[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/09\/reliable-health-info-online\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/09\/reliable-health-info-online\/","headline":"How To Find Reliable Health Information Online","name":"How To Find Reliable Health Information Online","description":"It can be difficult to find health information online that you can trust. Here is how to know whether a website's health and medical information is reliable.","datePublished":"2021-09-13","dateModified":"2021-11-23","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/","name":"UPMC","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/buttered-coffe-healthy.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/buttered-coffe-healthy.jpg","height":323,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/09\/reliable-health-info-online\/","about":["Family Health","Living and Wellness"],"wordCount":1006,"articleBody":"The first place to go for reliable health information should be your primary care doctor. But sometimes you’ll want to search online for information about health conditions. How can you tell reliable, accurate information from false or outdated information in the wild west of the internet?It’s helpful to know which sites are nearly always reliable. These should be your first stop.Start With Public Health SitesFederal, state, and local public health agency websites have reliable health information on a wide range of topics. These websites usually have web addresses ending in .gov.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is possibly the most respected public health institution in the world. It’s the first place to search for health recommendations and information about different conditions. It’s easier to find information if you do an internet search using the name of the condition or disease followed by \u201cCDC.”The National Library of Medicine (NLM) is another federal resource with information on just about any topic. Go directly to the MedlinePlus homepage, which includes a search option at the top. The NLM offers an online tutorial to help you learn to evaluate internet health information.The NLM is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), another highly reliable source for health information. The NIH includes 27 different institutes focused on different medical topics. They include the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute on Aging, and the National Institute of Mental Health.Your state health department website also has information about local and state public health issues. These include infectious diseases, environmental health threats, and vaccinations. Most counties or cities also have public health sites with reliable information.Hospitals, Medical Societies, and NonprofitsAfter public health agencies, reliable sources of health information include hospitals, educational institutions, and nonprofits. Hospitals, such as UPMC, often have detailed, accurate information about a wide range of conditions. It’s helpful to start with your own hospital system or the website of a large major United States hospital system.Medical societies are professional organizations made up of doctors with specific specialties. These sites often have sections specifically for the general public with reliable information. Here are some of the most helpful:American Medical AssociationAmerican Academy of Family PhysiciansAmerican Academy of Pediatrics and HealthyChildren.org, its parenting websiteAmerican College of Obstetricians and GynecologistsNonprofit organizations include a wide range of groups focused on specific health conditions or issues. Most websites ending in .org are nonprofit organizations. Most of these organizations are reliable, but the information found on their websites may require closer examination.Here are some of the top reliable nonprofit organizations:American Heart AssociationAmerican Cancer SocietyAmerican Red CrossNational Council on AgingEvaluating a WebsiteWhat happens if an internet search takes you to an unfamiliar website or an organization you know little about? Here’s how to determine a site’s reliability:1. What does the web address end in?.gov addresses indicate local, state, or federal government sites and are usually very reliable.edu addresses indicate colleges, universities, and schools. They also are usually very reliable.org addresses include nonprofit groups, as well as some professional societies and research groups.com addresses include businesses (pharmaceutical companies, independent medical practices, and many hospitals)2. Who wrote the information and who reviewed it?Many websites will include the author of the information. Is it a doctor or other health professional? A respected health or science journalist? Was the information reviewed by a medical professional with a doctor of medicine (MD) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) degree? Is the information provided by a legitimate hospital or health care institution?If the page does not name the author or reviewer, look for an \u201cAbout Us” or \u201cContact Us” section. These links should tell you more about the creator of the website and its information.3. How recent is the information?Most webpages will include the date the information was posted or updated. The most reliable pages have been posted within the last three years.4. What is the website’s purpose?Does the website exist for the sole purpose of providing public health information? Does it exist to promote a business? Does it exist to sell products?Websites that sell products or advertise a business may not be as reliable as others. One way to learn more about the website’s purpose is to look for a mission statement.5. Be cautious about personal websites and blogs.While many personal websites and blogs contain accurate information, others contain dangerous misinformation. Carefully research the background of the creator through other internet searches. If the website sells products, you should be especially skeptical.Here are things to look for on personal websites, blogs, and other sites:Is the information based on facts and evidence?Does the site list or link to research studies or reliable health websites?Does the information on the site match information from reliable health sites?Red FlagsThe following are warning signs a website may be unreliable or contain misinformation:Miracle cures or other information that sounds too good to be trueStatements that promise a cure, a fast recovery, or results if you buy the products on the websiteInformation that goes against what you find on reliable health sitesPersonal stories or opinions that are very different from information found on reliable health websitesMany broken linksPoorly written contentInformation that has not been updated in more than three yearsPop-ups and other intrusive advertisements that make the information hard to readSites that ask for personal information, such as your phone number, address, or health informationIf you are uncertain about information found on a website, talk to a trusted medical professional.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on September 13, 2021, and was last reviewed on October 15, 2021.SourcesHealthy Aging and Physical Disability. Rehabilitation Research and Training Center. University of Washington Seattle. LinkMedline Plus. Evaluating Health Information. National Library of Medicine. August 27, 2020. LinkNational Institute on Aging. Online Health Information: Is It Reliable? October 31, 2018. Link"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2021","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"09","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/\/09\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"How To Find Reliable Health Information Online","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/09\/reliable-health-info-online\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]