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Managing Your Health
Online
"Be careful
about what you read and what you believe. Know the source of the
information," warns Jay Siwek in his "One Last Piece of
Advice" column in the Health section of The Washington Post
on April 25, 2000. Siwek recommends great scrutiny when examining
all online sites, paying particular attention to the reputation
of the site and how current the material is.
Of the more
than 70,000 health-related sites available to consumers, Siwek lists
several good starting points, including these six government sites:
National
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Replete with
health information and scientific resources, this site also includes
strategies for lowering blood pressure, achieving a healthy weight,
and managing cholesterol levels.
National
Library of Medicine: Medical Literature Search site
Find information
on hundreds of diseases, conditions, and wellness issues.
The
U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
The lead Federal
agency on quality research, AHRQ is part of the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services, and is charged with supporting research
designed to improve the quality of health care, reduce its cost,
and broaden access to essential services.
U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services’s online guide
Search healthfinder
, a gateway consumer health and human services information website
from the United States government to find info fast!
The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The
site to learn about diseases and proper prevention techniques.
The
Food and Drug Administration Consumer Drug Information
This consumer
drug information page includes basic information about medications
recently approved by the FDA.
Reviewed
by Charles Rombeau, Intern, National Partnership for Reinventing
Government. You may reach him at charles.lee.rombeau@npr.gov.
June 2000
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