Medialink Features: Using the Right Medical References.With the explosion of online resources dispensing medical advice, people have access to more health information than ever before. This information is especially handy for people who feel under the weather and want an idea of what they may have -- a situation Robin Landes found herself in when she had a persistent cough and felt feverish feverish /fe·ver·ish/ (fe´ver-ish) febrile. fe·ver·ish adj. 1. Having a fever. 2. Relating to or resembling a fever. 3. Causing or tending to cause a fever. . "Whenever I start feeling sick, I like to research my symptoms," Landes said. "I had just come back from an international trip and was feeling sick. After looking on the Internet for my symptoms and with all the health scares going on here, I thought I had SARS. I was really scared for my life." With so much information available, it is common for people to misdiagnose mis·di·ag·nose tr.v. mis·di·ag·nosed, mis·di·ag·nos·ing, mis·di·ag·nos·es To diagnose incorrectly. their symptoms -- which is why experts say it is important to know their medical sources. "Many websites offer urban myths and legends Myths and Legends is a Collectible Card Game based on universal mythologies, developed in 2000 in Santiago, Chile. The game now has 0 editions and more than 3,000 collectible cards. when treating and diagnosing medical problems. Medical reference books like The Merck Manual are peer-reviewed by the medical community to help the doctors and their patients understand medical problems," said Dr. Robert Porter Robert Porter is the name of:
The Merck Manual, which was first published in 1899, is regarded as the most widely-used general medical textbook in the world. More than 300 independent experts contributed to the latest edition -- the first in seven years. The new volume contains information on timely topics such as bird flu bird flu: see influenza. bird flu or avian influenza viral respiratory disease, mainly of birds including poultry and waterbirds but also transmissible to humans. , biological warfare biological warfare, employment in war of microorganisms to injure or destroy people, animals, or crops; also called germ or bacteriological warfare. Limited attempts have been made in the past to spread disease among the enemy; e.g. and SARS. Doctors encourage patients to learn more about what's ailing them. "It's always smart to do your homework before making a doctor's appointment," said Dr. Porter. "By having a general idea of what might be causing you to feel the way you do, you can better communicate with your physician." Doctors say patients should do their research with the purpose of asking informed questions when they do stop in for an office visit. For the full story, go to http://media.medialink.com/home.aspx?Story=32093 NOTE TO EDITORS: All copy and photography is available for free and unrestricted use with Medialink Features (MF) dateline attribution at·tri·bu·tion n. 1. The act of attributing, especially the act of establishing a particular person as the creator of a work of art. 2. . |
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