Staying Healthy
Disclaimer: The Health and Medicine section of the Denver Public Library Web site 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.
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 has 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.
ToxTown An interactive tool to learn about many toxic chemicals (asbestos, carbon monoxide, lead and more) that we encounter in our everyday lives.
Exercise/Fitness:
InteliHealth See the Fitness and Workplace Health sections. Also provides interactive assessment materials. This is a commercial site, sponsored by Aetna and containing advertising.
Fitness.gov has 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 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.'
Diets & Nutrition
Diets are controversial, and always in the news. Get up to date articles at Search Library Resources, or at Journals.
Links, articles and books for National Nutrition Month (March)
MyPyramid Tracker from Center for Nutrition and Policy Promotion. Free but requires registration. Analyze your food intake, nutrients, physical activity and more.
Vegetarian Resource Group A nonprofit organization that explains all aspects of vegetarianism. Some materials for teens and kids, and some in Spanish.
Vegetarianism & Vegetarian Nutrition
VegetarianNutrition.net from the Vegetarian Nutrition Practice Group of the American Dietetic Association.
You Are What You Eat has many helpful online resources compiled by HealthyNJ in New Jersey.
American Heart Association recipes and lifestyle information AHA food pyramid, recipes, food label glossary, and dining out tips.
See the Recipe Collections from National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Cook It Quick! from the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension Service. Quick cooking for healthy meals, and organizational tips to help when there is too much to do!
American Dietetic Association Nutrition tips and tools, finding a dietician in your area and more. See the Food and Nutrition Information section.
Nutrition.gov Links federal government information of nutrition, food assistance programs (WIC, Food Stamps, and School Lunch programs).
Food and Nutrition Information Center includes food composition, dietary supplements, and a Consumer Corner with practical tips on cooking, canning, and more.
Portion Distortion How food portions have changed in the past 20 years - from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Food and Drug Administration Food Safety and Nutrition Consumer Advice Food, nutrition, and cosmetics questions and answers.
Food and Nutrition Information Center at the National Agricultural Library. Educational materials for consumers and professionals.
SafeFood Rapid Response Network and their monthly newsletter, Safe Food News. Information on food production and safety from Colorado State University Extension service.
Dental Health
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. This is a commercial site.
Your Dental Health: a Guide for Patients and Families Scroll down to see their recommended books, magazines, and Web sites for many dental specialty organizations.
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.
Immunizations
Colorado Children's Immunization Coalition
Colorado Influenza and Pneumococcal Alert Coalition Find a flu clinic, learn about flu shot and more.
Immunization Initiatives from the American Academy of Pediatrics for parents and for clinicians. Some items avail 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, and 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 is 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.
Dr. John Grohol's Psych Central Resources and support for all 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.
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.
Free articles from the American Hospice Foundation 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 is 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. Their 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.
Safety: Home, Workplace, Community
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.
ToxTown An interactive tool to learn about many toxic chemicals (asbestos, carbon monoxide, lead and more) that we encounter in our everyday lives.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (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.
ColoradoLegalServices.org compiles resources for legal assistance for low income residents of Colorado.
Safe Sex
FamilyDoctor.org Sex Take time to make the right decision.
FamilyDoctor.org STD's Learn how to protect yourself.
Safer Sex from the University of Utah's University Health Care. This site is written for women, but can be helpful for anyone.
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.
Stop Smoking
Join the Great American Smokeout! Books, audio and online resources to help you quit smoking.
American Lung Association Click on site index to see the many resources here 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 has help to get ready to quit, and to stay quit.
Getting Good Health Care
Medlineplus Directories provide many ways of finding physicians, specialists, specialized hospitals and clinics.
The American Hospital Association's 'Patient Care Partnership' brochure Helps you know what to expect of your hospital stay and how to participate in your own care. This brochure is available in PDF format in English, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Know Your Numbers Why you should know your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose.
Helping Your Physicians and Pharmacists Help You
Talking with your doctor from the National Eye Institute.
American Heart Association Finding a good doctor and more guides like getting a second opinion.
Decision Aids from the Ottawa Health Research Institute. Resources for thinking through and making those 'tough' decisions. A general online tool, and many more specific ones based on the body part of system involved. In English and French.
ColoradoLegalServices.org compiles resources for legal assistance for low income residents of Colorado.
National Committee for Quality Assurance provides report cards for many health plans.
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) provides many resources for and about accreditation of health care facilities.
Public Citizen's Health Research Group provides many ‘watchdog' services including Questionable Doctors.
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.
The Legal Center for People with Disabilities and Older People. Find an Ombudsman.
Agency for healthcare quality and research See consumer health and the quality assessment section.
QuackWatch.org An internet guide to fraud and quackery. Not everyone agrees, but you'll find the arguments here.
Healthfinder.gov Section on Health Care provides help on questions about insurance, long term care, doctors, and more.
American Academy of Medical Acupuncture includes a searchable directory of physicians certified to practice both medicine and acupuncture in their states.
National Consumers League Tips on how to avoid fraud, preserve your health care privacy, manage stress, learn about evidence-based medicine and more.
Federal Trade Commission See their Operation Cure-All page for help evaluating health product claims.
Food and Drug Administration See their recommendations on: Buying Medicines and Medical Products Online.
HIPAA Overview from the Washington D.C. Department of Health.
Getting Help in Denver
Please see our Getting Help in Denver section.
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Updated: March 26, 2008
