Consumer Information Resources on the WWW

List compiled by Arlene Cohen, UOG RFK Librarian.

 

Comprehensive Health Information Sites 

 

Medline Plus, National Library of Medicine, NIH

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/medlineplus.html

A good ‘one-stop’ site for all health resources. This site includes health topics; interactive tutorials on conditions, procedures, surgeries and prevention with animated graphics; supplements, and a medical encyclopedia.

 

Mayo Clinic

http://www.mayoclinic.com/

A health tools section has videos and slide shows which are great for people who prefer other means of learning besides print. The quizzes can be used in secondary education health and anatomy classes.

 

Healthfinder, sponsored by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health promotion

http://www.healthfinder.gov/

This is a very organized database with links to carefully selected health information from over 1,500 health related agencies.  Take a look at the online checkups section for health quizzes, health information, articles and links to related organizations.

 

Health Information Sites for Multiple Conditions

 

1 on 1.com. Take charge of your health 1 step at a time, GlaxoSmithKline

http://www.1on1health.com/web/info/home/english/home/Home

The site is geared toward people who want to have fun while learning. This is a look, listen and learn interactive website on 29 health topics. They have medical savings programs for their medicines.

 

National Heart, Blood and Lung institute, DHHS, NIH

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/index.htm#chol

Topics: heart and vascular diseases, lung diseases, blood diseases, sleep disorders, and obesity. Site includes health assessment tools, recipes, downloadable pamphlets, education campaigns and education tutorials.

 

National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases

http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/

Topics: diabetes, digestive diseases, kidney and urologic diseases, endocrine and metabolic diseases and hematologic diseases. Easy to read publications can be downloaded or ordered.

 

Local Community Resources

 

Guam GetCare

www.guamgetcare.org

The site is geared toward seniors and individuals with disabilities along with their caregivers. This site is a search database to find local services.

 

Peace office on Guam, Substance Abuse, Mental Health, Prevention programs for youth

http://www.peaceguam.org/

The site is a great local resource for drug and suicide prevention. There are links to sites that can be used for teaching purposes and hotline resources for those looking for support.

 

Resources on Specific Topics

 

Awareness, Prevention

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Get more involved with your healthcare

 http://www.ahrq.gov/

Check out the Consumers and Patients section for information on improving your quality of care, prevention and wellness and more. Download the checklists for men and women before your next family annual physical.

 

Cancer

American Cancer Society

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp

Learn more about certain types of cancers, get help with cancer treatment decisions, find local support groups. The site is simple, without references to other sites.

 

National Cancer Institute

http://www.cancer.gov/

Download or order publications, look up cancer statistics, and learn about clinical trials. The State Cancer Profiles section shows trends in incidences and mortality.

 

Diabetes

Medline Plus, on Diabetes

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/diabetes.html

This MedlinePlus site is a great introduction to how useful MedlinePlus is for this condition and many others. 

 

American Diabetes Association

http://www.diabetes.org/home.jsp

The site has something for everyone. There is a Diabetes Risk Test that everyone should take.  Step out for Diabetes, is a program you might want to join. Books and resources such pedometers can be ordered.

 

Fitness

Move 4 Life, by the New York State Physical Activity Coalition

http://www.nysphysicalactivity.org/mflp/

Want support to increase physical activity? Participants can set their own personal goals, ranging from moderate activities to more intense ones, then record their daily activities and begin tracking progress.

 

“For Kids” Sites

California Project Lean, administered by the Public health institute.

http://www.caprojectlean.org/

This is a site for teens and includes sections such as Get Physical, Eat to Win, Teens act out, and “Why should I care?”.

 

Body and Mind, from CDC, for youth 9-13

http://www.bam.gov/ Body and Mind

It focuses on stress, diseases, anatomy, safety, nutrition and physical activity and has games, puzzles and other interactive features.  There is also a teacher’s corner, which has activities linked to the National education standards for science and health.

 

Health Tools

Cleveland Clinic

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/interactive/

Site includes quizzes, risk assessments, diabetes modules, and calculators.  Some of the diabetes modules have audio instructions on stress management and mental imagery.

 

Heart Assn., Stroke Assn. 

American Heart Association

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200000

Topics: heart diseases and conditions, children’s health, CPR, healthy lifestyle, advocacy, fundraising, publications and professional resources. The site has a link to the American Stroke Association ( a division of AHA) to learn about strokes, life after stroke and what ASA is doing to prevent strokes.

 

Lungs

American Lung Association

http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=33567

The site is geared toward adults interested in making treatment decisions with hayfever, asthma, lung cancer and COPD. There is a lung helpline and web-based smoking support, “Freedom from Smoking”.

 

Men’s Health

WebMD

http://men.webmd.com/features/mens-top-5-health-concerns

This site is geared toward men.  The videos are fun to watch, and take a look at the top 12 men’s health topics, health guides and health center shortcuts.

 

Mental health

Helpguide.org

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_relief_meditation_yoga_relaxation.htm

The site can help you and your family become more health literate and has information and support with stress relief through yoga, meditation and relaxation.  There are resources on mental health, healthy lifestyles, seniors and aging.

 

iVillage Total Health, emotional health

http://emotional.health.ivillage.com/depressionbipolar/index..cfm?ivNPA=1&sky=ggl|hco|tmental|em|c

Topics: depression, suicide, anxiety, eating disorders, alcoholism, cutting, and more. Sections include prevention and awareness; conditions and disorders; drugs and medication; treatment and tests. The quizzes can be good teaching tools

 

National Institute of Mental Health, part of NIH

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/nimhhome/index.cfm

The site is geared toward adults interested in mental health information topics, clinical trials, and research. Benefits: Text size can be made larger, publications can be downloaded, and people can join the list-serve.

 

Nutrition

Produce for better health Foundation

http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/

This site is designed for moms with tips on meal planning, getting kids involved with planning, shopping, measuring and cooking.

 

Nutrition Data

http://www.nutritiondata.com/index.html

Want to learn the nutritional information on any food or recipe? When food is entered, various graphs are made.  The nutrient facts are written out as a food label and there in an ND opinion on that food for weight loss, optimum health, and weight gain. A unit converter is on the home page.

 

Senior’s Health

NIH Senior Health

http://nihseniorhealth.gov/listoftopics.html

This is a site for older adults and caregivers on aging related health information. A talking section can read the text aloud and the text can also be made larger. There are also many online closed captioned videos.

 

Weight Loss and More

Weight-control Information Network

www.niddk.nih.gov/health/nutrit/nutrit.htm

The site is geared toward adults and healthcare professionals looking for resources, publications and newsletters, on nutrition, physical activity, and weight control. Fun and easy to read pamphlets are quickly displayed. 

 

Women’s Health

National Women’s Health Information Center

http://www.womenshealth.gov/

This site is geared toward women and those interested in increasing awareness of issues with women’s and girl’s health.  There are activities to join such as the Woman’s Challenge with weekly health tips and pedometers for those who join.

 

Youth Health

The Center for Health and Healthcare in Schools

http://www.healthinschools.org

The site is geared toward professionals interested in improving health programs and health services for school aged kids. They have available surveys and survey results, and online surveys can be created as well.

 

Eat Smart. Play Hard. Healthy Lifestyle. By the USDA

http://www.fns.usda.gov/eatsmartplayhardhealthylifestyle/ 

The site is geared toward parents and caregivers ready to take action with ready to use tools for eating healthier and becoming more active.  The site is simple, easy to use, and has tools such as a Eat Smart, Play Tracking card for keeping score.