As the world of Internet expands with every passing day, people find it easier to consult Dr. Google rather than the doctor who is just a couple of blocks away from their homes. This dilemma has led to the formation of numerous websites on the Internet that does not always offer correct or viable information.
Before you trust the first thing you read on the Internet about any disease or illness, you need to figure out whether the website you’re reading from is reliable or not. Often, this is not the easiest thing to do. Very few people are medically aware of diseases and illnesses and can, therefore, not distinguish between true and false information.
However, it is almost impossible to stop people from scouring through the Internet about whatever diagnosis their doctor presents or any symptoms they might be experiencing. The former is probably the lesser of the two evils since you are only researching a solid diagnosis. The latter, however, is like searching for a needle in a haystack. Without the correct information, most people misinterpret their own symptoms and looking for what such misinterpreted symptoms could mean on the Internet is nothing but a recipe for disaster.
So while it might be impossible to deter you from searching on the Internet, there are ways in which you can ensure that the information you read is credible. First of all, visit a doctor! If you think there’s something wrong, ask a doctor about it and ask him/her to recommend you some good websites to read further on. Secondly, the most commonly known source of accreditation on the Internet is the Honchoed which basically gives you permission to trust the website you just opened. Look for their logo on the homepage of the website.
Other than that, if you do decide to visit the Internet to search for medical advice or information, here are some of the most popular and widely searched websites.
WebMD
With the highest number of visitors and viewers on the world wide web, WebMD has managed to build a reputation for itself as a credible website with solid advice and information. Their directories span most diseases and symptoms and it is hard to not find what you are looking for on there. A quick search will get you what you are looking for.
Yahoo!Health
Known for being one of the oldest search engines, Yahoo! has made its made its mark in the world of online heath information. Coming very close to beating the former website’s record, Yahoo!Health is a very reliable website in its own right. You are bound to find what you are looking for on here, in easy, understandable lingo.
MayoClinic
A website I’ve often visited when looking for answers myself is MayoClinic. It’s user friendly outlook makes MayoClinic step a little higher on the ladder with its charm and easily accessible website. A very well organized website that gives information in a crisp and to the point fashion, MayoClinic is worth visiting if you’re looking to figure things out quickly.
MedicineNet
Another website that makes it to our top 5 health information websites’ list is MedicineNet. Reliable information coupled with a good outlook and solid advice, MedicineNet is another accredited website that will give you the information you need without a lot of hassle.
Drugs.com
The last website to make it to our list is Drugs.com but that does not decrease it’s worth in any way. With good, credible information, Drugs.com lags behind the rest of the websites in the number of visitors and viewers with a very narrow margin.
