site’s instructional materials offer information about asthma for patients, their families, and school personnel, and also address medication use and the environmental aspects of asthma. The section devoted to patients and family answers commonly asked questions, such as “What is asthma?” “Why does someone get asthma?” and “Will it ever go away?” It also focuses on specific medications and their uses, and how to develop an asthma diary. There is also a search feature and links to other resources.
http://www.vh.org/Patients/IHB/Peds/Allergy/Asthma/AsthmaHome.html

ARTHRITIS

ArthritisInsight
This well-organized site was designed by arthritis sufferers for arthritis sufferers, and features a huge variety of excellent resources, beginning with basic medical information on arthritis and related conditions. An extensive community center includes discussion groups, chat rooms, a listing of member websites, and greeting cards. The site also offers a collection of tips and advice for everyday living, managing finances, and more. Highly recommended.
http://arthritisinsight.com

CreakyJoints.com
A wide variety of arthritis-related resources are available on this informative and highly entertaining site, dedicated to the more than 900 million arthritis sufferers worldwide. Access diaries, personal accounts, and opinions from physicians and people with arthritis, or participate in one of the CreakyJoints message boards and share opinions with others. Each feature article focuses on topics such as “Arthritis and Sex,” “Creaky Crackups” (a collection of humorous, arthritis-related stories), and discussion of the state of arthritis treatment today. Finally, the site also provides factual information, breaking news, and important product alerts.
http://www.creakyjoints.com

Patient Education From the American College of Rheumatology
This site is full of useful information for the patient with any one of a list of rheumatic diseases. Visitors will find answers to a variety of questions regarding the roles of different health care professionals (rheumatologists, advanced practice nurses, occupational therapists, etc) that they might encounter while being treated, as well as fact sheets for 22 different types of disorders and diseases related to rheumatism. Also offered are links to assistance programs, research and clinical studies, and a list of helpful publications.
http://www.rheumatology.org/patients/factsheets.html

CancerFacts.com
Make use of this site’s “Cancer Profiler” decision-support tool to better understand your treatment options for specific cancers, learn about potential side effects, access a list of questions you should ask your physician regarding your treatment and disease, and create personalized disease-specific reports using published medical research papers and articles.
http://www.cancerfacts.com/defaultsecure.asp

CancerTrack
Go here for a “comprehensive multimedia guide to what’s going on in the fight against cancer.” Visitors will also find disease-specific news, information, descriptions, links, and books for more than 25 forms of cancer, links to leading cancer centers, clinical trial information, patient support groups, regulatory agencies, information on “alternative” treatments, and the latest research developments. The site’s “Cancer News” section collects news and information from more than 2,000 reliable sources and is updated every 15 minutes.
http://www.cancertrack.com

Screen For Life: National Colorectal Cancer Action Campaign
The Centers for Disease Control’s “Screen For Life” campaign “has developed materials and provides resources to promote increased knowledge of colorectal cancer and to emphasize the importance of screening.” This site links to several fact sheets explaining the facts about screening, archived webcasts of television and radio public service announcements about colorectal cancer, and brochures, posters, and media releases. The Spotlight on Colorectal Cancer Awareness offers links to articles on colorectal cancer, screening guidelines, and more.
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/screenforlife

DIABETES

Diabetes Forecast
Published by the American Diabetes Association since 1948, Diabetes Forecast offers the latest information on diabetes research and treatment, nutrition and exercise tips, advice for beating stress, connecting with the community of people living with diabetes, and other coping strategies. Visitors can browse through the current issue or search the archive of popular articles from back issues dating to 1996. Contact information for the magazine's advertisers has been collected in a special section and visitors can also access the 2001 resource guide that includes a buyer's guide to diabetes supplies.
http://www.diabetes.org/main/community/forecast/default.jsp

Diabetes Monitor
This site offers a large collection of links, articles, information, and other resources on a variety of topics in diabetes. General subjects, such as diagnostic criteria, statistics, and standards of care, are covered. More specific information is also offered on type 1 and type 2 diabetes, along with a wealth of material on the complications that may accompany this disease and the different body systems they may manifest themselves in. Research news, coping advice, management guidelines, and data on various medications are provided. A special section devoted to children with diabetes is also available.
http://www.diabetesmonitor.com

Joslin’s Online Diabetes Library
This excellent resource features a “Beginner’s Guide to Diabetes” that provides an overview of the disease, questions to ask your doctor, and information on blood sugar, insulin, oral medications, and more. This site also offers specific information for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, along with in-depth information on monitoring, exercise and nutrition, complications, and coping.
http://www.joslin.harvard.edu/education/library/index.shtml

DIGESTIVE MEDICINE

American Liver Foundation: Liver Health
The dozens of articles in this collection from the American Liver Foundation address all aspects of liver health. You will find articles on “Hepatitis Information You Need to Know,” “50 Ways to Love Your Liver,” cirrhosis, transplant, clinical trials, issues important to pregnant women, myths and facts about alcohol and the liver, and much more. The articles are organized according to date of publication, and are also linked to other related articles in the collection.
http://www.liverfoundation.org/cgi-bin/dbs/articles.cgi?db=
articles&uid=default&Validated=Yes&view_records=1&sb=1&so=ascend

PatientCommunity.com: IBD, Ulcerative Colitis, and Crohn’s Disease
Patients searching the Internet for news on IBD will welcome the large and well-organized collection of information at this site. Features include articles on the progress of key clinical trials, an interview with the President of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, an update on the IBD Act reintroduced in Congress last year, and more. The site also hosts a series of active discussion boards where visitors can interact with other patients with IBD and medical experts. The site’s “Library” features links to basic facts on IBD, advice on living with the disease that includes tips on diet and nutrition, insurance issues, and financial assistance, and the latest research and treatment news.
http://ibd.patientcommunity.com

Virtual Grocery Store
By way of a visit to the “virtual grocery store,” this site, from the American Diabetes Association, aids diabetics and their families in choosing an appropriate diet. Prior to embarking on the tour, the site offers a review of basic information regarding meal planning, including the diabetic food pyramid and tips on what to eat and what to avoid. The tour begins in the produce section and guides the visitor through the cheese aisle, the dairy section, the bread aisle, the drink aisle, the meat and frozen food section, and ends in the pharmacy. Visitors can click on specific foods to find more information, including nutritional facts and tips on how to choose the right foods. The session ends with check out, of course, where visitors can print out a checklist of items to take with them to the real store.
http://www.diabetes.org/vgs/application/commercewf

FAMILY MEDICINE

Fluwatch.com
This innovative and beautifully animated site—the official online presence of the National Flu Surveillance Network—serves to track influenza in the United States. A huge, color map indicates where the flu might appear by state; click on an individual state to see a risk assessment by zip code. News, analysis of trends, links to information and advice on fending off the flu, a weekly survey, and discussion of other related issues are all a part of the site.
http://www.fluwatch.com/index2.html

Mayo Clinic First Aid Guide
Patients who encounter emergency medical situations affecting themselves or someone close stand a better chance of reacting appropriately and effectively if they are adequately prepared beforehand. Accordingly, the Mayo Clinic offers this online resource containing practical advice for dealing with any number of emergencies, including bites and stings, electrical injury, accidental ingestion of poison, and fever. All information is text-based, and contains links to related topics.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/findinformation/firstaidandselfcare/index.cfm

American Obesity Association
Patients struggling with medical obesity are strongly encouraged to visit this site, an extremely comprehensive storehouse of information related to the condition. Among the many resources: basic facts about childhood and adult obesity, advocacy news, information on obesity-related disability, advice on tax breaks, and information about the American Obesity Association itself, including its various events and activities.
http://www.obesity.org

Safety Tip Sheet
Spring and summer will soon be here, and with it the usual assortment of parental fears regarding insect bites, sunburn, water safety, heatstroke, bicycle accidents, and who knows what else. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers this concise collection of tips designed to make common summer activities safer for children (and, indeed, for their parents, as well).
http://www.aap.org/advocacy/archives/summertips.htm

HEART HEALTH

Chest Pain Flowchart
The American Academy of Family Physicians offers this useful resource for patients suffering from unexplained chest pain. Patients can explore their symptom by answering a series of “yes/no” questions on a flowchart, with each question leading to another until a possible explanation is reached. In cases where dangerous or severe conditions are possible, patients are encouraged to contact a health care professional as soon as possible.
http://familydoctor.org/flowcharts/523.html

HeartInfo.org
This self-described “heart information network” offers a veritable buffet of information and resources on heart disease, its prevention and treatment. Specific features include feature articles, news and commentary, a nutrition guide, and an opportunity to submit a question to be answered by HeartInfo’s physician staff members. Visitors can also learn about heart attack symptoms or study patient guides on a variety of conditions.
http://www.heartinfo.org

OpenHeart
Patients gather to share experiences and information at this site, which features news, an extremely large collection of basic facts about heart health and disease, and the chance to communicate with other patients using discussion forums. Information is derived from many sources and sticks mostly to advice with solid evidential support (even the section labeled “Alternative Treatments” is concerned only with nutrition).
http://www.open-heart.net/Home/Index.cfm

MEN’S HEALTH

Ask NOAH About: Men’s Health
One of the most comprehensive sources of health care information for patients available online, the Men’s Health installment of the invaluable “Ask NOAH About” series of sites presents a detailed overview of the basics of men’s health, and also covers in-depth specific issues, including benign prostatic hyperplasia, hair loss, erectile dysfunction, parenting skills, prostate health, and others. A collection of links to additional resources is also provided.
http://www.noah-health.org/english/wellness/healthyliving/menshealth.html

Basic Prostate Glossary
Before your next visit to the doctor, brush up on medical terms associated with your prostate condition using this glossary. This resource offers concise definitions for everything from acid phosphatase and acute prostatitis to voiding studies and zinc.
http://webmd.lycos.com/content/article/4/1680_50808

InteliHealth: Men’s Health
Featuring consumer health information from Harvard medical school, this resource presents the latest news and information on men’s health. The site is updated regularly with articles from leading newspapers and health care journals and should be a regular destination in your search for reliable online health care information.
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/333/342.html

MENTAL HEALTH/PSYCHIATRY

Depression Resource Center
Healing Well’s Depression Resource Center features recently released books on depression, dealing with the depths of depression, and online depression resources. Find resource centers, community forums, and video webcasts on a variety of conditions, a variety of feature articles, and medical news items. Visit the site to subscribe to the Healing Well e-mail service, which provides exciting special offers, discounts, news, promotions, information, and other valuable offers.
http://www.healingwell.com/depression

HealthyPlace.com Mental Health Communities
This site, the Internet’s largest consumer mental health resource, presents “comprehensive information on psychological disorders and psychiatric medications from both a consumer and expert point of view.” The site hosts active chat rooms and support groups, features online journals/diaries and psychological tests, and offers breaking mental health news, mental health videos, online documentary films, a mental health radio show, and more.
http://www.healthyplace.com

Psychology and Mental Health at PsychCentral
The introduction to this site welcomes you to “your one-stop index for psychology, support, and mental health issues, resources, and people on the Internet.” The site’s authors are careful to point out that “nothing here is meant to replace professional advice or care from a licensed mental health practitioner.” PsychCentral’s Resource Library presents the oldest annotated directory of mental health resources for professionals and consumers on the Internet (each resource has been personally reviewed by site moderator John Grohol, MD). The “Disorders” page offers a comprehensive listing of many mental disorders, and various self-help quizzes are housed in the “Quizzes” section. Live Forums and Chats, moderated by Dr. Grohol, are also offered.
http://psychcentral.com

PAIN

American Academy of Pain Management: Patient Resources
Visit this site for a physician locator service that enables patients to find a pain professional who is part of the American Academy of Pain Management (AAPM), an extensive collection of links to other Internet resources providing information on specific forms of pain, including back pain, cancer pain, pain resulting from arthritis, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and headache, and a link to the Pain Practitioner, the quarterly newsletter of the AAPM featuring informative articles and other information.
http://www.aapainmanage.org/info/Patients.php

American Pain Foundation
The American Pain Foundation provides information, advocacy, and support to people with pain. It seeks to “improve the quality of life for people with pain by raising public awareness, providing practical information, promoting research, and advocating to remove barriers and increase access to effective pain management.” Visit the “Pain Info Center” to read articles on a variety of pain topics; the “Pain Action Guide” provides answers to many commonly asked questions and offers a “Pain Care Bill of Rights” that lays out the standard of pain care all patients are entitled to.
http://www.painfoundation.org

PEDIATRICS

About Kids GI Disorders
This straightforward site offers basic information for parents of children afflicted with gastrointestinal disorders on issues of digestive health, including information on conditions such as conditions such as chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction syndrome, Hirschsprung’s disease, gastroesophageal reflux, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The site offers only brief descriptions of the characteristics of several common gastrointestinal functional and motility disorders that affect children, briefly describes the treatments available, and offers advice on secondary issues associated with these conditions (how to get kids to take their medicine, school-related concerns, etc).
http://www.aboutkidsgi.org

Earaches in Children: A Painful Problem For Many Children
Familydoctor.org sheds some light on the subject of earaches in children by explaining how the ear works, identifying the causes of an earache, explaining why earaches are so common in children, discussing the symptoms of an earache, identifying various treatment methods, and detailing how to prevent ear infections from returning.
http://www.familydoctor.org/healthfacts/055/index.html

Powerful Bones, Powerful Girls
Carla, this site’s online tour guide, will direct visitors to a variety of information that advocates strong bones in young girls. The “Bone Up” and “Staying Strong” sections give visitors facts about the roles nutrition and fitness play in bone health, while a dictionary, quizzes and games offer alternate ways to learn about the topic. Links to related sites are also included.
http://www.cdc.gov/powerfulbones/index.html

WOMEN’S HEALTH

Bladder Control for Women
“ Let's Talk About Bladder Control for Women” is a public health awareness campaign conducted by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. This site archives a series of educational pamphlets on bladder control, including “Menopause and Bladder Control,” “Exercising Your Pelvic Muscles,” and “Your Medicines in Bladder Control” (there are 11 pamphlets in all). Spanish-language versions of some resources are available.
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/bladdercontrol/index.htm

Gynecologic Cancer Resources
Women diagnosed with ovarian or cervical cancer will find links to several resources from Johns Hopkins Kelly Gynecologic Oncology Service, including the Cancer Counseling Center and information on gynecologic oncology social work. Links to national cancer research and support organizations are also available. Diagnosis-specific links (mostly for ovarian cancer resources) round out the site’s content.
http://womenshealth.jhmi.edu/gynonc/cancers

The National Women’s Health Information Center
This extensive and comprehensive website is one of the premier online resources for important women’s health information. Check here for the facts on a wide variety of conditions and issues, including breastfeeding, body image, hormone therapy, sexual assault, and heart disease. Visitors will also find a collection of dictionaries and journals, a screening and immunization schedule, a women’s health calendar, statistics on women’s health, and feature articles.
http://www.4woman.gov

Smart Moms, Healthy Babies
The University of Michigan Health System created this guide for expecting mothers, noting that a “healthy pregnancy means a healthier baby and less stress” for new mothers. Walk through every month of pregnancy, and learn about the health concerns associated with each, then take a quiz to test your knowledge. Visitors can also learn about the prenatal testing they can expect to undergo, find out about optimal prenatal nutrition, read discussion of breastfeeding, and more.
http://www.med.umich.edu/obgyn/smartmoms