News Moms Need

OK, I confess; sometimes, if I’m not feeling well or some part of my body is bothering me, I turn to the Web first to try and find the culprit. I don’t intend to diagnose myself, but sometimes the convenience of having all that information at my fingertips makes it too easy. And I don’t think I’m alone. The Washington Post published an article earlier this month on the increasing use of the Internet to search for health topics. The article also mentions a new term, “cyberchondriac,” which is similar to a hypochondriac except that the person uses the Web to further her fears and anxiety about her health. Thankfully, that’s not me!

But even though I’m turning to the Web for more information, I try not to let my amateur medical research get in the way of me seeing my health provider regularly or when there’s a problem. While the Internet can be a useful tool, there’s also a lot of junk out there, so I try to make sure that the information I’m getting is from a good source.

Here are some tips that can help you know if a Web site is a good source for health information:

• Find out who sponsors the Web site. Knowing what organization or company pays for the site can help you determine if the site’s information is credible.

• Look at the Web address to know what kind of organization it is. Government sites end in .gov; educational institutions end in .edu; professional organizations (scientific or research) end in .org; and business or commercial sites end in .com. Some health Web sites that end in .com can offer credible information (for example, hospitals or health organizations). Be sure that the .com site discloses any sponsorship for its health information or if it endorses any products or services.

• Science and medical recommendations change over time. Make sure the Web site and information is updated frequently and lists when the information was last revised.

• Information on the site should be based on facts and able to be verified. Any opinions should be clearly identified as such.

Some good Web sources for health information include:
• www.CDC.gov
• www.WomensHealth.gov
• www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/
• www.MarchofDimes.com
• www.MayoClinic.com

I lived in New York City for many years. I always got a kick out of those guys on the sidewalk selling “real” Omega watches and “real” Prada bags. Sure! An Omega watch for $19.99.

What’s the latest phony product? Drugs over the Internet. About 6 out of 10 prescription drugs sold over the Web are fakes.

This estimate comes from the agency in Great Britain that’s like our Food and Drug Administration. It’s called MHRA (Medicine and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency).

Not only are many of the drugs fake, they may also contain harmful ingredients. Here’s some of the weird stuff found in these drugs:
  * Shoe polish
  * Floor polish
  * Chalk
  * Cement powder
  * Arsenic
  * The paint used for stripes on the road

This scares me! And I don’t think I’m alone.

The best way to avoid counterfeit drugs is to use a reputable pharmacy and a real prescription. If you want to try an online pharmacy, ask your health care provider for a recommendation. And be sure its licensed in the country where you live. 

Has anybody ordered prescriptions over the Web? What was your experience?

The more time a child spends with television, movies, video games, magazines, music and the Internet, the more likely he is to be obese and to perform poorly in school. And as the child gets older, he’s more likely to smoke and use drugs. This is what experts at the National Institutes of Health, Yale University and California Pacific Medical Center found in a recent review of research.  

What does this mean since most of us and our children love media? I had a nutrition professor once he told us “Everything in moderation.” That’s good advice, it seems to me, for many things in life. So be sure you and your kids walk, swim, play ball, socialize, dance, go to the zoo, join clubs, visit with neighbors and friends. The media are great; they enrich our lives. But too much of anything isn’t a good idea.

As one of the researchers said, “Couch potato does, unfortunately, sum it up pretty well.” So let’s get up, get our kids up, and get moving!

How do you manage the media in your children’s lives?

For more info on the study, visit the Web site of Common Sense Media.

We’re all doing it. Someone in the family gets sick. We head right for our computers and start Googling. And we wonder, “How do I know if what I’m reading is telling me the truth?”

The New York Times has several good articles today that help people find the health information they need. Here are some of the questions that are explored:

1. How do I make sense of research studies?
2. How do I find good information on the Web?
3. What does “FDA-approved” mean?
4. How do I find a doctor?

Here at the March of Dimes, we’re committed to providing honest info to help people make their own health choices. If you have questions about pregnancy and newborn health, visit our Web site. We welcome comments and suggestions from the public. So take a look. 

We also have a very special online community for families who have a baby in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). It’s a lively group of parents (mostly moms) who support, and learn from, each other. They also laugh a lot together. Check it out. And tell anyone you know who has a child in a NICU. 

What do you do to find solid health info for yourself and your family?