Anita Bora

No more waiting for a doctor's appointment. No more reading magazines that are four years old in the waiting room, while the doctor is seeing another patient. Help is now just a click away.

While online medicine is not a replacement for the traditional doctor-patient relationship, an understanding of common diseases and conditions can go a long way in helping us managing our health better.

There is a sea of information out there that can be used effectively to increase our understanding of medical problems. A great starting point is the Virtual Medical Group, a US based site, where you can get information on a host of medical conditions. Registered members can become a SmartPatient, a program under which they can maintain their own Virtual Medical Record and avail of an online physician consultation. The site ensures confidentiality and security of members, and comes with a small fee attached.

Under development is Easy Diagnosis, with around 40 topics listed currently, out of which around seven are active. You have to answer a few questions, based on which the program helps you identify what your condition might be. However, it is clearly mentioned that this is not a replacement for patient doctor contact. It is only designed to assist in the diagnosis of a disease based on the signs and symptoms.

The National Medical Society also has an Online Medical Diagnosis section, that can assist you in the diagnosis of your problem. It has help for common problems like Anaemia, Anorexia and Arthritis as well as more complex ones like Ménière's Disease, Nephritis and Hypernatremia. You will, however, have to register before you can use the service.

Now for something closer to home. Best Diagnosis, is an India-based site that promises to empower patients by offering medical services like a health reminder, self diagnosis, and information on drugs. It also offers services at home like a doctor, massage, and nursing, along with a section on alternative medicine like acupuncture, ayurveda, reiki, massage, aromatherapy, etc. Again, requires you to register first.

Another useful site with resources on health is Health4India. It has information on all kinds of diseases and conditions, from AIDS to the ZE syndrome, with separate sections for men, women, children, nurses, etc. You can also get your questions answered by a panel of experts, or use its health directory to find services like blood banks, hospitals, chemists in major Indian cities and towns. Also has information on health insurance, like Mediclaim.

This Healthcare Guide makes your search easier by dividing the information on the basis of a body key, into Head and Chest, Abdomen, Limbs and Skin. Each section tackles related diseases and conditions. You will first have to answer a questionnaire, however, based on which results are displayed. Also, a glossary on the page helps you understand diseases better. For example, if you need more information on chicken pox, it gives you a break-up of the symptoms, causes, prevention, complications and self-care.

To keep track of advances in the medical world, there's the British Medical Journal which is ranked as one of the best general medicine journals in the world. There are free text articles that can be searched, along with news links, resources, abstracts, reviews (books, websites) and editorials. Helpful for someone looking for information on specific medical conditions.

Another useful site with information on health topics, divided into categories according to the alphabet, is Medline Plus with the latest news, exhaustive information about common drugs and the meaning of medical terms. It also has a section on other resources like organisations, libraries, publications and databases.

Then, Net Doctor, a UK based site, gives you some in-depth information about diseases and conditions, as well as health advice on a wide range of topics. You can send in your health queries to an online doctor, while its search function helps you find what you need a lot faster.

All the information provided on diagnosis and medical sites are for information purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Only a qualified medical practitioner should diagnose your healthcare problems and prescribe treatment.

Needless to say, the best way to avoid going to a doctor at all and lessen health complications, is by following a healthy lifestyle, eating well, and exercising. But that can be a topic for another day!

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Health Guide
General Health Issues
Health Education

Tell us what you think of this article