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