5 Websites to Keep in Your Health Rolodex

The World Wide Web is an enormous smorgasbord of information, and while it is an incomparable asset to have at hand; for many it can often be more than a bit daunting to discern which sites are trustworthy.  With respect to information on health and research, this concern becomes even more valid.   As I have received numerous inquiries over time with respect to which websites one should have on hand for reference with respect to critical health-related issues, I decided to write this post as a brief guide to some of the key sites that may be of benefit to most.  Please note that there are hundreds of good sites on the web; here, I am listing only 5 sites – largely on the criteria of their usefulness in terms of providing regularly updated information on issues of public health concern, and the immediacy of their usefulness as valuable health resources:

1.  CDC’s MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report):  Most people are aware of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Website, but few seem to know of CDC’s weekly online publication known as the MMWR.  MMWR is often referred to as “The voice of CDC,” and is CDC’s main method of publishing timely and useful public health information and recommendations that have been received by CDC from the state health departments.  Each issue covers reports that have been received in the week through Friday, that are then  published on the following Friday.  This is an invaluable site to have on hand, especially with respect to issues concerning emerging infectious- or  other critical- diseases of public health concern.  You can subscribe to the MMWR for free using the link above.

2.   Indiana University Division of Clinical Pharmacology (The Cytochrome P450 Table):  While this site may seem esoteric to most individuals not directly involved in the field of Medicine, it is in fact a valuable site for all.  Why?  In a nutshell – The Cytochrome P450 is a family of 60 plus enzymes that the body uses to break down toxins and drug metabolites.  Occasionally, individuals may be on several drugs that may use the same family of enzymes (i.e. The Cytochrome P450 family) for detoxification of the metabolites of the ingested drugs.  In non-technical terms, this can lead to drugs competing for the same enzyme system for clearance of their metabolites, and this is a situation that can be life-threatening.   This is a complex topic, and my objective here is primarily to make you aware that this is an important issue to be aware of, especially if you are taking multiple drugs  for several different conditions at the same time.   You can download The Cytochrome P450 Drug Interaction Table and take it to your physician in the event you have concerns about drug interactions.  Please be sure to read the Disclaimer stated by Indiana University at the bottom of link 2 above. 

3.  FDA/Drugs:  Another useful site to have on hand with respect to information on drug recalls and alerts, drug approvals and clearances, and for critical emerging information on drug-related topics is the FDA/Drugs site.  You can report a serious medical problem related to a drug at this site, and can also have access to regularly updated, often life-saving information on drug safety.

AND NOW…ONTO A COUPLE OF SITES ON FOOD AND HEALTH:

4.  Harvard’s The Nutrition Source:  Enjoy Harvard School of Public Health’s The Nutrition Source – a website maintained by the Department of Nutrition at Harvard.  This site provides valuable tips on healthy eating based on a body of solid, scientific research.

5.  Eat Well Guide:  Sustainable Table’s Eat Well Guide helps you find local, sustainable or organic food anytime, anywhere in the U.S. and Canada.  A great resource to have on hand to find farm fresh food, local farmer’s markets, and restaurants simply by entering your zip code in the search feature on the Eat Well Guide.  If you are planning a trip, Eat Well Everywhere can help you with a printable map of the best local food markets on your travel itinerary. 

Quality health sites can provide information that may be of lasting value, and occasionally, knowledge that may even be life-saving.  I am open to feedback on whether you as a reader find a post of this nature (one that refers you to valuable, non-commerical resources) beneficial, and whether you would like to see additional similar posts occasionally.