Recommended Links

Current health news:

• National Library of Medicine Medline Plus
• EurekAlert
• Centers for Disease Control (especially, but not only, about epidemics, flu, and other infectious diseases)

Reliable, up-to-date general health sites for consumers:

• The Mayo Clinic (highly recommended)
• American Academy of Family Physicians (excellent self-care advice and information about common conditions)
• National Library of Medicine Medline Plus (drugs, health topics...)
• National Institutes of Health (authoritative documents and info)
• Health Finder (various USA government publications)
• Merck Manual (a time-hallowed, compact textbook of medicine)
• Merck Manual of Medical Information -- Home Edition
  (a version for the general public)
• Manuali Merck (the health professional's Merck Manual in Italian)
• UpToDate (especially useful regarding procedures and treatments)
• University of Maryland Medical Center (not as heavy as Mayo)
• Drug Watch (up-to-date info on prescription and OTC medications)
• On herbs and dietary supplements , from Memorial Sloan-Kettering

Resources for patients with uncommon diseases:

• NIH Office of Rare Diseases
• National Organization for Rare Disorders

A few common specific issues:

• Alcoholics Anonymous
  • AA Europe, Rome page
  • AA Rome site
• Rethinking Drinking : help in reducing your risk for alcohol-related problems. From the US National Institutes of Health.
• Quitting smoking: American Lung Assoc. , American Cancer Society
• American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons : information/brochures on topics from bunions to joint replacement (also en espanol )
• Diabetes and its treatment: American Diabetes Association , Joslin Clinic
• High cholesterol: concepts and treatment
  • WebMD
  • National Institutes of Health
• Dietary advice:
  • Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005
  • DASH diet for hypertension (a version of the traditional Italian or "Mediterranean" diet): in brief ; in detail
  • Diets for gastrointestinal conditions: Jackson Gastroenterology (generally excellent but they may go overboard on "prebiotics")
  • Weight Watchers
  • Metabolic rate calculator: learn how many calories you burn
• Spousal abuse (very useful essay and links, from the Mayo Clinic)
• Travel information:
  • Centers for Disease Control (authoritative and up-to-date)
    • "Yellow Book" (detailed info on diseases and destinations)
  • MD Travel Health (rapid and straightforward)
• Irritable bowel syndrome:
  • IBS self-help and support group
• Digestive conditions and procedures: Jackson Gastroenterology
• Migraine: The Migraine Action Association (self-help group
• Menopause
  • Hormone therapy
  • Sexual issues (Our Bodies Our Selves article by Dr. Levenstein
• Stress and its effects on health: The End of Stress As We Know It
• Chronic pain:
  • MedicineNet.com A good introduction
• Teach Us to Sit Still Tim Park's excellent book
• For English-speaking mothers and mothers-to-be: Rome Mama
• Psychological issues
  • Mental health :  another excellent offering from the Mayo Clinic
  • MoodGYM : Self-administered Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Intended to help people who are having mild problems with anxiety and depression, not people with clinical disorders.
  • GriefNet.org : Help dealing with grief, death, and major loss
• Pandora's Acquarium : A safe site for survivors of sexual violence
• Diagnostic Testing:
  • X-rays : detailed information on all kinds of imaging studies
  • Colonoscopy
  • UpToDate : describes all kinds of procedures
  • Digestive procedures: Jackson Gastroenterology

For non-Italian physicians considering coming to work in Italy :

It will not be easy for you to get licensed in Italy, and of course you can't work here without doing so. The Ministry of Health has a web page with information on how to get foreign medical training recognized here. The page is now posted also in English.