The following information is current as of March 2025:

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Websites ending in .edu, .org, or .gov are often more trustworthy than commercial (.com) sites, as they are less likely to be influenced by profit motives. 

 

Some of the most reliable online health information comes from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Recently, however, content on some of the NIH sites has become politicized leading to the potential removal of information important for the health and welfare of the public. And, large layoffs at NIH agencies may interfere with updating health information.

 

Start your search using MedlinePlus: A highly reliable government health site, MedlinePlus (https://medlineplus.gov) is a service of the National Library of Medicine; to date the information remains accurate and appropriate. If you are concerned about internet disinformation, there are many excellent sites that have been developed by universities, health systems and foundations, including:

 

Children’s Health Information

• KidsHealth: Provides information about children's health, behavior, and development from birth through the teen years. The most-viewed site for children's health information. (https://kidshealth.org)

• HealthyChildren: A website from the American Academy of Pediatrics that provides health content for parents and caregivers. (www.healthychildren.org)

• Facts for Families: In-depth information and resources for families about mental health issues from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: (www.aacap.org)

• Sex, Etc.: Provides and promotes free access to comprehensive sexuality education for young people and the adults who teach them. (https://sexetc.org)

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General Health Information 

• Family Doctor: Medical advice from the American Academy of Family Physicians. Site includes information about prevention and wellness, and a Symptom Checker. (https://familydoctor.org) 

• Mayo Clinic:  Health Library (www.mayoclinic.org)

• Cleveland Clinic: Health Library (https://my.clevelandclinic.org)

• Merck Manual Consumer Version: Highly respected manual for professionals and consumers. Contains general medical information about thousands of diseases and symptoms in all fields of medicine. (www.merckmanuals.com)

• Harvard Health Publishing: The consumer health information division of Harvard Medical School. Clinically accurate content in easy-to-understand language (www.health.harvard.edu)\

 

Older Adults Health Information

• Aging Well: Resources, tools and best practices for older adults from the National Council on Aging (www.ncoa.org)

• HealthInAging: Expert health information for older adults and caretakers from the American Geriatrics Society. (www.healthinaging.org) 

• Later in Life Planning: Information from Neighborhood Falmouth including details about Advance Care Preparations, Losing a Loved One, Funeral Planning and Defining Your Legacy. (www.neighborhoodfalmouth.org/later-in-life-planning-1)

• National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging: Focused on improving the quality of services and supports offered to lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender older adults, their families and caregivers. (https://lgbtagingcenter.org)

 

Mental Health

• American Psychiatric Association: Information for patients and families (www.psychiatry.org/patients-families)

• NAMI: Provides information on warning signs and symptoms, treatments, and coping with family member with mental illness from the National Alliance on Mental Illness. (www.nami.org/about-mental-illness)

• HelpGuide: Independent nonprofit that develops information about mental health issues and wellness in collaboration with Harvard Health. (www.helpguide.org)

 

Cancer

• National Comprehensive Cancer Network: Guidelines for Patients and other free cancer resources. More than 70 free books that help people with cancer talk with their doctors about the best treatment options for their disease. (www.nccn.org/patientresources/patient-resources)

• American Cancer Society: Get information on a variety of cancer topics, including understanding your cancer diagnosis and finding and paying for treatment. (www.cancer.org)

• CancerCare: Provides free, professional support services including counseling, support groups, educational workshops, publications and financial assistance to anyone affected by cancer. (www.cancercare.org)

 

Specific Disease Resources

• Alzheimer’s and Dementia: Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org)

• Arthritis and Joint Replacement: American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (www.orthoinfo.org)

• COPD: American Lung Association (www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/copd)

• Diabetes: American Diabetes Association (https://diabetes.org)

• Diets/Weight Loss: Harvard Health Publishing (www.health.harvard.edu/topics/diet-and-weight-loss)

• Drug & Alcohol Issues: Partnership to End Addiction (https://drugfree.org)

• Eye and Vision Conditions: American Optometric Association (www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions)

• Falls: Prevention for Older Adults (www.healthinaging.org/a-z-topic/fall-prevention)

• Hearing Loss: Basic Facts & Information (www.healthinaging.org/a-z-topic/hearing-loss)

• Heart Disease: CardioSmart American College of Cardiology (www.cardiosmart.org) & American Heart Association (www.heart.org)

• Medical Alert Systems: The Best Medical Alert Systems for 2025 (www.medicalalert.org/best-medical-alert-systems)

• Nutrition: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (www.eatright.org)

• Osteoporosis: Bone Health-Osteoporosis Foundation (www.bonehealthandosteoporosis.org/patients)

• Urology Conditions: American Urological Association (www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z)

 

LGBTQ+ Resources

• GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality (https://glma.org)

• Human Rights Campaign (www.hrc.org)

• American Academy of Family Practice LGBTQ+ Health Toolkit (www.aafp.org/family-physician/patient-care/care-resources/lbgtq.html)

• Johns Hopkins LGBTQ Health (www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/lgbtq-health)

• The Trevor Project (www.thetrevorproject.org)

 

Health News

The following online publications are a reliable source for accurate and timely news about health issues:  

• Kaiser Family Foundation Health News (https://kffhealthnews.org/)

• Knowable Magazine (https://knowablemagazine.org/)

• Medical News Today (www.medicalnewstoday.com)

• NPR Health-Shots (www.npr.org/sections/health-shots)

• New York Times Well (www.nytimes.com/section/well)

• Scientific American Health (www.scientificamerican.com/health)​