Health is a concern in most families. Where a family member or a friend is suffering from cancer, AIDS, a serious disability, or a rare disease, finding help is urgent.
Fortunately, there are many sources of information for those who want to know more.
First, you should check out the online world's health-related clubs and forums. In these, you can meet others with a given disease or problem 24 hours a day. Those who cannot sleep at night, are free to log in any time to "talk" with others.
The members of these forums often feel part of a community. As in communities everywhere, people share both the good times and the not-so- good times. Many online communities have pulled together during crises, sharing the grief caused by the death of a fellow forum member, a loved one of a member or, occasionally, a celebrity.
While the social aspect of joining a forum is important, it may be equally important to learn about other people's experiences with alternative treatment methods, doctors, medicines, and to get practical advice.
Second, you should check out Usenet's Frequently Asked Questions texts on medicine-related topics. The FAQs represent information that newsgroup participants find essential in their disciplines. For example, the diabetes FAQ presents collected wisdom about diabetes resources. Read about how to retrieve these texts in Appendix 6 (under FAQ).
Here are some examples to illustrate the width of the offerings in the online world:
Practicing First Aid without proper coaching can be as dangerous as not doing it at all. A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing! The tips found on these links are not meant to be a substitute for attending a professional First Aid Course!
http://www.westmass.com/redcross/tips.html (General)
http://www.familyinternet.com/babycare/dkfirsta.htm (Babies)
http://www.pe.net/%7Eiddpc1/emergenc.htm (Dental)
The U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease home page (http://www.niaid.nih.gov/) is a rich resource of AIDS related information. The World Health Organization's Global Programme on AIDS is at http://www.unaids.org/, and the Official American Medical Association's (AMA) AIDS resource at http://www.ama-assn.org/special/hiv/hivhome.htm.
This Hong Kong page at http://www.iohk.com/UserPages/mlau/aidshome.html has general information on AIDS, treatments and infections information, organizations, many links, etc.
Usenet has newsgroups like sci.med.aids (AIDS: treatment, pathology/biology of HIV, prevention), bionet.molbio.hiv, sci.med.aids.
If you do not have access to Usenet newsgroups, send electronic mail to majordomo@wubios.wustl.edu with the command "subscribe aids" to receive the sci.med.aids moderated news group by email. For more information, see http://www.aids.wustl.edu.
HIVNET is an international network for HIV and AIDS information and discussion. For information, try one of these links
http://www.hivnet.nl/ http://hivnet.fhcrc.org/
Try telnet://debra.dgbt.doc.ca:3000 for interactive AIDS documentation (simulated conversation). There also exists a FAQ document about AIDS (see appendix 6).
CompuServe has a Human Sexuality Forum, and a MEDSig with associated file libraries. Its surcharged ZiffNet database offers full-text articles about health topics (Health Database Plus). On the Well, enter "g aids".
Health Database Plus is called The Health Periodicals Database on BRS and Dialog. It gathers information from over 240 journals targeted at either the lay person or the health professional.
In Chapter 1, I told you that my wife has a rare disease called Polycystic Kidneys. Let me provide more details about what happened during the "online health trip" to CompuServe with her doctor:
The command "GO HEALTH" gave us the following menu:
1 HealthNet
2 Human Sexuality
3 Consumer Health
4 NORD Services/Rare Disease
Database
5 PaperChase (MEDLINE)
6 Information USA/Health
7 Handicapped User's Database
8 Disabilities Forum
9 Aids Information
10 Cancer Forum
Another menu, listing available "PROFESSIONAL FORUMS," had choices like AAMSI Medical Forum and Health Forum. We also searched several medical databases.
Menu selection five gave us The National Library of Medicine's database (MEDLINE), full of references to biomedical literature.
This database had more than five million references to articles from 4,000 magazines from 1966 and up to the time of our search (1991). In 1994, it had grown to seven million references. Easy navigation by menus. Easy to search.
Those with no medical training may find it difficult to understand the information retrieved from MEDLINE (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/). If this is the case for you, consider using databases of consumer health information, such as HealthNet or Health Database Plus on CompuServe.
The AAMSI Medical Forum (MedSIG) is sponsored by The American Association for Medical Systems and Informatics (AAMSI). It is for professionals within health care, people within associated technical fields, and ordinary CompuServe users. Its members meet to find, develop and swap information.
MedSIG has a library with programs and information files. This is an example of what you can find there:
ATLAS.ARC 21-Sep-88 30161
Keywords: STEREOTAXIC STEREOTACTIC STEREOTAXIS ATLAS THALAMOTOMY
MAP FUNCTIONAL GIF
This contains several of the most useful stereotaxic maps from
the Schaltenbrand and Wahren Atlas in GIF format. If you can
get GIF into your CAD or drawing program, you can scale the maps
to fit your individualized patient's AC-PC distance, thereby
generating a customized map for your patient.
CompuServe offers many programs for reading GIF files, and converting GIF files to other graphical formats.
Through IQuest, we searched medical databases. Simple menus helped define relevant search terms. When done, IQuest searched selected databases for us, and presented the selected articles on our local computer screen.
We used the "SmartScan" search mode in the "Medical research" area. IQuest searched several databases with a minimum of manual intervention.
First, it reported that the following databases would be included in the search:
BRS databases:
Ageline - Contains references to and abstracts of materials on
aging and the elderly. Covers psychological, medical, economic,
and political concerns.
AIDS Database - Includes critically selected articles covering
all aspects of AIDS, (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), and
AIDS-related research.
AIDS Knowledge Base - Provides an online textbook of the most
current information on AIDS available from San Francisco General
Hospital.
Combined Health Information Database - For professionals,
patients, and the general public, CHID contains references to a
variety of materials on arthritis, diabetes, health education,
digestive diseases, and high blood pressure. Provides abstracts.
Embase - Includes extensive abstracts of articles related to
biomedicine from medical journals worldwide. About 40% of the
references are online only.
Rehabdata - Covers articles, books, reports, and audiovisual
materials dealing with the rehabilitation of the physically and
mentally handicapped. References only.
Sport Database - Indexes publications dealing with sports,
including training, medicine, education, and history. Drawn
mostly from English and French with technical articles from
other languages.
Dialog databases:
BioBusiness - Deals with the business aspects of biotechnology and
biomedical research. Draws from BIOSIS and MANAGEMENT CONTENTS.
BIOSIS Previews - Provides international coverage of all
aspects of biological science.
Cancerlit - Monitors articles from journals and other technical
publications dealing with all aspects of cancer research
throughout the world. Includes abstracts.
Clinical Abstracts - Covers human clinical study articles of major
importance selected from leading medical journals. Includes all
aspects of clinical medicine. Corresponds to Abstracts in
Internal Medicine. Abstracts available.
Life Sciences Collection - Abstracts technical literature in the
life sciences from journals and other scientific publications
worldwide.
Medline (1966 - to date) - Indexes articles from medical journals
published worldwide. Corresponds to Index Medicus, International
Nursing Index and Index to Dental Literature. Includes abstracts
in roughly 40% of the records.
SciSearch - Monitors worldwide literature across a wide range of
scientific and technological disciplines. Produced by the
Institute for Scientific Information (ISI).
Next, we entered our search term: "LIVER AND CYST/". The search word "CYST/" signified "cyst" should match any words starting with these four characters.
While searching, IQuest gave the following progress report:
Scanning BRS databases. Accessing Network...........Completed. Accessing Database Host.....Completed. Logging on..................Completed. Logging on (second step)....Completed. Selecting Databases.........Completed. Each period equals one line of scanned data. This may take several minutes................................
It reported in the same way while "Scanning Dialog databases."
When the search results were presented, we quickly browsed the article abstracts, ordered two articles to be sent us by mail, and typed BYE.
CompuServe reported "Off at 09:12 EST 17-Nov-88 Connect time = 0:35." The two articles arrived in Norway by mail a few weeks later.
The trip, including visits in medical forums, took 35 minutes. The cost, including local telephone and network charges, was US$95. Of this total cost, the extra cost of searching through IQuest amounted to US$54.00. We all felt that the costs were well justified.
A note about the costs: The online tour was done manually,
using full menus. We discussed our search strategy while
connected. This is more expensive than logging off to plan
the next moves. Also, note that the extra cost of searching
IQuest ($54) was not time dependent.
The cost of doing an equivalent search today may well be
lower.
Since then, I first promised to donate one of my kidneys to her when the time came. This prompted me (in 1993) to join a mailing list for "Organ transplant recipients and anyone else interested in the issues" (TRNSPLNT on listserv@wuvmd.wustl.edu).
In October 1995, came D-Day. We were both enrolled at the Rikshospitalet in Norway. Her two kidneys were taken out, and my left kidney was put in there instead. The time at the hospital was critical, and we almost lost her. However, in late spring things started slowly to pick up again!!
If you're facing a transplant, visit The TransWeb - Transplantation and Donation page on the Web (at http://www.transweb.org/). It is well- informed and useful with information of interest to patients as well as professionals.
Has your life been affected by someone else's drinking? The Al-Anon & Alateen WWW Server is offered by a world-wide organization for the families and friends of alcoholics. Alateen is for teenagers.
If you are concerned about someone else's drinking, or were raised in an alcoholic home, then the resource at http://www.Al-Anon-Alateen.org may be for you. It offers a self-help recovery program for families and friends of alcoholics whether or not the alcoholic seeks help or even recognizes the existence of a drinking problem. Information is provided in several languages.
ALCOINFO (listserv@ecuvm.cis.ecu.edu) is a discussion list for alcohol and drug related issues.
Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. If the spread is not controlled, it can result in death. Anyone can get cancer. Since incidence rises with age, most cases affect adults in mid-life or older.
Researchers estimate that if everything known about the prevention of cancer was applied, up to two-thirds of cancer could be prevented (source: The American Cancer Society).
Internet has the CANCER-L discussion list (listserv@wvnvm.wvnet.edu). A while ago, a member from Brazil posted the following message on CANCER-L:
"A close friend was just diagnosed with acute leukemia of a type called calapositive pre-B linphoplastic. It is supposedly an early diagnosis since he is not anemic. We are very shocked but he is reacting quite bravely and all he wants is to have access to literature on his condition. Are there any new genetic engineering developments effectively clinically available? What is the present state of knowledge about this specific form of leukemia?He was diagnosed three hours ago, is 48 yrs old, and will start chemotherapy tomorrow. He was informed that chemotherapy is quite effective in this type of leukemia. But we wonder if there isn't a possibility to use gene therapy.
Any help will be greatly appreciated. - Dora."
Dora had several helpful replies. The following came from a member living in the United States:
"In response to the request for information on treatment for leukemia, I recommend that you access CancerNet, the National Cancer Institute's mail server on the Internet which provides current information on treatment for leukemia. To request the Contents List and Instructions, send a mail message tocancernet@icicb.nci.nih.gov (Internet address)
Leave the subject line blank, and in the body of the mail message, enter "HELP." When you receive the Contents list, request the statement for Adult Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (cn-101024).
There are also News and General Information items, under the Heading PDQ Database Information in the Contents List which provide information on centers which have access to Physician Data Query, NCI's database of cancer treatment information which includes clinical trials information for leukemia. - Cheryl."
CancerNet is the U.S. National Cancer Institute's international information center. It offers a quick and easy way of getting recommended treatment guidelines from the National Cancer Institute's Physician Data Query system. Languages are English and Spanish. Check these links:
http://cancernet.nci.nih.gov
http://wwwicic.nci.nih.gov/icichome.htm
http://imsdd.meb.uni-bonn.de/cancernet/cancernet.html [Germany]
The National Cancer Center in Tokyo (Japan) is at http://www.ncc.go.jp/. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in France is at http://www.iarc.fr/
In the CompuServe Cancer Forum's Library 1, retrieve the book "Fighting Cancer" by Annette and Richard Bloch (File name: FCBOOK.EXE).
NYSERNet's Breast Cancer Information Clearinghouse has an information server at http://nysernet.org/bcic/. For their "After Diagnosis: Common Questions & Expectations of Cancer Patients and Their Families," check http://nysernet.org/bcic/subject/diagnosis.html.
The World Health Organization (WHO) at http://www.who.ch/, and the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) (at http://www.uicc.ch) present information in English and French.
OncoLink at http://oncolink.upenn.edu/ is another great resource with an abundance of information, and links to other resources on cancer. You can WAIS search its library. Another place to search is The Medical Information Archives at http://www.medinfo.org/. They also offers a link to an index of archived messages from Usenet groups dealing with cancer.
The German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum) is at http://mbi.dkfz-heidelberg.de/. Text is in German and English.
CompuServe has a Cancer Forum. The American Cancer Society, Inc.'s forum on America Online focuses on the incidence, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
A patient oriented Diabetes FAQ document is available at
http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet/diabetes/top.html
The text has been collected among members of the misc.health.diabetes newsgroup. Also, check out these Internet resources:
http://www.ability.org.uk/diabetes.html http://www.diabetic.org.uk/index.htm http://www.niddk.nih.gov/DiabetesDocs.html
The Diabetes News Page (http://www.diabetesnews.com/) provides the latest news on diabetes and related subjects, and has informative links.
The DIABETIC mailing list (at listproc@Lehigh.edu) is where diabetic patient can exchange ideas, comments, gripes, fears, or whatever, related to his or her condition. Expect to find lots of "real world" accounts about living with diabetes.
Online conferences give equal access to all persons. Everybody is treated the same way, regardless if they sit in a wheel chair, have a hearing impairment, stutter, cannot speak clearly, have difficulties in thinking or acting quickly, or just have a different looks.
You need not worry about typing errors. Those who read them will never know whether it is because you never learned how to write on a computer, or if it is because you have difficulties in controlling your movements.
You alone decide if others are to know about your personal disability. If you want it to be a secret, then it will remain a secret.
Nobody can possibly know that you are mute and lame from the neck and down, that computer communication is your main gate into the outer world, and that you are writing messages with a stick attached to your forehead. Therefore, joining the online world has changed the lives of many people with disabilities.
Computer communications have opened a new world for those who are forced to stay at home, or who thinks that it is too difficult to travel. Those who can easily drive their car to the library, often have difficulties in understanding the significance of this.
Usenet has alt.education.disabled. It covers all areas of disabilities, technical, medical, educational, legal, etc. UUCP has the handicap forum. It is presented in the following words:
Contact: wtm@bunker.shel.isc-br.com
Purpose: The Handicap Digest provides an information/discussion
exchange for issues dealing with the physically/mentally
handicapped. Topics include, but are not limited to: medical,
education, legal, technological aids and the handicapped in
society.
CompuServe's Disabilities Forum has sections called: General Interest, Develop. Disabilities, Emotional Disturbances, Hearing Impairments, Learning Disabilities, Vision Impairments, Mobility Impaired, Rights/Legislation, Education/Employment and Family Life/Leisure.
The AUTISMTALK mailing list is devoted to the developmentally disabled, their teachers, and those interested in this area. See http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/1779.
The BLIND-L list (listserv@uafsysb.uark.edu) focuses on "Computer Use by and for the Blind." BLINDFAM on listserv@maelstrom.stjohns.edu is for blind people and their families. Sighted people are welcome to take part if any member of their family has a visual impairment.
DEAF-L (on listserv@siu.edu) is the "Deaf Discussion List," and DEAFBLND (on listserv@lsv.uky.edu) the "Deaf-Blind Discussion List." You can browse the Deafblnd discussions at http://www.tr.wou.edu/archives/deafblnd.html.
DEAF-MAG (on listserv@listserv.clark.net) is a weekly Deaf Magazine. The Central Institute for the Deaf is at: http://cidmac.wustl.edu/, and there's a Deafdigest at http://www.yellowstar.com/DeafDigest/deafdisg.htm.
STUT-HLP (on listproc@bgu.edu) is a support forum for people who stutter and their families.
On L-HCAP (listserv@listserv.nodak.edu), they focus on Technology for the handicapped. BACKS-L (listproc@list.uvm.edu) discusses research on low back pain disability.
The Handicap Digest is an email only digest of articles about all types of issues affecting the handicapped. The articles are taken from the Usenet newsgroup, the Handicap News (misc.handicap), and various FidoNet conferences such as ABLED, BlinkTalk SilentTalk, Chronic Pain, Spinal Injury, Rare Conditions, and others. Subscribe by email to
wtm@bunker.shel.isc-br.com
There is a large amount of disability-related information, files and programs at http://disability.isc-br.com/.
ADVOCACY on listserv@maelstrom.stjohns.edu is a discussion list dedicated to addressing the issues of people with disabilities in bettering their lives and protecting their rights.
Here are some Web sites devoted to the blind and disabled:
http://www.nfb.org/default.htm http://www.rit.edu:80/~easi/ http://disability.com
The Internet Mental Health Resources home page (Canada) is at: http://www.mentalhealth.com/
For information about drugs, check out the HealthyWay site in Canada (at http://www.pei.sympatico.ca/Contents/Health/LISTS/B10-C02_res1.html). It offers an abundance of information about drug abuse, drug dependence, and about drugs like Amphetamines, Cannabis, Cocaine/Crack, Ecstasy, Ketamine, LSD, Nitrites/Poppers, Opiates/Heroin, Solvents, Steroids, Tranquillizers.
Here are also Facts About Amphetamines, Barbiturates, Benzodiazepines, Hallucinogens, Inhalants, PCP, and more, plus advice on recognizing and helping drug abusers.
There are over 200 resources on the Internet offering emotional support. Areas covered include Abuse, Addiction, Anxiety and panic, Attention Deficit, Broken Relationships, Divorce, Depression, Loneliness, Obsessive- Compulsive, Personality Disorders, Schizophrenia, Low Self Esteem, Suicide, etc. Check out the links at http://www.compulink.co.uk/~net-services/, and see the Panic-Anxiety Page http://www.algy.com/anxiety/.
If you are already addicted to the Internet, don't hesitate. Click at http://www.earthplaza.com/netaholics/ for "Netaholics Anonymous."
Ageing is focused at http://alpha.genebee.msu.su/agenews.html. The page has links to bionet.molbio.ageing, sci.life-extension, and archives of old postings at BIOSCI/bionet.
CompuServe's Issues Forum has a message section called "Seniors."
Ageline on Dialog is a database produced by the American Association of Retired Persons. It does an excellent job covering research about older persons, particularly on consumer issues and health care, by summarizing journal articles and the contents of other published reports.
While our "face-to-face" world sometimes makes it difficult for older people to participate in discussions between young people, this is not the situation in the online world. All people are treated the same way. It is impossible for others to know your age, unless someone tells them.
The Atlanta Reproductive Health Centre (http://www.ivf.com) informs about women's health issues such as infertility and endometriosis. An online book for couples describing infertility treatment is included. A photo gallery illustrates various problems that result in pelvic pain and infertility. Various surgical treatments are shown. Text and graphics explore the latest in high-tech fertility options.
ACHE - Understanding Headache (at http://www.achenet.org/understand.htm) is worth a visit for sufferers. Understanding the problem is the first step towards solutions.
"In the U.S. alone, an estimated 40 million adults have genital herpes, and 50 million might have oral herpes (cold sores)," said the Herpes Education page (at http://www.herpes.com/)
It covers symptoms, diagnosis, transmission, treatments, medications, self- help, pregnancy, recurrences, current research, personal experiences, diet and nutrition, products, and have pointers to other Web sites.
Also, visit http://www.racoon.com/herpes/ for more information and links on treatment, support, research.
HOLISTIC-L (on Listserver@Lyghtforce.com) is dedicated to "providing information and discussion on holistic concepts and methods of living which provide a natural way of dealing with the challenges of life." Here are some topics dealt with in this forum:
Various Dimensions of Holistic Healing and Health
States of Consciousness
Meditation and the role it plays in spiritual/physical health
The impact of a healthy diet - including Herbs and Vitamins
Bodywork - such as Rolfing, Trager bodywork, Reichian, etc.
Acupuncture/pressure
Hypnosis and Biofeedback
Visualizations and Affirmations
Spiritual Healing - Psychic healing methods
Bioenergetics
The holistic connection between mind and body
Honest discussion of topics relevant to personal/spiritual
growth - And anything else within context for the betterment
of the world.
The following message is typical:
From: Helen Subject: Re: Asthma and Sinus Problems To: Multiple recipients of list HOLISTIC
My condolences to fellow people allergic to cats. Cats and strawberries are two of the most allergenic substances. Behavorial changes have proven to be EVERYTHING to me. The techniques I've employed have helped many others. First, try sleeping at a 45 degree angle. This usually requires piling up pillows. The elevation of the head facilitates drainage from the sinuses. When the situation gets really bad, I've slept sitting up on a couch or arm chair propped up by numerous pillows and cushions. This technique can take some getting used to, but, it works like a charm and is kinder to your system than drug therapy.Second, try "ephedra" tea. This is an herb found in Chinese herb shops. Ask the herbalist how to prepare it.
I highly recommend the book "Natural Health, Natural Medicine" by Andrew Weil, M.D. of U of A Med School in Tucson. See pages 253-256 for more information on asthma.
Fourth, stay hydrated. This means not only drinking PLENTY of fluids, but humidifying the house (that is if you are not also allergic to molds).
Basic behavorial techniques are important....diet, exercise, etc. etc, ...but this is the holistic network...I'm preaching to the choir...
Finally, take heart! Being allergic to cats is not well received by cat lovers...often we're cat lovers ourselves. Depending on the breed of cat, there is a good chance you will eventually habituate to those you are around over the long term. Good luck, the advice about sleeping with your head significantly elevated is the best I have ever given out to fellow sinus problem sufferers. It really works!!
Helen.
HomeoNet, a service of the Institute of Global Communications (IGC), is for those interested in homeopathic medicine. The Homeopathic Internet Resource List (at http://www2.antenna.nl/homeoweb/) is a catalogue of net resources on Homeopathy. CompuServe has the Holistic Health Forum.
Also, check out these Web sites:
http://galen.med.virginia.edu/~pjb3s/ComplementaryHomePage.html http://www.cc.emory.edu/WHSCL/medweb.html http://www.healthwwweb.com/ http://www.yahoo.com/health/alternative_medicine
You'll find a comprehensive guide to Internet Clinical Medicine resources at http://www.medmatrix.org/index.asp.
Medscape (http://www.medscape.com/) offers free searching of the National Library of Medicine's MEDLINE abstracts database, and lots of information and news in full text for practitioners and health care consumers.
OMNI http://omni.ac.uk/ is a gateway to Internet resources in medicine, biosciences, health care and health management. You can browse and search the comprehensive list of United Kingdom resources or the best resources from around the World.
At http://galen.med.virginia.edu:80/~pjb3s/Acupuncture.html, you'll find a comprehensive list of acupuncture links.
Here are some resources that may be of interest to people not working in the health profession:
* ALLERGY (listserv@listserv.tamu.edu) - About all types of human
allergies - how allergies influence our health and lifestyles,
treatments for allergies from the consumer perspective and
experience, self-help prevention of allergy symptoms, allergy
self-care, allergy support systems, and basic facts. Web access
is at: http://www.io.com/allergy/
* BEHAVIOR (listserv@asuvm.inre.asu.edu) - Behavioral and Emotional
Disorders in Children,
* HERB at majordomo@MyList.net - Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
discussion. Make sure you also visit http://sunsite.unc.edu/herbmed
for databases containing a wealth of interesting information.
* SPORTPSY (listserv@listserv.temple.edu):Exercise and Sports Psychology.
* talk.abortion on Usenet.
* MALARIA on listserv@wehi.edu.au is a forum for anyone wishing to
ask, preach, or communicate on the general subject of malaria.
These mailing lists often save all messages in log files, and let you search these files for topics of interest. Thus, they are both living discussion forums and interesting searchable databases!
Mednews is a weekly electronic newsletter. Its columns bring regular medical news summaries from USA Today, Center for Disease Control MMWR, weekly AIDS Statistics from CDC, and more. Subscribe to MEDNEWS by sending the following command to listserv@asuvm.inre.asu.edu:
SUB MEDNEWS Your-first-name Your-last-name
The World Health Organization provides access to world health statistics, WHO press releases, full text of selected WHO publications and more at http://www.who.ch/.
You can easily find where to find information about different health topics provided by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) by using the search service at http://search.info.nih.gov/.
The ChiMed webpage (http://www.soas.ac.uk/Needham/Chimed/) functions as a clearinghouse for scholars who study the history of medicine in China.
Multiple sclerosis - MS : http://aspin.asu.edu/msnews/indexa.htm
International MS Support Foundation. Hundreds of articles and links. For those with MS, their family, and friends.
Diarrhoea: http://www.bdf.org.uk/leaflets/diarrhoe.html
Many additional health and medicine links: http://www.HealthAtoZ.com/
The NOSMOKE2 mailing list is a support forum for people recovering from addiction to cigarettes. It is for anybody with an interest in quitting smoking or in helping others quit. To subscribe, send email mail to maiser@earth.execnet.com. Command: "subscribe nosmoke2 user@address."
Also, there's another ex-smoker mailing list, the name is EXSMKR-L, at listserv@psuvm.psu.edu.
(Avoid Usenet's alt.smokers - about "Puffing on tobacco," the CIGAR-L mailing list of The Cigar and Pipe Society at listserv@american.edu, and the Cigar & Pipe Smokers Forum, CIGARPIPE-L on listserver@switchsoft.com.)
The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has their Web home page at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/nhlbi/nhlbi.htm For comprehensive information about cardiology, coronary care, angioplasty, heart attack, stroke, vascular disease, tachycardia, angina, cholesterol, blood pressure, heartburn, atherosclerosis, hypertension, see http://www.hearthome.com/.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has a presence at http://www.ifrc.org/. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is at http://www.icrc.ch.
Oh, yes! Almost forgot Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI). You may know it as typing injury. Start by browsing The Typing Injury FAQ document at http://www.tifaq.com, then follow the leads.
The RSI Newsletter is for people who suffer from keyboard related injuries. It is regularly posted to the SOREHAND mailing list, for Discussion of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Tendinitis, etc. Subscribe by sending email to listserv@itssrv1.ucsf.edu.
There is a Chronic fatigue syndrome / Myalgic encephalomyelitis Web page at http://www.cais.com/cfs-news/
If you have even the slightest pain in your arm or shoulder that could be related to your use of a computer, check out these leads. Personally, I lingered too long, and it took me over nine months to be reasonably well again.
Act now!
For 3-dimensional digitized images of the human body, point your browser at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/research/visible/visible_human.html. Beware! While these pictures are very interesting, they are also big. You may also want to try Human Anatomy On-line at http://www.innerbody.com/.
If you need more, visit Galaxy Net's Medicine page at
http://galaxy.einet.net/galaxy/Medicine.html
It contains several subject areas as well as powerful search engines tied to specialty and subspecialty areas. Galaxy searches Internet documents and offers listings tied to specialty areas and topical interests.