Staying Healthy

Quick & Simple

Please see our sections on Diseases and Health by Age or Group for other resources.

MEDLINEplus.gov Under Health Topics select Health System, Insurance, Safety, Social & Family Issues, Depression, Stress, Vitamins and Minerals and more.

HealthierUS.gov Fitness, nutrition and prevention information to support a healthy lifestyle. From the Office of the President and the Department of Health and Human Services.

FamilyDoctor.org From the American Academy of Family Physicians. See Healthy Living.

Consumer Health Information From the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Prevention and Wellness, plus much more.

NOAH New York Online Access to Health goes from the basics to specific concerns on a wide variety of health topics.

Tox Town An interactive tool to learn about many toxic chemicals (asbestos, carbon monoxide, lead and more) that we encounter in our everyday lives.

Alcohol & Drug Abuse

AlcoholScreening.org Take a short screening test to see if you are using alcohol safely. After the test, get more information about alcohol and your health.

Advocates for Recovery Links and other resources for people wanting to overcome drug and alcohol abuse. Includes local support group meetings and contact information.

A Family Guide to Keeping Youth Mentally Healthy and Drug Free From the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

National Institute on Drug Abuse Information for all ages and many different drugs.

Rethinking Drinking Tools to help you take a look at your drinking and how it may affect your health.

Dental Health

American Dental Association

Simple Steps to Better Dental Health From the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.

Dental care information for children and adults From Sunstar Butler, makers of oral health care products. A commercial site.

Your Dental Health: A Guide for Patients and Families Scroll down to see recommended books, magazines, and web sites for many dental specialty organizations.

Diets & Nutrition

Diets are controversial and always in the news. Get up to date articles at Search Library Resources.

MyPyramid Personalize your meal planning to get good nutrition. For all ages and even for the special needs of pregnancy!

American Dietetic Association Nutrition Tips for healthy nutrition, finding a registered dietician and more. Their Vegetarian Resource Group explains all aspects of vegetarianism. Some materials for teens and kids and some in Spanish.

You Are What You Eat Many helpful online resources compiled by HealthyNJ in New Jersey.

Delicious Decisions Recipes and lifestyle information from the American Heart Association including the AHA food pyramid, food label glossary, and dining out tips.

Nutrition.gov Links to federal government information on nutrition and food assistance programs (WIC, Food Stamps, and School Lunch programs).

Food and Drug Administration Food Safety and Nutrition Consumer Advice Food, nutrition, and cosmetics questions and answers.

Food and Nutrition Information Center From the National Agricultural Library. Educational materials for consumers and professionals.

End of Life, Death & Dying, Grief

Five Wishes A simple way to designate end-of-life choices.

Caring Conversations From Midwest Bioethics Center. Print out the free workbook for talking about end of life concerns.

American Hospice Foundation Free articles on a wide variety of topics.

AARP Grief and Loss Resources and support for those dealing with grief. Many helpful materials here, not just for AARP members.

T.A.P.S.: The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors For those who have lost a loved one while on active duty in the United States Armed Services.

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization Includes information for the public as well as professionals. The consumer site is called Caring Connections, or call their toll-free Helpline at 800-658-8898.

Finding Our Way: Living With Dying In America Includes a short course on death and dying in America, with resources, stories, a forum for discussing the dilemmas inherent in end-of-life care, and ideas for initiating change for those who want to take on the challenge in their community.

Exercise/Fitness:

InteliHealth See the Fitness and Workplace Health sections. Also provides interactive assessment materials. A commercial site, sponsored by Aetna and containing advertising.

Fitness.gov From the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. See the President's Challenge, and scroll down to learn about how physical activity can help kids and grown-ups feel great.

Choose to Move From the American Heart Association. A free physical activity program for women.

ColoradoOnTheMove.org Takes you to America On the Move - requires registration, but allows you to keep a walking 'step log' and join 'Walk Across America.'

First Aid

Health and Safety Tips From the American Red Cross for all kinds of situations.

KidsHealth.org First Aid Emergencies, Instruction sheets, and lots about child safety at home, away, or outdoors.

First Aid and Self Care Tips From the Mayo Clinic.

Getting Good Health Care

MedlinePlus Directories Provides many ways of finding physicians, specialists, specialized hospitals and clinics.

Know Your Numbers Why you should know your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose numbers.

Talking to Your Doctor From the National Eye Institute.

National Committee for Quality Assurance Provides report cards for many health plans.

Registry of Nursing Homes from MemberoftheFamily.net State by state ratings of 16,000 facilities, and a link to their National Nursing Home Watch List for nursing homes with substantial complaints.

Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research See consumer health and the quality assessment section.

• Consumer and Patient Information
• Guide to Health Care Quality: How to Know It When You See It
• Your Guide to Choosing Quality Health Care

QuackWatch.org An Internet guide to fraud and quackery. Not everyone agrees, but you'll find the arguments here.

Federal Trade Commission See their Who Cares page for help evaluating health product claims.

Food and Drug Administration See their recommendations on Buying Medicines and Medical Products Online.

HIPAA Health Information Privacy

Getting Help in Denver

Please see our Getting Help in Denver section.

Immunizations

Colorado Children's Immunization Coalition

Colorado Influenza and Pneumococcal Alert Coalition Find a flu clinic, learn about the flu shot and more. Also en español.

Immunization Initiatives From the American Academy of Pediatrics for parents and for clinicians. Some items available for sale, but lots free and available online.

Vaccine Education Center From the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Immunization Action Coalition Vaccination information in over 20 languages.

General Vaccination Information From the CDC. More health information for travelers.

Immunization, Vaccines, and Biologicals On an international basis from the World Health Organization.

Mental Health

See also Diseases and Other Health Conditions.

Mental Health & Behavior From the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Dealing with Stress A collection of tools from the National Consumer's League on dealing with stress.

National Hopeline Network Available 24 hours a day at 1-800-784-2433. Callers will be connected to the certified crisis center nearest to them. There are also links to many resources on dealing with depression and preventing suicide.

Walkers in Darkness For people with mental illness and depression.

Colorado Behavioral Health Council Local resources list.

HealthyPlace.com Mental health information, support, and to share what's been helpful.

Psych Central Resources and support for different kinds of mental health issues.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

A Family Guide to Keeping Youth Mentally Healthy and Drug Free From the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

National Institute of Mental Health Breaking news and information about the signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment for various mental health disorders.

Easy to Read Information From The National Institute of Mental Health.

American Self-Help Group Clearinghouse Includes a directory of support groups with links and toll free numbers for many types of support groups.

Safe Sex

FamilyDoctor.org Sex Take time to make the right decision.

FamilyDoctor.org STI's Learn how to protect yourself.

iwannaknow.org For teens - offers answers to your questions about teen sexual health and sexually transmitted diseases.

Smarter Sex Offers a wide range of information on body health, relating and dating, and preventing sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy. For ages 18-24.

Unintended Pregnancy Prevention From the Center for Disease Control. Presents information about birth control choices and risks. Also discusses which options offer some protection against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Safety: Home, Workplace, Community

Fall and Injury Prevention for all ages

InteliHealth.com Workplace Health resources.

Household Hazards Household Products Database from NLM. Learn about chemicals in shampoo, fertilizers, craft supplies and how they can impact your health.

Tox Town An interactive tool to learn about many toxic chemicals (asbestos, carbon monoxide, lead and more) that we encounter in our everyday lives.

(OSHA) Standards and regulations for workplace safety.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Click on the alphabetical list for information on a wide variety of work-related health risks.

Stop Smoking

American Lung Association Resources for smoking cessation as well as workplace risks to lung health.

Colorado QuitNet Interactive tools and online support to help you quit.

Denver Alliance on Tobacco and Health Find out what's going on in Denver to help people give up smoking.

SmokeFreeColorado Information about the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act, effective July 1, 2006.

SmokeFree.gov Learn how to quit smoking, get expert help, access print resources and find research studies.

Disclaimer

The Health and Medicine section of the Denver Public Library website is intended to provide easy access to quality health information of interest to residents throughout Denver who want to be informed about health issues for themselves, their families, and their community. It is not intended as an endorsement of all the information at each linked site or organization. The Denver Public Library does not provide medical or health care advice. We recommend that you evaluate all health information with care, and that you discuss what you find here with your doctor or licensed health professional before making changes involving your health.