Medical Advice Online - Comments Page 1

While the sites you list are good, I'm surprised not to see medlineplus.gov - the National Library of Medicine on your list.
Since they have no advertisements or registration required and don't promote any "business" (we will ignore grant funding), I would feel that they would be a good starting resource. They have patient interactive materials and Spanish language versions available as well.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Consider it mentioned!

Just to say, you could add this to your list of reliable online medical services: http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/

It's great. The phone help is presumably for UK residents only, but still, there's a lot of info on the site...

I was disappointed to see that four of the first five web sites listed were commercial web sites, and that three of them are run by WebMD, which is funded in large part by a pharmaceutical company (Lilly). Although such information may be accurate, we're getting only Lilley's side of the story; alternative therapies and medications may be either ignored or played down. (Just try searching WebMD on rivals Merck or Pfizer.)

Surely medical information from research hospitals, professional organizations, the National Institutes of Health, the Center for Disease Control, and other non-profits would be better choices for unbiased, factual medical information.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Being partially funded by Lilly doesn't automatically make WebMD biased. I searched a bit and found plenty of examples where WebMD prominently mentioned drugs made by Pfizer and Merck. WebMD is the biggest fish in the tank, so (as in any field) it's popular to bash them. But I think they offer an excellent resource which is easily to use -- something lacking in many government websites. Thanks for mentioning the CDC, I've added that link to the article.

I second the mention of MEDLINEPlus. It's my first stop for reliable medical information. Web sites for various professional associations (e.g. American Academy of Pediatrics) are also good, as is NOAH (http://www.noah-health.org/). Also, if you need in-depth medical information, contact your local medical library. Many include lists of links for patients (see the list from my library at http://www.ohsu.edu/library/consumerhealth/chlinks.shtml) , and they also have access to information that is not freely available on the internet.

I agree with the kudos for WebMD. As a mother, I've used this site for several years and also found the information helpful and reliable. It never felt like they were trying to sell me anything, or push specific drugs.

The underlying source of all medical truth can be found at http://www.gerson.org - Go to the site and watch the video. Discover that too many deaths caused by members of the AMA are not necessary. We Americans have the power to control our own health without the wasted billion$ for unnecessary and harmful "treatment$" such as cholesterol medication$, bp med$, and created diseases such as re$tle$$ leg $yndrome (guffaw).

Essentially all degenerative disease is caused by the body's inability to assimilate the SAD (Standard American Diet). Essentially all degenerative disease can be "cured" by consuming foods intended for human consumption. Consider the works of Dr. Max Gerson and of Robert O. Young, PhD.

As a medical librarian for over 20 years, the first two websites I go to for unbiased, qualified medical information are the National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus (http://www.medlineplus.gov) and the Karolinska Institut's Diseases, Disorders, and Related Topics (http://www.mic.ki.se/Diseases/); WebMD is NOT my first choice. I would also be wary of the CDC site. Since the change in "administration" there have also been changes in the CDC patient information pages; I wouldn't blindly believe what is being posted on certain topics.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Can you give an example?

Another medical Librarian here. While there is nothing inherently bad about the commercial sites you offer, MedlinePlus has the advantage of being an aggregating site. You can find information from medical societies, commerial entities, government sites, and educational institutions, all in the same list. The information is vetted by medical librarians, and your have the opportunity to compare information from many different sources.

On the Medline Plus site, you can also access a medical dictionary, encyclopedia, and drug information, and one click takes you to PubMed, where you can do serious medical research, if necessary.

My Friend's father is suffering with some problem in brain. doctor said 'Due to age factor it has come'. In his prescription 'Venticular system, cystronal spaces abd cerebral sulci in-general are prominent'. please recomend some medicines. for immediate cure.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Ummm, wouldn't the doctor do that?

I went to urgent care about a two weeks ago because my tonsels we so swollen that my they we touching. The doctor said I had strep and he gave me something to make the swelling go down and something for my strep because it hurt to the point of tears to drink, eat anything and my voice was going. I took all of the medication for the amount perscribe. 10-12 days later my tonsels we swollen again and they hurt badly. I have been drinking alot of tea and honey, motrin, and gargaling with salt and caynenne pepper. I think I have strep again and an ear ache. Why are my tonsels swollen again so soon? Will I have to have them removed?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Sorry, you're in the wrong place. You'll have to research your problem at one of the sites I mentioned, or see the doctor again.