Wonders of the Web

There's a world of health information on the internet. Here's how to identify sites you can trust.

You can find nearly anything your heart desires on the Internet. You also can learn what's good for your heart-and the rest of your body- through a variety of Web sites.

But it's important to stick to sites offered by credible organizations or experts. Otherwise you could be misinformed or, worse yet, end up following health advice that isn't actually very good for you.

Accuracy by Association
The best way to make sure you're looking at trustworthy information is to rely on sites hosted by nationally recognized organizations. Examples include the American Cancer Society (cancer.org), the American Diabetes Association (diabetes.org) and the American Heart Association (americanheart.org).

Rely on the Government
Several sites hosted by the federal government are equally reliable sources of information. The Healthfinder® (healthfinder.gov) site is a terrific general resource offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This site links to information from respected organizations and features a health library, health news and on-line checkups. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) site (nih.gov) includes links to all the individual organizations that make up the NIH, such as the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the National Institute of Mental Health.

Tried and True
Many hospitals and medical centers host their own Web sites, including Baylor Health Care System (see below). In addition to being a trustworthy resource, a hospital's Web site may offer locally oriented information.

No matter what site you surf to, keep these caveats in mind:

Who and When
Reputable sites will clearly state who maintains the site and when it was last updated. Always verify that content is accredited or comes from a reliable source, and be sure to check that the site is frequently updated to include the latest findings and developments in health care.

Lousy Links
While most reliable sites, like those mentioned, only provide links to sites their sponsors think are equally reliable, beware. Once you leave the main site, you're on your own.

Privacy First
No matter what site you choose, check the privacy policy to make sure any information you submit remains confidential.

By Amy Lynn Smith