Web resources for those with chronic illnesses

Drug information, new treatments, and pain management are just a few important topics. But with the myriad of health web sites out there, where do you start and whom can you trust?

The best one stop shop for health information is www.medlineplus.gov. Maintained by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus is a virtual cornucopia of accurate, up-to-date health information, with links to many outside web sites reviewed for accuracy by the library.

From the MedlinePlus home page, you can access detailed drug information for thousands of prescription and over-the-counter medications, a medical encyclopedia, a medical dictionary, and current health news articles, many of which are about chronic illnesses.

The health topics links, which you can link to from the home page, is another great feature. Choose an illness from the alphabetical list, and MedlinePlus will present you with links for information about the illness, its diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment, as well as interactive tutorials. It also provides links to web sites for organizations that advocate and provide support for people with your illness.

You can also try the Canadian Health Network at www.canadian-health-network.ca, which provides general health information and links to advocacy group web sites.

Do you want to participate in experimental drug trials or try an alternative or complementary treatment?

Search www.clinicaltrials.gov to find opportunities to participate in trials for new treatments and drugs. All major Canadian cities are included.

For information and safety advisories on alternative treatments, try the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at nccam.nih.gov/health.

Perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of living with a chronic illness is pain management. Pain, Pain, Go Away, at www.dal.ca/~pedpain/ppga/ppga.html, has information specific to children experiencing pain.

Adults can try the web site of the American Pain Foundation at www.painfoundation.org.

For palliative issues, try the B.C. Hospice Palliative Care Association’s web site at www.hospicebc.org.

Developing a support network is crucial to coping with a chronic illness. Try SupportPath at www.supportpath.com to find a directory of on-line support options.

Parent, child, and teen-specific information and support links are available at a web site sponsored by the University of Michigan, (http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/yourchild/chronic.htm).

And last, but not least, caregivers need support, too! Try Empowering Caregivers at www.care-givers.com to read and post messages and questions for other caregivers as well as find other resources.

This column and its links can be accessed from the Internet version of the Richmond Review, found on the Richmond Public Library's website at www.yourlibrary.ca.