Mommies Magazine

The Medline Website For All Medical Information

Posted on 28. Oct, 2008 by Mom Mag in Health

photo credit: cliff1066

Health experts agree that Medline, a government health website, is a worthwhile resource for both doctors and patients. This easy-to-navigate site offers a comprehensive compilation of sites, articles and resources that covers more than 750 medical conditions. Some web browsers are just curious, wondering if they have a particular ailment, while others are seeking solutions and new research regarding an existing condition. In addition to the MayoClinic and WebMD, the MedlinePlus site is a valuable resource.

Medline offers many unique functions to enhance your understanding and enrich your life. For instance, if you are about to undergo a colonoscopy or hip replacement surgery, a biopsy, a laparoscopy, LASIK eye surgery or another procedure, then you can watch an interactive tutorial that will show you what will be done and alleviate some of the mystery and anxiety. Another resource you may find very useful is the “Health Check Tools” page, which gives you educational quizzes about breast cancer, arthritis or alcoholism, a day by day pregnancy calender as well as an “alcohol calorie intake counter,” a mental health screening quiz, a cancer risk questionnaire, a diabetic “rate your plate” assessment, a target heart rate calculator, discount vitamin supplements info, an interactive menu planner and a risk assessment tool for coronary heart disease. Medline is set up to accommodate all different types of people. Speak Spanish? No problem, as there is a version en Espanol, as well as forty other languages! Is your eye sight failing? Don’t worry, there is a version, located on the lower right-hand corner of the “Health Topics” page, which offers an easier to view page.

Did you hear about a drug on television, from a friend, in the news or from your doctor that you’d like to know more about? Medline has a comprehensive “Drug Information” section. For example, if you were to look up Lunesta, a chronic fatigue drug used to treat sleep disorders, then you can have the following questions answered: Why is this drug prescribed? How should this medication be used? What are other uses for this medication? What special precautions should I follow? What special dietary instructions should I follow? What should I do if I forget a dose? What side effects can this medication cause? What storage conditions are needed for this medication? What should I do in case of an overdose? What other information should I know? What are the brand names for this drug? The answers are presented all on one page with quick, informative, bulleted responses for a quick scan.

Visit Medline at www.Nlm.Nih.gov for all the medical information you need. You may be feeling depressed or anxious when you are first diagnosed with a disease or disorder, but seeking information can give you that sense of control over your life again. You can find assisted living devices, medications and treatments to make life more manageable. You can get tips on healthy living to be sure you’re doing all you can in terms of damage control. You can find local organizations and programs that can help you cope as well. If you’d rather not spend the rest of your life just trying to find trustworthy health information, then just visit Medline to tap into a wealth of knowledge.