BEST HEALTH WEBSITES

Your doctor tells you have so-and-so and such-and-such, throws a lot of terms at you, and as you leave the office you say to yourself, "What did he/she say?" We've all gone been there. Or you have a symptom and before you call your doctor, you want to check it out. What do you do? Here are some sites to help you out.

health.com
Health.com has up-to-the-minute news and an interactive “Symptom Checker” that is as addictive as it is helpful.

mayoclinic.com
The all-inclusive, vibrant home page includes a “Find It Fast” box that allows you to quickly look up what’s ailing you and then offers an alternative therapy for each possible diagnosis.

healthfinder.gov
Sponsored by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, this site has drug information and newsletters (on topics such as diet and fitness) that can be lifesavers.

menopause.org
Visit the Consumers section of the website of the North American Menopause Society for updated information on hormone therapy, a menopause glossary, a guide to stress relief, and a monthly newsletter called, yes, Menopause Flashes.

acog.org
This all-inclusive women’s-health-care site from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists thoroughly covers both niche and broad topics. Click on “ACOG Patient Page” for dietary tips, authoritative pamphlets on mammograms and other tests, and help finding a good ob-gyn near you.

cancer.org
Cancer patients and their loved ones can feel overwhelmed by information, statistics, and options. The American Cancer Society site is helpful in winnowing the information into manageable pieces, and it offers a page called “Treatment Decisions Tools” to refine options.

merck.com/mmhe
The online Merck Manuals are efficiently alphabetized and all-inclusive, and they tell you the last time the entries were updated. The “Drugs” tab has a wealth of key information about medications, including medicinal herbs and supplements.

medlineplus.gov
Although the design of the Medline Plus site feels a bit dry, find your way to the Interactive Health Tutorials, which provide graphic guides to any condition, useful stats, and helpful Q. & A.’s.

realself.com
This site has lots of nitty-gritty info (much of it from patients’ personal experiences) on plastic-surgery treatments. There are also doctor-answered Q. & A.’s about rhinoplasty, Restylane, and breast implants.

americanheart.org
Make heart-healthy food choices with “My Grocery List,” a special feature that allows you to select from a list of items, enter your quantity, save it to your PDA, or print it out for an easier shopping trip.

Disclaimer: We're not telling you to use these sites in lieu of a doctor visit or call. These are just places to get more info.