Monday, October 14, 2002
– Page H3
People are taking a more pro-active approach to health these
days. Their interest on the subject is burgeoning; they want to be
armed with the latest knowledge on drugs, diseases and research. In
part, it can be argued that the Internet has played a role this
interest. With literally thousands of health-related websites
available on the Internet, people can access information without
leaving the privacy of their homes.
But there is a downside to all this information: sorting through
the masses can be difficult. Here's a quick guide to some of the
best health-related websites on the Internet today.
General health
WebMD Canada
http://www.webmd.ca
Without a doubt, WebMd's consumer site has become one of the most
popular health websites on the Internet. This site is very
comprehensive and features ease-of-use. General medical information
is broken down into sub-categories like Disease & Conditions, Drugs
& Herbs, Family Genetics, Check Symptoms, Clinical Trials. There is
even an A-Z Health Guide. As equally comprehensive is WebMD's Health
and Wellness section. Visitors can gain information on subjects like
food and nutrition, parenting and pregnancy. There are also specific
areas devoted to women and men's health and aging. Another
innovative feature is WebMd's MyHealthRecord, an online confidential
vault where visitors can store and manage their own health
information, including medications, allergies and doctors.
Sympatico Health
http://www.sympatico.ca
Sympatico's Health section features a number of Health Channels such
as cancer, children's health, diabetes and mental health. Each
channel has simple-to-use sub-sections related to a disease or
health interest. In addition, visitors have access to specific
subject feature reports and the latest in health news. There is also
a thorough drug information section, where visitors can learn more
about the medication they have been prescribed. Another great
feature of this site is the community support section. Visitors
click on a health topic, select their province and have instant
access to national and local support organizations.
Canadian Health Network
(Health Canada)
www.canadian-health-
network.ca
The Canadian Health Network's site is divided into many categories
and sub-categories. There are links to specific groups such as,
aboriginal peoples, children, ethnic groups, men, women, youth,
seniors and people with disabilities. Within these groups, visitors
can find specific health-related information unique to their
ethnicity, age or sex. There are also general health topics that
range from HIV/Aids, heart health, alternative and complementary
medicine to cancer, active living, sexuality and mental health.
Special reports on various themes and topics, like suicide
prevention and relationships, are highlighted each month.
Specific health concerns
Each of these sites is thorough in providing information and
resources specific to their particular organization. They are a
great starting point for those wanting to learn more about a
specific disease or illness, the latest in research, and community
support.
The Canadian Mental Health Association
http://www.cmha.ca
Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada
http://www.ccfc.ca
Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network
http://www.foodallergy.org
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
http://www.heartandstroke.ca
Kidney Foundation of Canada
http://www.kidney.ca
Lupus Canada
http://www.lupuscanada.org
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
http://www.camh.net
Alternative Medicine
www.
Alzheimer Society of Canada
http://www.alzheimer.ca
Arthritis Society of Canada
http://www.arthritis.ca
Asthma Society of Canada
http://www.asthma.ca
Canadian Breast Cancer Network
http://www.cbcn.ca
Canadian Aids Society
http://www.cdnaids.ca
Canadian Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.ca
Canadian Diabetes Association
http://www.diabetes.ca
Canadian Liver Foundation
http://www.liver.ca
Multiple Sclerosis Society
http://www.mssociety.ca
Notable U.S. health sites
While they are U.S.-based, these websites provide
comprehensive insight into a wide-range of health related subjects.
Health Finder
http://www.healthfinder.gov
Health Web
http://www.healthweb.org
InteliHealth
http://www.intelihealth.com
Mayo Clinic
http://www.mayoclinic.com
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