Reliable Health Sources on the Internet
Free Health Information on the Web
Government Sites
MedlinePlus is a good place to start looking for health information!
MedlinePlus – Extensive information on over 1,000 Health Topics from the National Library of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health, and other government agencies and health organizations. Includes a thorough section on drugs and supplements as well as interactive tutorials, health check tools, and videos on anatomy and surgical procedures. Información de salud en Español. Health information in 45 other languages.
CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) – Division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, provides information on diseases & conditions, healthy living, traveler’s health, emergency preparedness, and more. The CDC A-Z Index helps you quickly find specific information. Información de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades en Español.
FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) – Information on food, drugs, medical devices, vaccines, blood, biologics, radiation-emitting products, cosmetics, and tobacco products. Includes animal and veterinary section for pet health. Provides sections for consumers and for patients. Información de la Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos de los Estados Unidos en Español.
Healthfinder.gov – The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services provides Health Topics A to Z with information from approximately 1,400 government and nonprofit organizations as well as personal health tools (myhealthfinder), and links to find doctors, health centers, and other services. Temas de salud en Español.
NIH (National Institutes of Health) – NIH funds medical research to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability. Provides Clear Health A-Z with easy-to-understand information for hundreds of diseases and conditions. Also provides information about Talking to Your Doctor and links to health services and community resources. Provides links to 27 NIH institutes and centers, each with a specific research agenda and covering particular diseases or body systems. Those institutes’ websites also offer health information for the public. Información de los Institutos Nacionales de Salud en Español.
PubMed – Resource from the National Center for Biotechnology Information at the National Library of Medicine that provides more than 27 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 publisher web sites, some of which are fee-based. Information from this website is written on a clinical level.
Consumer Product Information Database (CPID) – The CPID currently links over 21,000 consumer brands to health effects and has been designed to educate consumers about chemical ingredients of household products. Includes Safety Data Sheets provided by manufacturers and information about product recalls.
For advice if someone is poisoned, call your local Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.
USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) – In addition to its role in the nation’s agriculture, the USDA provides food and nutrition resources and information including administering school nutrition programs and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). Also provides dietary guidelines for Americans and the MyPlate food guidance system.
More Health Information Sites for Consumers
Cleveland Clinic Health Library – Cleveland Clinic is one of the largest hospitals in the U.S. and is a nonprofit medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. The website offers free access to thousands of health articles, videos, and tools. There are also sections on diseases & conditions; treatments & procedures; drugs, devices & supplements; and diagnostic testing.
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 sections on diseases & conditions, prevention & wellness, a symptom checker, and information specific to infants & toddlers, kids & teens, men, women, pregnancy & childbirth, and seniors. Información de la Academia Americana de Médicos de Familia en Español.
JAMA Patient information (Journal of the American Medical Association) – JAMA provides patient information and “patient pages” on hundreds of health topics from five JAMA publications: JAMA, JAMA Pediatrics, JAMA Oncology, JAMA Dermatology, and JAMA Cardiology. Includes easy-to-understand information about prevention and management of common illnesses.
Testing.com – A health information web resource designed to help patients and caregivers understand the lab tests that are part of medical care. Laboratory and medical professionals develop and review all content, including articles on lab tests, conditions/diseases, screening, and more. Produced by the American Association for Clinical Chemistry. Información sobre las pruebas de laboratorio en Español.
Mayo Clinic Patient Care and Health Information – From a nonprofit leader in medical care, research, and education, this site provides information on diseases & conditions, symptoms, tests & procedures, drugs & supplements, and more. Información sobre salud y atención al paciente del Mayo Clinic en Español.
Merck Manual Consumer Version – One of the most widely-used comprehensive medical resources for professionals and consumers. Provides information on medical topics, symptoms, drugs, news & commentary, and resources, written in everyday language. Resources include quizzes, videos, and self-assessment tools, and the “One Page Manual of Health.” Información en Español. Information in 10 other languages.
Stanford Health Library – Sponsored by Stanford Hospital & Clinics, Stanford Health Library provides scientifically-based medical information, including health conditions, diagnosis, treatment, and safety. Also offers free access to ebooks from EBSCO and Gale. The Stanford Health Video Library features doctors and health practitioners presenting the latest health research on a variety of topics.
