The United States government provides a wealth of research, educational initiatives, and information on health topics through a variety of health agencies including the CDC, the NIH, HHS, and more. These valuable resources generally provide reliable information on conventional medical treatments.
However, they tend to avoid holistic health topics with the exception of NCCIH. This site is presented first as it offers information more in line with the mission of Happy Healthy Her
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
nccih.nih.gov – a project of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), it offers research and information on integrative medicine topics such as herbs, nutritional supplements, acupuncture and more. [Formerly known as National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)]
The following sites are listed in alphabetical order, with specific health conditions listed separately:
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
www.ahrq.gov – a division of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the AHRQ provides research and data on health care issues in the country.
Center for Disease Control (CDC)
www.cdc.gov – The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion – this group provides public health and safety information and initiatives.
ClinicalTrials.gov
www.clinicaltrials.gov – a database of clinical trials. Although many of these research trials are on conventional medications, some are testing herbs and nutritional supplements. Use the “Studies by Topic” to locate these studies.
The Guide to Community Preventive Services
www.thecommunityguide.org/index.html – a service of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) providing information on public health initiatives that are effective within the community.
Health.gov
www.health.gov – a portal site from the National Health Information Center (NHIC). It provides links to a Quick Guide to Healthy Living and a variety of the government’s other health resources. There is also information on health literacy, e-health and health communications, along with “health widgets”.
HealthFinder.gov
http://www.healthfinder.gov – coordinated by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) and its health information referral service. The site is a consumer-friendly resources including health advice, tools, and the latest health news.
Hospital Compare
www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov – a site from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services that provides hospital rankings.
MedlinePlus
medlineplus.gov – from the National Institutes of Health, the site provides detailed information for patients on medical treatments, drugs, supplements, and more. There are also educational videos and interactive tutorials.
National Center for Biotechnology Information
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – for true science fans, this site has the latest information on genetics, biotechnology and the human genome.
National Guidelines Clearinghouse
www.guideline.gov – a project of the AHRQ providing evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.
National Institutes of Health
www.nih.gov – the nation’s medical research agency. This site serves as an umbrella for the many other websites and health agencies. The subsection health.nih.gov provides links to numerous health topics.
WomensHealth.gov (The Office on Women’s Health)
www.womenshealth.gov – a comprehensive, consumer-friendly site specifically addressing women’s health issues.
Health Conditions
Could I Have Lupus
http://www.couldihavelupus.gov – information and resources on lupus from the Office on Women’s Health (OWH).
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
www.cancer.gov – A division of the NIH, the NCI provides information on cancer treatments, research, clinical trials, and cancer statistics.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
www.niaid.nih.gov – research and information on infectious disease such as HIV/AIDS, Lyme Disease, along allergic diseases such as food allergies and airborne allergies.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin
http://www.niams.nih.gov – offers information and research on treatment and prevention of arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/ – the umbrella organization addressing some of the most challenging public health concerns including diabetes, weight control, digestive diseases, and more. With links to the following agencies:
National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse
www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov – information on diabetes including education, clinical trials, and statistics.
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC)
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/index.aspx – provides reports and detailed info on digestive diseases such as Celiac Disease.
Weight-Control Information Network
http://win.niddk.nih.gov – information and resources on weight control, obesity, physical activity, and nutrition for consumers and professionals.
National Institute of Mental Health
www.nimh.nih.gov – resources for the many mental health issues prevalent in the country including anxiety, OCD, panic disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, eating disorders, and more.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
www.ninds.nih.gov – from the NIH, the site’s mission is “reducing the burden of neurological disease.”
Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases
http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/ – a project of the NIH, the site provides information on improving bone health, Paget’s disease, and osteoporosis.
[Last Updated: 11/2/15]