Reliable Health Sources on the Internet
Free Health Information on the Web
Government Sites
MedlinePlus - Information on over 800 Health Topics from the National Library of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health, and other government agencies and health organizations. Includes an extensive section on Drugs and Supplements. Site also includes interactive tutorials, anatomy videos, and videos on various surgical procedures in the Videos & Cool Tools section. Click here for health information in other languages.
CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - Division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, list of diseases and Health Topics from A to Z. It helps you quickly find and retrieve specific information. The A-Z index is structured so that synonyms, acronyms, and cross-referencing provide multiple ways for you to access the topics and features.
FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) - Information on food and drug safety and recalls, nutrition, and dietary supplements. Information on vaccines, blood, biologics, cosmetics, and tobacco products. Includes veterinary section for pet health.
healthfinder.gov (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services) - Health news, personal health tools (myhealthfinder) that are age/gender specific, Health A to Z on over 1,600 health topics, services, and information such as locate a doctor, health center, organization, or public library, and information in Spanish/Español.
NIH (National Institutes of Health) - Information about NIH-funded medical research. Links to 27 NIH institutes and centers. Health information for hundreds of diseases and conditions in the Health Topics A-Z section.
PubMed - Service of the National Library of Medicine that provides more than 20 million citations for biomedical literature from Medline, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and other publisher web sites, some of which are fee-based. Information on this website is written on a clinical level.
TOXNET (Toxicology Data Network) - A division of the National Library of Medicine, includes information on toxicology, hazardous chemicals, household chemicals, environmental health, and toxic releases.
For advice if someone is poisoned, call your local Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.
USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) - Government dietary guidelines for Americans and MyPlate food guidance system. Food safety recall information.
More Health Information Sites for Consumers
Cleveland Clinic Health Information Center - Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical hospital that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. This site offers free access to nearly 5,000 health articles, videos, and health management tools. Click here to access Diseases and Conditions A to Z, Treatments and Procedures A to Z, or the interactive Online Learning Center.
DukeHealth.org - On-line health library that is part of the Duke University School of Medicine, located in Durham, North Carolina. It includes a topic center for specific conditions, care guides, articles, video, as well as information on Children's Health.
FamilyDoctor.org - Health information for the whole family from the American Academy of Family Physicians. All information on the site has been written and reviewed by physicians and patient education professionals at the AAFP. Includes an easy-access Conditions A to Z as well as information specific to women, men, parents & kids, and seniors. Condiciones de la A a la Z en Español.
JAMA Patient Education Page (Journal of the American Medical Association) - One-page overviews of 600 health topics. In the search box, type in condition or disease and select “in” JAMA patient page.
Lab Tests Online - A public resource on clinical lab testing from the laboratory professionals who do the testing. Designed to help the patient or family caregiver to better understand the many clinical lab tests that are part of routine care as well as for diagnosis and treatment of a broad range of conditions and diseases.
Mayo Clinic - The largest integrated, not-for-profit group practice in the world. This site provides excellent information on Diseases and Treatments A-Z, Symptoms A-Z, Drugs and Supplements A-Z, Tests and Procedures A-Z, First Aid, and how to have a Healthy Lifestyle.
Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, Home Edition for Patients and Caregivers - Explains disorders, who is likely to get them, their symptoms, how they are diagnosed, how they might be prevented, and how they can be treated. Also provides information about prognosis.
Mercksource.com - Multi-faceted health resource owned and operated by Merck and Co. Information includes Condition Guides, an Over-the-counter Drug Guide, and a complete Health Resource Library. A Virtual Body Tour and 3D Medical Animations are also available.
Stanford Health Library - The Stanford Health Video Library programs feature prominent doctors and health practitioners presenting the latest health research. Formats available include Podcasts and DVDs. Stanford University also maintains a large collection of e-books that are available for use upon completion of a registration form.
Clinical Trials
A clinical trial is a research study in human volunteers to answer specific health questions. Interventional trials determine whether experimental treatments or new ways of using known therapies are safe and effective under controlled environments. Observational trials address health issues in large groups of people or populations in natural settings. Trials are sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, other federal agencies, and private industry for a wide range of diseases and conditions.
Alzheimer's Association - Alzheimer's Association TrialMatch™ is a free service that makes it easy for people with Alzheimer's, caregivers, families, and physicians to locate clinical trials based on personal criteria (diagnosis, stage of disease) and location.
American Diabetes Association - Information to help you understand clinical trials, including an overview, an explanation of the phases of clinical trials, the history and benefits, and safety. Site includes an audio option to listen to the text. Does not link directly to current trials.
ClinicalTrials.gov - A registry of federally- and privately-supported clinical trials conducted in the United States and around the world. This site contains information about a trial's purpose, who may participate, locations, and phone numbers for more details. This information should be used in conjunction with advice from health care professionals.
National Cancer Institute - Search for clinical trials accepting patients, browse results of recent clinical trials, and find information about noteworthy clinical trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. Answers to common questions about clinical trials in the Educational Materials About Clinical Trials section.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute - Information on research studies on diseases of the heart and blood vessels, lungs, blood cells and bone marrow, and cholesterol. Includes information to help you decide whether to volunteer to participate in a trial.
Disclaimer: The Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library provides public access to a wide range of health and medical information and is not a substitute for medical advice. You are advised to consult with your physician or other health care professional concerning specific questions or to obtain medical advice.
The links found on this website do not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, its affiliates, or individuals. We are not responsible for and do not sanction the information contained in websites linked from this site.
