Section 4.3. Health and Medicine

4.3. Health and Medicine

There's a wealth of online information about medical conditions and all aspects of health and fitness. Healthcare sites can provide quick answers to your questions and support your at-home efforts to stay in tip-top shape.

These sites are especially good for getting background information before or after you see a doctor. (As disclaimers on all these sites tell you, never use information you read on the Web as your sole source in diagnosing a medical condition or prescribing treatment.)

For general healthcare information on the Web, you can explore one of these sites:

• WebMD . WebMD (www.webmd.com) is one of the most comprehensive health- related sites. Here, you can research symptoms, read the latest medical news, and submit your own questions to experts. There's also a section of message boards and blogs where regular WebMD visitors exchange everything from advice to recipes.

• MedicineNet . Run by a healthcare publishing company, www.medicinenet.com is known for its plain-English articles on a wide range of medical topics. Sections devoted to describing various procedures, guides to symptoms and illnesses, and a dictionary of medical terms are laid out for easy browsing.

• Mayo Clinic . The world-famous Mayo Clinic has its own Web site (www.mayoclinic.com) with sections dispensing information about diseases and medical conditions, drugs and herbal supplements, and various treatments . There's also a section called Healthy Living with medical advice on just that.

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Tip: While you're waiting on hold to ask your health insurance company a question, you could be finding the answer even faster online. Oxford, Medicare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and other providers let you look up specific information about your plan, find a doctor or specialist, and see your coverage options online. Look for a URL on your member card or statement.

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