If you're worried about disease, weight loss, or other health conditions, these websites will help you find what you need to know.
You probably don’t think much about your health until something goes wrong. Then, you’d do just about anything to get it back.
Sadly, you or someone you know has probably dealt with a serious medical condition at one point or another. There’s nothing you can do to guarantee you’ll see your 100th birthday (though these tips may help), but living a healthy lifestyle and identifying health problems as soon as they crop up can help you stand a better chance at meeting your great-grandchildren. These sites can help you do it.
Cleveland Clinic. This world-famous medical facility doesn’t just offer services to its on-site patients—it provides information, support, and valuable resources to anyone who visits its website. The site provides almost 5,000 articles, videos, podcasts, and other tools for people concerned about their health, giving recommendations on when to see a doctor.
Healthy Women. Women have their own unique sets of health concerns, including pregnancy, menopause, and the risks of specific cancer types. This site provides a wealth of free articles and resources for women in every stage of life.
KidsHealth. This comprehensive site, developed by the non-profit Nemours Center for Children’s Health, offers information and resources for parents of children of all ages on how to keep their kids healthy. In addition to facts on a wide variety of medical conditions, the site includes tips for making healthy meals, helping kids get exercise, and helping children deal with stress and mood disorders.
Spark People. Whether you’re genetically cursed or you just have trouble eating right and exercising, you might find yourself much heavier than you once were, putting you at risk of heart disease and other dangerous conditions. If you know you need to lose weight, it helps to have a whole community behind you—so we recommend Spark People, a free website that offers a huge online community, healthy recipes, diet and exercise plans, and much more. Dropping the pounds won’t be so difficult once you have some encouragement, and you’re sure to find Spark People buddies to help you reach your goals.
WebMD. WebMD is the world’s largest consumer medical information site, offering information and resources on specific conditions as well as a constant stream of news updates on the medical world. Slideshows, quizzes, and other interactive tools make this site a valuable and fun resource for people concerned about their health.