VCU Internal Medicine Training Program
Patient Education Links

Compiled by: Deborah Koehn, Tami Flowers, Doug Blank
Revised: 6/16/06

 

Please click the links below to access patient-friendly websites on a wide variety of healthcare topics. If you would like to report a dead link or suggest additional resources please email the webmaster. Please keep in mind that web resources for patients should contain simple language that the patient population will understand. Additional primary care patient handouts can be found in Patient Handouts.

Alternative Medicine | Cardiology | Dermatology | Diabetes | Endocrine Gastroenterology | Immunizations | Infectious Disease | Medications
Musculoskeletal | Neurology | Ophthomology | Psychiatry | Pulmonary
Social Issues | Tobacco Cessation | Urology | Vascular | Women's Health

Alternative Medicine

• St John's Wort and the Treatment of Depression (NCCAM)

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Cardiology

• Angina
  • Angina and Heart Disease (familydoctor.org)
• Post-MI Education
  • Recovering from a Heart Attack (Texas Heart Institute)
• Congestive Heart Failure
  • General
    • How to Stay Well and Out of the Hospital (familydoctor.org)
  • Diet
    • Enjoy Healthy Eating (Heart Foundation)
    • Diet (Heart Failure Online)
  • Exercise
    • Physical Activity and a Healthy Heart (AHA)
    • Healthy Lifestyle (Heart Foundation)
    • Activity and exercise for heart failure (WebMD)
    • How can I get started on an exercise program? (WebMD)
    • A Guide to Exercise for Congestive Heart Failure Patients (The Physician and Sports Medicine)

  • Managing stress

    • Managing stress (AHA)
• Hyperlipidemia
  • Cholesterol: What Your Level Means (familydoctor.org)
  • Hyperlipidemia (VascularWeb)
• Hypertension
  • Hypertension Reference Summary (MedlinePlus)

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Dermatology

• Contact Dermatitis (American Academy of Dermatology)
• Poison Ivy Fact Sheet (US Dept of the Interior)
• Psorasis (familydoctor.org)
• Acne Reference Summary (MedlinePlus)
• Alopecia: Hair Loss and Its Causes (familydoctor.org)
• Athlete's Foot (American Podiatric Medical Association)
• Jock Itch-Teen (KidsHealth)
• Onchyomyocsis: Fungal Infections of Fingernails and Toenails (familydoctor.org)

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Diabetes

• Diabetes and Hypoglycemia (Cleveland Clinic)
• Monitoring Your Blood Sugar Level (familydoctor.org)
• Diabetic Diet: Nutrition & Recipes (American Diabetes Association)
• Health Maintenance
  • Eyes
    • Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Eyes Healthy (NDIC)
    • Diabetes & Eyes (RI Dept of Health)
  • Foot Care (familydoctor.org)
• Diabetes Complications
  • Diabetes Complications (Federal Citizen Information Center)
  • Overview of Clinical Complications of Diabetes (Martha Jefferson)

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Endocrine

• The Endocrine System (The Hormone Foundation)
• Thyroid Disease (Medem)
• Thyroid Disease and Teens (familydoctor.org)

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Gastroenterology

• Viral Gastroenteritis (Digestive Diseases)
• Gastroenteritis: First aid (MayoClinic)
• Viral Hepatitis (CDC)
• Colorectal Cancer Screening Fact Sheet (Medicare.gov)
• GERD
  • Hints on Dealing With the Discomfort (familydoctor.org)
  • Heartburn, Hiatal Hernia, & Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) (Digestive Diseases)
• Constipation (Digestive Diseases)
• H. Pylori
  • Ulcers and H. pylori Infection (familydoctor.org)
  • H. pylori and Peptic Ulcer (Digestive Diseases)
• Hemorrhoid
  • Reducing the Pain and Discomfort (familydoctor.org)
  • Hemorrhoids (Digestive Diseases)

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Immunizations

• Adult Immunization Q&A (NFID)
• Hepatitis B
  • Prevent Hepatitis B (CDC)
  • Hepatits B Vaccine: What You Need to Know (CDC)
• Pneumovax
  • The Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine: What You Need to Know (CDC)
  • Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine: What You Need to Know (CDC)
• Tetanus
  • Diphtheria, Tetanus, & Pertussis: What You Need to Know (CDC)
  • Tetanus & Diphtheria Vaccine for Children (CDC)

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Infectious Diseases

• STIs: Common Symptoms & Tips on Prevention (familydoctor.org)
• Gonorrhea
  • Gonorrhea (TeensHealth)
  • Gonorrhea (CDC Fact Sheet)
• Hepatitis B and C (familydoctor.org)
• Chlamydia (CDC Fact Sheet)
• Trichomoniasis (CDC Fact Sheet)
• HIV
  • Coping With the Diagnosis (familydoctor.org)
  • Living With HIV and AIDS (CDC)
• Vaginal Yeast Infections (familydoctor.org)

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Medications

• Over-the-counter (OTC) Medicines (familydoctor.org)

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Musculoskeletal

• Ankle Sprains: Healing and Preventing Injury (familydoctor.org)
• Arthritis
  • Arthritis: How to Stay Active and Independent (familydoctor.org)
  • Exercise and Arthritis (Arthritis Foundation)
• Back Pain
  • Tips on Pain Relief and Prevention (familydoctor.org)
  • How to Prevent Back Pain (MedlinePlus)
  • Back Pain Exercises (AAOS)
• Plantar Fasciitis: A Common Cause of Heel Pain (familydoctor.org)
• Biceps Tendinitis (AAOS)
• Shoulder Impingement (AAOS)

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Neurology

• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (familydoctor.org)
• Tension Headaches (familydoctor.org)
• Ischemic Strokes and Their Causes (American Stroke Association)
• Stroke, TIA and Warning Signs (American Stroke Association)

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Ophthomology

• Conjunctivitis (Cleveland Clinic)
• Cartaracts
  • Cartaracts (MedlinePlus)
  • Don't Lose Sight of Cataract (National Eye Institute)
• Glaucoma (MedlinePlus)
• Diabetes-Eye Complications (MedlinePlus)
• Macular Degeneration (MedlinePlus)

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Psychiatry

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (familydoctor.org)
• Insomnia: How to Get a Good Night's Sleep (familydoctor.org)
• Fibromyalgia: What It Is and How to Manage It (familydoctor.org)
• Depression: You Don't Have to Feel This Way (familydoctor.org)
• Anxiety and Panic: Gaining Control Over How You're Feeling (familydoctor.org)
• Panic Attacks
  • Panic Disorder (NIMH)
  • Panic Disorder: Panic Attacks and Agoraphobia (familydoctor.org)
  • Panick Attack (ADAA)
• Grief
  • Grieving: Facing Illness, Death and Other Losses (familydoctor.org)
  • Coping With Loss - Bereavement and Grief (NMHA)
  • Grief and Grieving (WebMD)

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Pulmonary

• The Common Cold (American Lung Association)
• Chronic Cough: Causes and Cures (familydoctor.org)
• Metered-Dose Inhaler: How to Use It Correctly (familydoctor.org)
• Asthma
  • Asthma (MedlinePlus)
  • Indoor Environmental Asthma Triggers (EPA)
  • Basic Facts about Asthma (CDC)
  • Asthma Flare-ups (familydoctor.org)
  • How to Help Your Allergies and Asthma (AAAAI)
• COPD
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (MedlinePlus)
  • Living With Advanced Lung Disease: A Guideline for Family Caregivers (PCPC)

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Social Issues

• Domestic Violence
  • Recognize the patterns and seek help (MayoClinic)
  • Protecting Yourself and Your Children (familydoctor.org)

Tobacco Cessation

• How Can I Quit Smoking? (AHA)
• It's Never Too Late to Stop (NIA)
• How Can I Handle the Stess of Not Smoking? (AHA)

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Urology

• Prostate
  • Prostate Cancer Screening Decision Guide (CDC)
  • Understanding Prostate Changes: Types of Tests (NCI)
  • What I need to know about Prostate Problems (NKUDIC)
  • Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) (familydoctor.org)
• UTIS
  • Urinary Tract Infections (NKUDIC)
  • UTI Handout (National Women's Health Information Center)
• Erectile Dysfunction
  • Erectile Dysfunction (familydoctor.org)
  • Viagra (familydoctor.org)

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Vascular

• Venous Disease (SIR)

Women's Health

• Breast Health
  • The Five Steps of a Breast Self Exam (breastcancer.org)
  • Steps to Finding Breast Lumps Early (familydoctor.org)
  • Mammography (MedlinePlus)
  • Fibrocystic Breast Changes (Medem)
• Birth Control
  • Choosing a Method That's Right for You (familydoctor.org)
  • What Kind of Birth Control Is Best for You? (USDA)
  • Oral Contraceptives (University of Oregon)
  • The Pill (Feminist Women's Health Center)
• Prenatal Care
  • Pregnancy: Taking Care of You and Your Baby (familydoctor.org)
• Sexual Dysfunction in Women (familydoctor.org)
• Vaginal Dryness (MayoClinic)
• Menopause and HRT
  • What to Expect When Your Body is Changing (familydoctor.org)
  • Managing Your Bodies Changes (The Hormone Foundation)
  • Hormone Replacement Therapy (familydoctor.org)
  • HRT Benefits and alternatives (MayoClinic)
• Osteoporosis
  • Keeping Your Bones Healthy and Strong (familydoctor.org)
  • Calcium (AAOS)
• Vaginal Discharge

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