The article discusses the use of health science related reference sites on the internet and the most commonly searched health concerns

Desimio, Terese

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Wright State University CORE Scholar University Libraries' Staff Publications University Libraries 12-1-2009 Reference on the Web: Common Health Concerns Terese Desimio Wright State University – Main Campus, terese.desimio@wright.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/ul_pub  Part of the Library and Information Science Commons Repository Citation Desimio, T. (2009). Reference on the Web: Common Health Concerns. Booklist, 106 (7), 66. https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/ul_pub/153 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the University Libraries at CORE Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in University Libraries' Staff Publications by an authorized administrator of CORE Scholar. For more information, please contact library-corescholar@wright.edu. The excellent general health information Web sites featured in Reference Books Bulletin in the December 1, 2006, issue are still excellent to­day. Sometimes patrons need more details about specific conditions. The following resources of­fer free high-quality information about specific conditions that are currently among the most frequently searched topics on the National Library of Medicine's (NLM) MedlinePlus Web site (as of October 2009). Besides providing great in­formation for consumers, many of these Web sites also offer information for professionals. ASTHMA AND COPD The American Academy ofAllergy Asthma & Immunology (www.aaaaLorg) has a Health Impact Award-winning Web site with a wealth of information in the Patients & Consumer tab alone. Comprehensive coverage of asthma includes man~ agement, asthma in adults, asthma in children, clinical trials, research, publications, and awareness events. The American Lung Association (www.lungusa.org) has been "working to save lives, improve lung health and prevent lung disease" for more than 100 years, and the experience shows. Cool tools: Facebook fan page, question of the week, and in­teractive North American pollen-level and air-quality maps. AUTISM Keeping up with technology, the attractive Web site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (www.cdc .gov/ncbddd/autism) offers e-mail and SMS (cell-phone text message) alerts, RSS feeds, and podcasts. Features include Screening & Diagnosis, Data & Statistics, Free Materials, and Links to Other Websites. The Autism Society (www.autism-society.org) "exists to im­prove the lives of all affected by autism" and has been a trusted resource for almost 50 years. Highlights on the Web site in­clude Autism Source, a tool to find local services and support, and a Free Downloads section for 4- to 12-page PDF docu­ments covering special concerns for those living with autism. AUTOIMMUNE DISOROERS The all-business clearinghouse of information at www.niams .nih.gov is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). An encyclopedic A-Z Health Information Index links to entries about specific autoimmune conditions. Like most NIH Web sites, each entry acts as a portal to more informa­tion, including links to clinical-trial information and to a topical PubMed search for articles. BREAST CANCER Sixty years of expertise is evident in the American Cancer So­ciety's highly interactive Web site (www.cancer.org). The main sections under Breast Cancer include All About Breast Cancer for general to detailed information, a Treatment Decision Tool, and also recommended books, free brochures, and links to other high-quality Web sites. DEPRESSION Depression is just one of the Mental Health Topics detailed on the Web site of the National Institute of Mental Health (www.nimh.nih.gov). It covers symptoms, treatment, and local resources for people of all ages. This resource also includes vid­eos, free downloads, and clinical-trial information. The mission of the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org), "to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes," shows in the comprehensive resources its Web site provides. Highlights include Planet D, a Web site for kids and young adults; MyFoodAdvisor, an online calorie- and carbohydrate-counting tool; a meal-planning resource; a recipe finder; and the upbeat Lifestyle & Prevention section. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kid­ney Diseases (www2.niddk.nih.gov) offers a Web site that is so extensive it has its own tour video. Consumer resources are front and center and include links to NIH information clearinghouses for specific kidney-related conditions and Spanish-language resources. HYPERTENSION The American Heart Association's Web site (www .americanheart.org) covers the topics ofhigh blood pressure and other heart conditions with all kinds of multimedia and cool tools. Highlights include Why Blood Pressure Matters, Diagnos­ing and Monitoring, and Preventing and Treating subpages. NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS Extensive information in multiple languages in sections about the disease in general, living with Alzheimer's, and finding local support can be found on the Alzheimer's Asso­ciation Web site (www.alz .org). The Education Cen­ter includes multimedia and more than 200 free downloadable Alzheimer's Association-approved puzzles. On the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke site (www.ninds.nih.gov), the encyclopedic Disorders A-Z section lists hundreds of conditions. This Web site is fre­quently updated and includes clinical-trial information. OBESITY The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Overweight and Obesity information site (www.cdc.gov/obesity) includes Defining Overweigh~ and Obesity, Causes and Consequences, Data and Statistics, State-Based Programs, and Resources. This Web site also offers interactive tools and videos and podcasts. SHINGLES AND HERPES SIMPLEX Shingles information from the NLM's MedlinePlus can be found at www.nlm.nih.gov/medlinepluslshingles.html.No other single Web site offers the variety of resources about herpes zoster virus or shingles. Coverage includes videos, photographs, interactive tutorials, and lists of other valuable information sources. Herpes simplex is another topic covered more compre­hensively by a MedlinePlus subpage (www.nlm.nih.gov/ medlineplus/herpessimplex.html) than by any other single Web site. There are videos, photographs, interactive tutorials, and lists of other valuable information sources. Terese DiSimio is a Health Sciences Librarian at Wright State Uni­versity, Dayton, OH. 66 Booklist December 1, 2009 

Reference on the Web: Common Health Concerns

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Reference on the Web: Common Health Concerns

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