Helpful Internet Links
Web Talk - First published in MEDIA, VOL. XXXIV, No. 5, May 1999

More Helpful Internet Link about Health and Medical Web Sites
Organizations, pharmaceuticals , general and alternative sites.

As I said last month, the quantity of medical and health-related information on the Internet is enormous. Though we could have a whole series on medical Web sites only, I'll have to control myself (for now) and end it with this month's health links.

We will cover:

http://www.cdc.gov/
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers health information; links on publications, software and products; data and statistics; prevention guidelines; tips on travelers' health.

http://www.ama-assn.org/
The American Medical Association's Web site contains health and fitness information, educational and legislative items, and abstracts and full-text articles from several medical publications. In the Java default version, passing the cursor over a link shows all the subjects covered at that link without going to it. A non-Java version is available.

http://www.mayohealth.org/
The Mayo Clinic's Web site offers "Reliable Information for a Healthier Life" as their banner proclaims at the top of the page. The site contains information specific to disease, gender and age as well as covering nutrition, alternative medicine and children's health. It features a library and a glossary (with audio pronunciation).

American Heart Association http://www.amhrt.org/
Arthritis Foundation http://www.arthritis.org/
American Cancer Society http://www.cancer.org/
National Kidney Foundation http://www.kidney.org/

Each of these Web sites offer information on prevention, treatment and/or recovery; related news and resources; pointers to products and more information. All such organizations are likely to have a Web site; just enter its name in a search engine's query box and it should come up.

Here a three pharmacological sites for drug information and Internet purchasing. These are not government-sponsored or non-profit sites.
http://www.rxlist.com/
"The Internet Drug Index" offers information as a service to the Internet community, but does not sell products.
http://www.thepillbox.com/
This site offers some popular prescription drugs, tips, a section about wellness and links. You can obtain a prescription for their offerings with an "Online Consultation with a licensed physician" at http://www.MedicalCenter.net/.
http://www.drugstore.com/
It has just been purchased by amazon.com. This site is the best of that kind I've seen so far, more like a regular drugstore. In addition to prescription drugs, it also offers over-the-counter drugs, health and beauty products, vitamins, plus information on drugs, health and wellness. You can get a price quote on anything they offer; even choose your brand and color lipstick from color swatches, and buy online with their secure server.

In a recent issue of Yahoo! Internet Life, the Health section of the Web Site Reviews gave kudos to these:

http://www.mayohealth.org/Best Overall Health Site
A panel of doctors gave this site their highest rating. See the paragraph above on this Web site.

http://www.medscape.com/Best Medical Search Engine
Search for information beyond the basics, for specific conditions and the latest medical research.
http://www.rxlist.com/Best Drug Index
Data on pharmaceutical drugs, including warnings, interactions, dosages, and overdose treatments.
http://www.cdc.gov/Best Disease-Information Site
Whether it's about sexually transmitted disease or recommended vaccinations for travel, this site will tell it straight, with statistics and data to back it up. See the paragraph above on this Web site.

I have not explored the following sites; some of them may have valuable information.
http://www.health-net.com/
Check out the Home Page with some of everything, even Ergonomic Living and Health for the Disabled.
http://www.thehealthconnection.com/
It features a bookstore and newsstand, plus information on new drugs and a product directory.
http://www.healthanswers.com/
This site has varied information (including aging and alternative medicine), health news and discussions.
http://www.medicinenet.com/
MedicineNet has medical information, a medical dictionary and links to Poison Control Centers.
http://www.healthtouch.com/
This site features general information on health, health products and prescription drugs.
http://www.wellweb.com/
It's called Wellness Web, The Patient's Network and covers both conventional and alternative medicine.
http://www.patientwatch.com/
It purports to fill the communication gap that managed health care has created.
http://www.housecall.com/
The main slant of that site is in home health services including hospice care.
http://www.wellmedia.com/
They offer "tools for a vibrant mind, body and spirit" with links to "Things Worth Buying."
http://www.hlthmall.com/
The Health Mall has links to health food stores and has health-related links.
http://www.great-health.com/
This site invites you to take the "Great Health Tour" and offers products and services.
http://www.holistic.com/
The Holistic Internet Community's Web site may be done with remodeling by now.

Some of you may be thankful I left some out and did not go digging for more. For those who are still not satisfied, the Home Page of your service providers and of most of your search engines should have a link to health information; or, you can just visit Yahoo! at http://www.yahoo.com/ and click on the Health section. That will get you a series of categories, each of which contains a huge amount of links. A word of caution: I don't think it would be healthy to follow every single link, especially that you may die of old age before you're done. I hope that you will use the above in good health. Next time, we're definitely changing the subject.

NOTE: Use the "BACK" function of your browser to return to your point of origin.
If you spot a dead link, alert the author by e-mail marked as such in the Subject.