October is health literacy month. Health Literacy is the ability to read, understand, and act upon health information. According to the National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy, nearly 9 out of 10 adults have difficulty using routine health information. A large gap exists between the way health care issues are delivered and the ability of most people to understand them.
When you are looking for health information online, MedlinePlus.gov and Magill’s Medical Guide Online are great resources. MedlinePlus.gov is a government website that has health information on every medical topic in easy-to-read format. It’s available in multiple languages, there are also videos, encyclopedias, and drug information.
Magill’s Medical Guide Online is available through JMRL databases, you’ll need to login with your library card number to access it. There’s general health information, including causes and symptoms, and treatments and therapies. You can also print or save articles with Magill’s.
JMRL also has a list of local health resources which includes mental health services and local clinics.
Check out these titles about health and wellness:
Complete Guide to Fitness and Health, edited by Barbara Bushman, PhD.
American College of Sports Medicine’s Complete Guide to Fitness & Health merges research-based, scientific information with practical and adaptable plans that you can use. The book provides the reader with simple ways to assess themselves, and then, using insights gained, enhance their exercise programs and make optimal nutrition decisions that fit with their personal goals.
Mayo Clinic A to Z Health Guide, edited by Scott C. Litin, MD.
This is a home reference for the most common conditions.
Know-It-All Medicine, edited by Dr. Gabrielle M. Finn
Fifty crucial milestones, treatments, and technologies in the history of health, each explained in a minute. It takes the reader on an engrossing journey from the first “medicines” to today’s keyhole surgery, bionic limbs, and breakthrough drug treatments. It’s an essential and engaging read for anyone who wants to know more about the contemporary state of medicine, and what the future may hold for medicine and its practitioners.