National Institutes of Health: Online Health Information

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the nation’s medical research agency and the largest source of funding for medical research in the world. The NIH is made up of 27 Institutes and Centers, each with a specific focus.

The NIH Health Information website contains health information in an easy-to-browse format.

Browse by:

Health topics A to Z
Conditions/diseases
Procedures and therapies
Symptoms
Health and Wellness
Body location/systems
Women's health
Men's health
Seniors' health
Minority health


You can also search the website by keywords, find information about NIH research (read some of the latest research), and subscribe to email updates on over 40 health topics.

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The 27 Institutes and Centers making up the NIH include:

National Cancer Institute
National Eye Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
National Institute on Aging
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Institute of Mental Health
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities

Find out more about the Institutes and Centers of the NIH

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Did you know?

UCSF received more research funds from the National Institutes of Health than any other public institution in 2009, and received the second largest amount of all institutions nationwide. Read the whole story.

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Recognizing the Signs of Stroke

Every minute counts when someone is having a stroke.  Immediate treatment can save people's lives and enhance their chances for successful recovery.  However, you need to recognize the symptoms of a stroke and get to a hospital quickly.  Getting treatment within 60 minutes can prevent disability.
(excerpted from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/knowstroke.htm)

The following information resources discuss the signs of stroke, ways to help prevent stroke, as well as treatment and recovery:

Knowing the Signs of Stroke
[from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke]
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/knowstroke.htm

Stroke Signs and Symptoms
[from the UCSF Medical Center]
http://www.ucsfhealth.org/conditions/stroke/signs_and_symptoms.html

Stroke Information: Overviews, Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention, Recovery and more
[from MedlinePlus]
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/stroke.html

NINDS Stroke Information Page
[from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke]
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/stroke.htm

For further help, contact the UCSF Patient Health Librarian.

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Making Your Resolutions Stick

New Year’s resolutions—they’re easy to make but easier to break. Why is it so hard to make the healthy changes that we know can help us feel better and live longer? And why is it so hard to make them last?

The UCSF Patient Health Library has compiled the following tools that can help you remove the barriers to making good habits a part of your life:

How to Create Healthy Habits
From the National Institutes of Health's News in Health Newsletter
http://newsinhealth.nih.gov/issue/Dec2010/Feature1

Healthy Lifestyles, Healthy Outlook
From the UCSF Medical Center - Patient Education
http://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/healthy_lifestyles_healthy_outlook/

Behavior Modification Ideas for Weight Management
From the UCSF Medical Center - Patient Education
http://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/behavior_modification_ideas_for_weight_management/index.html

Passing on Healthy Habits to Your Children
From FamilyDoctor.org
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/food/kids/781.html

The Healthy Habits of Good Sleep
From the American Academy of Sleep Medicine
http://www.sleepeducation.com/Hygiene.aspx

Healthy living
From MedlinePlus
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002393.htm

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MedlinePlus: Online Health Information

MedlinePlus is a free, easy-to-use health information service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.

Resources and tools include:

• Health Topics: Over 800 topics on conditions, diseases and wellness
• Drugs & Supplements: About your prescription and over-the-counter medicines, herbs and supplements
• Videos, Tutorials and Cool Tools
  
• Medical Encyclopedia and Dictionary
• News: Current health news and press announcements
• Directories: Find doctors, dentists and hospitals

You can find the MedlinePlus website on the UCSF Patient Health Library's Health Information Websites page along with many other health information resources.

Need more help? Contact the Patient Health Librarian by email, telephone, or in person.

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Consumer Health Information from the FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the government agency responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of drugs, medical devices, food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.

The FDA's consumer health website provides a wealth of useful information.  Check out the following:

• Consumer Updates
• Timely and easy-to-read articles covering all FDA activities and regulated products
• Free Print Publications
• In addition to offering consumer materials online, the Food and Drug Administration will mail or fax brochures, articles, and other print publications at no cost. They also provide many downloadable, printer-friendly documents.
• Multi-Media Consumer Information
• Videos, photo slide shows, podcasts and audio

You can find the FDA website on the UCSF Patient Health Library's Health Information Websites page along with many other health information resources.

Need more help? Contact the Patient Health Librarian by email, telephone, or in person.

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