Great Age Guide to Online Health and Wellness (Sandy Berger's Great Age Guide)

313 Pages·2006·10.45 MB·English

by  Sandy Berger

Contents at a Glance
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . 1
1
Technology to the Rescue. . . 7
2
Looking Younger. . . . . . . . . . 25
Sandy Berger’s
3
Feeling Younger . . . . . . . . . . 55
Great Age Guide 4
Preparing For Your
Doctor Visit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
to Online Health
5
Researching Health
and Wellness
Concerns Online. . . . . . . . . 105
6
Finding Disease-Specific
Information Online . . . . . . . 129
7
Men’s and Women’s
Health Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
8
Finding Others Like You. . . 177
9
Improving Your Medication
Awareness Online . . . . . . . . 193
10
Your Personal Medical
Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
11
Unconventional
Healthcare Options . . . . . . 235
12
High-Tech Medicine. . . . . . . 261
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
800 East 96th Street,
Indianapolis, Indiana 46240 USA
Sandy Berger’s Great Age Guide to Online Health Associate Publisher
and Wellness Greg Wiegand
Copyright © 2006 by Que Publishing Acquisitions Editor
All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval Stephanie J. McComb
system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, record-
ing, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. No patent liability Development Editor
is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. Although
Laura Norman
every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and
author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Nor is any liability assumed
Managing Editor
for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.
Charlotte Clapp
International Standard Book Number: 0-7897-3532-6
Project Editor
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2006920309 Mandie Frank
Printed in the United States of America Copy Editor
Rhonda Tinch-Mize
First Printing: May 2006
Indexer
09 08 07 06 4 3 2 1
Tim Wright
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Table of Contents
About Sandy Berger’s Great Age Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Online Health and Wellness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
What’s Inside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
How This Book Is Organized . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
1 Technology to the Rescue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Living Longer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Rewriting Retirement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Medical Breakthroughs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Assistive Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Independent Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Managing Your Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Your Personal Health Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Sandy’s Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
2 Looking Younger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Weight Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
The Battle of the Bulge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Knowing Your Optimum Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Understanding Your Diet Pitfalls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Finding Your Diet Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Dieting Resources Online . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
GREAT AGE
IV
GUIDE TO ONLINE HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Fitness for Everyone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
High-tech Fitness Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Searching for the Fountain of Youth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Antiaging Products and Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Antioxidants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Creams and Lotions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Cosmetic Surgery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Sandy’s Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
3 Feeling Younger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Stress Reduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Internet Resources to Help You Reduce Stress . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Yoga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Meditation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Breathing Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Keeping the Mind Active . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
Laughter Is the Best Medicine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
Playing Games Can Keep you Healthy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
Games Online . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Console Video Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
Games to Get You Moving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
Nutrition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
Antiaging Medicine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
Spas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
V
Hormone Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78
Vitamins and Supplements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
Sleep and Light Enhancements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
A Good Night’s Sleep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
Light Therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
Sandy’s Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
4 Preparing for Your Doctor Visit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Finding Medical Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
Finding Physician Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
Finding a Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Communicating with Healthcare Professionals . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
Asking Questions and Raising Concerns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
Bridging the Patient-Doctor Divide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98
Be an Informed Patient . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99
Assessing Your Symptoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99
Research Before You Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101
Resources for Understanding Medical Terminology . . . . . . . . . .101
Sandy’s Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104
5 Researching Health Concerns Online . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Finding Appropriate Medical Websites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106
Government Websites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106
Hospital and Health Care Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107
Not-For-Profit Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108
Medical Professional Organization Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108
Medical and Scientific Journals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
GREAT AGE
VI
GUIDE TO ONLINE HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Evaluating the Credibility of Websites That Provide
Medical Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111
Finding General Health Information Websites . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Tips For Finding More Specialized Information . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Avoiding Scams and Snake Oil Salesmen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
Effective Ways to Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124
Finding Health-Related Audio and Video Information
on the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125
Health Care Information Can Also Be Found in the
Form of a Podcast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126
Sandy’s Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127
6 Finding Disease-Specific Information Online . . . . . . . 129
Arthritis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131
Macular Degeneration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135
Diabetes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136
Cancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141
Alzheimer’s and Dementia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146
Stroke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .148
VII
Heart Health and Disease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150
Sandy’s Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .154
7 Men’s and Women’s Unique Health Issues . . . . . . . . . 155
Men Are from Mars: Women Are from Venus . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156
Gender-Specific Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156
Research and Current Studies You Can Read
About Online . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .158
The Gender Differences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .159
Heart Health in Men and Women . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .161
Websites with Gender-Specific Information for Both Sexes . .162
WebMD: Men’s and Woman’s Health Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . .163
Medline Plus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .163
HealthWeb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .164
Mayo Clinic: Healthy Living Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .164
Men’s and Women’s Health Areas at MedicineNet.com . . . . . .165
Yahoo! Health Centers for Men and Women . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .166
BBC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .166
Finding Other Websites Dealing with Gender-Specific
Health Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .166
Women’s Health Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .167
Breast Cancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .169
Osteoporosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .170
Men’s Health Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .172
Prostate Cancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .172
Sandy’s Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .175
GREAT AGE
VIII
GUIDE TO ONLINE HEALTH AND WELLNESS
8 Finding Others Like You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Finding a Support Group for a Specific Disease
or Condition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .178
Finding Support in Chat Rooms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182
Finding Support on Message Boards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .185
Blogs Can Contain a Wealth of Information
and Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189
Sandy’s Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .192
9 Improving Your Medication Awareness Online . . . . . 193
Researching Medication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .194
Medline Plus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .195
U.S. Food and Drug Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .196
AARP’s Effective and Safe Prescription Drug Site . . . . . . . . . . .196
RXList . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .198
PDRhealth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .199
Researching Generic or Brand Name Drugs Online . . . . . . . . .200
Purchasing Medications Online . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .202
Beware of Illegitimate Prescription Drug Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . .203
Finding an Online Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .205
Avoiding Adverse Drug Interactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .207
Sandy’s Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .210
IX
10 Your Personal Medical Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Medical Records Explained . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212
Ownership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .214
Health Legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .215
Electronic Medical Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216
Security Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .218
Portable Medical Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .219
USB Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .228
Living Wills and Legal Stuff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .231
Sandy’s Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .233
11 Unconventional Healthcare Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Complementary Medicine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .236
Food and Dietary Supplements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .236
Chiropractic and Massage Therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .243
Aromatherapy and Biofeedback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .249
Alternative Medicine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .253
Homeopathy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .253
Ayurvedic Medicine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .254
Traditional Chinese Medicine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .256
Other Nontraditional Medicines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .258
Sandy’s Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260
12 High-Tech Medicine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
High-tech Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .262
Arthroscopic Surgery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .262
Swallow a Camera? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .262