The Internet provides a wealth of information, some of it reliable and some not. We’ve assembled a list of links to websites that provide information on a variety of health topics (arranged alphabetically).  Remember, this is not a substitute for visiting your doctor.

INFORMATION ON SPECIFIC DISEASES & CONDITIONS

ALCOHOLISM

Alcoholic Anonymous provides information for people who may have a drinking problem and for those in contact with people who have (or are suspected of having) a problem.

Here’s a useful quiz on alcohol use – and crossing the line into alcohol abuse. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alcohol/QZ00049

Information on what to do if someone you know has an alcohol-abuse or drug-abuse problem.  http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/govpubs/ph317

If you are among the millions of people in this country who have a parent, grandparent, or other close relative with alcoholism, you may have wondered what your family's history of alcoholism means for you. Are problems with alcohol a part of your future? Is your risk for becoming an alcoholic greater than for people who do not have a family history of alcoholism? If so, what can you do to lower your risk? Find information here.

Information and help for families of alcoholics.

National Association for Children of Alcoholics

Find a pastoral counseling center in your community

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has lots of information and links.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP

http://www.niaid.nih.gov

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000812.htm

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/allergy/AA99999

The National Cancer Institute’s website has a wealth of information about types of cancer; prevention, testing and screening; treatment; and coping with cancer. http://www.cancer.gov or http://www.nci.nih.gov

The American Cancer Society’s website

BREAST CANCER

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/breastcancer.html

http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/wyntk/breast

COLORECTAL (COLON) CANCER

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States, but it doesn't have to be. If everybody age 50 or older had regular screening tests, at least one-third of deaths from this cancer could be avoided. So if you are 50 or older, start screening now. The Centers for Disease Control website is a good start to find out more about how you can get screened for this disease.

http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal

SKIN CANCER

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/skincancer.html

The American Diabetes Association offers information about this disease. Could you have diabetes and not know it? Take their online “Diabetes Risk Test” to figure out if you may be at risk.

http://www.diabetes.org/risk-test.jsp?WTLPromo=HOME_flash_030607risktest

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/handinjuriesanddisorders.html

The National Headache Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about headache causes and treatments.

The National Institutes of Health, a government-run website, is a good place to start to find out about the symptoms and causes of hearing loss, as well as various types of treatment.

The Mayo Clinic has a wealth of information about every disease and disorder, including hearing loss.

The Hearing Loss Association of America is the largest organization in the US for persons who are hard of hearing.

The Center for Disease Control is a reliable source of information on this topic.

Comprehensive, up-to-date information on HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention and policy from the University of California San Francisco

http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu

Information about asthma, emphysema, lung cancer, hay fever and the effects of smoking are available from the American Lung Association. There’s information you may need to help prevent lung disease, as well as useful resources if you’ve already been diagnosed.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides information about – and ways to deal with – anxiety, depression and thoughts of suicide.

SAMHSA also offers links to a wealth of information.

http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/links/default2.asp?ID=Mental+Illnesses%2FDisorders&Topic=Mental+Illnesses%2FDisorders

Based in Louisville, Depressed Anonymous was formed with the idea that mutual aid empowers people and is a therapeutic healing force. The organization helps to form groups or circles of support throughout the United States for persons depressed.

Screening for Mental Health is a provider of mental health screening programs, including both in-person and online programs for depression, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, alcohol problems, and suicide prevention. Visit this link to find out more – or how find a screening event near you.

Families for Depression Awareness offers information for people coping with depression, as well as for their loved families and caregivers.

There’s also a list of symptoms for various types of mood and anxiety disorders. http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org/events/ndsd/facts_types.aspx

It often helps to talk to a professional. Here are some places to find a therapist:

The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and its therapist locator network 

Psychology Today’s therapist locator site

American Federation for Suicide Prevention

Risk factors for suicide

Warning Signs of Suicide

If you need to find a professional to talk to, Psychology Today’s therapist locator site is a good place to start.

Once again, the Mayo Clinic has useful and well-organized material.

A handy way to find out what the nutritional value (or lack thereof) of your favorite foods – plus their calorie counts, sodium levels and cholesterol.

Big Mac: http://www.calorie-count.com/calories/item/21111.html

All foods: http://www.calorie-count.com/calories

Overeaters Anonymous 12-step program

Musicians are more likely than most people to suffer Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSIs). Here’s a list of easy tips to help prevent these injuries, and what to do if you have them. The good news is that most people with RSIs recover completely – if they take care of them at the early stages. http://www.musicianshealth.com/rsi.htm

Here are some overviews of repetitive stress injuries as they relate to musicians.
http://ergonomics.about.com/od/music/a/ergomusicians.htm

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb02/articles/netnotes0202.asp

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/3100/3100.asp?index=10878

If you experience pain or stiffness or tingling in your shoulder or back, it might be due to a temporary strain, but it might be a symptom of an underlying ailment, so it’s important to visit a doctor or clinic. Here’s an overview of the sort of injuries you might have.

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/shoulder_injuries.htm

This on online tutorial (from Medline Plus, a service of the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health), has information about the truth about smoking, including such scary facts as “Cigarette smoke contains thousands of chemical agents, at least 60 of which cause cancer.”

If that doesn’t stop you in your tracks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a report on smoking’s effect on the organs of the smoker’s body. The short answer: Smoking damages nearly every organ in the human body. If you can stand to read more, visit this website.  l

The goals of Tobacco Free Living, a Louisiana-based organization, include reducing exposure to secondhand smoke, preventing tobacco use initiation among youth, promoting cessation among youth and adults, and eliminating tobacco-related disparities. It’s not just for Louisianans.

If there are topics you are interested in, or specific diseases or conditions you need to research, here are some websites that provide reliable information on many topics.

National Institutes of Health

The Mayo Clinic’s Tools for Healthier Lives website

There’s also a handy symptom checker, where you can check
off your symptoms and it will provide the most likely causes.
While this is not a substitute for going to the doctor, it can
give you an idea of some possible causes of your symptoms.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Health information for the whole family is available from the American Academy of Family Physicians

Created by The Nemours Foundation's Center for Children's Health Media, KidsHealth provides accurate, up-to-date and jargon-free health information

Medem's Medical Library represents the full range of patient education information from several medical societies and other trusted sources. Selected one of the top 10 most useful websites by the Medical Library Association, Medical Library provides patients with reliable health care information from introductory to advanced texts.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health offers health information at Medline Plus.

NOAH (the New York Online Access to Health) has information on a variety of health topics.

American Medical Association

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Consumer Gateway

Department of Health and Human Services

Food and Drug Administration

National Institutes of Health

National Library of Medicine

The Medical Library Association (MLA) has recognized the need to help consumers evaluate health information on the Web. To this end, MLA posts and regularly updates a list of the top ten most useful Websites for consumer health information and offers guidelines for finding and evaluating information.

MusiCares provides assistance for basic living expenses including doctor, dentist and hospital bills; addiction recovery treatment and sober living costs through our MAP Fund; psychotherapy, treatment for AIDS or Hepatitis C and other critical illnesses.

Society of Singers is a non-profit foundation offering food, medical and financial help to professional singers. 

Do you have a wellness issue-related article or suggestions for content or website link you would like to submit?  Email Wellness Committee chair David Moultrup at dmoultrup@verizon.net