How to Find Health Advice Online

If you have a question about a health-related topic, go online to get it answered.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Internet Access

1. Visit a search engine such as Google or Yahoo!.
2. Type in the keywords "health advice." Add the specific topic, disease, or medication to narrow your search.
3. Press Enter on your keyboard or click the Search button to submit your query.
4. Click on a site that best suits your interests or needs from the list of search results provided by the search engine.
5. Follow the directions provided by the site to learn the answers to health-related your questions. Listings of health journals you have access to are generally available.
6. Click the Back button on your web browser to return to the list of search results and choose another site to explore.

Tips & Warnings

• FamilyDoctor.org allows you to choose from a variety of common ailments and diseases for which they offer opinions on diagnoses and treatments.
• Healthfinder.gov provides health information on recent news topics and developments in the field of medicine.
• Get the scoop on the latest research, including new diseases and treatments, from the National Institutes of Health (nih.gov) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov).
• Just because information is on the Web doesn't mean it's correct. Before you follow the advice given on a health site, check the credentials of the person supplying the information.
• A health site can be a great place to find out information about diseases and treatments, however it does not a substitute for a visit to a doctor. Before you make any health-related decision, be sure to consult your personal doctor.