Remind 'Em It's National Influenza Vaccination Week With A Little Help From The CDC Online

If you didn't already know, the CDC has designated this week National Influenza Vaccination Week. What's more, they've made it easy to help spread the message with their very own e-cards that you can personalize and send to family and friends with just a click of your mouse. Here's the link:

CDC Health-e-Cards: Personalize - National Influenza Vaccination Week

Thanks to the CDC's digital online tools, it's now easier than ever to remind your loved ones to get vaccinated against the flu!

The CDC's Web Site Has The Latest Info On Swine Flu

By now, unless you've been away on a deserted island, you've probably heard all about Swine Flu--it's practically all over the TV news. But what if you want reliable information about this type of flu on the Web? You might be interested to learn that the CDC has set up a special Web site that offers all the latest information about Swine Flu.

The site offers recent news, links to press briefings, travel advisories, and much more--all in an effort to keep you informed. Definitely worth checking out!

And for additional info here's a video from CDCStreamingHealth, the CDC's channel on YouTube:

A Handy Guide To Evaluating Health Information You Find Online

A while back we pointed our readers to a terrific video tutorial on evaluating health resources you find online (see: Learn How To Evaluate Health Information On The Web.) If you found that useful but would rather have something you can read, take a look at this recently published reference guide from the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM):



10 Things To Know About Evaluating Medical Resources on the Web



A useful guide, if you're going to be using the Web to find health information--and you can even print it out for future reference!

What's Your Flu I.Q.?

Think it's too late to get a flu shot? Think again! That's only one of the vital facts you'll learn about this devastating disease and how to prevent it, when you take the CDC's interactive Flu I.Q. quiz in the "widget" below. And when you finish, don't forget to click share at the bottom of the quiz so you can let others know about it! (For more information on this widget and others like it, see: CDC.gov Widgets and Gadgets).

Is Web Surfing Good For Your Noggin?

You know all those friends who keep asking you why you spend so much time surfing the Web? The ones who rarely-if ever-go online themselves, because they just don't think there's much value to it? Well, you might want to show them this interesting article from CBSnews.com called Surfing The Web Stimulates Older Brains.

Who knows? It just might change their minds-literally!

Using The Web For Health Research? Check Out This Article From The New York Times

For anyone using the Web to research matters of health and well-being, there's a terrific article online at the Web site of The New York Times you might be interested in. It's called Logging On for a Second (or Third) Opinion.

In addition to chronicling how one woman used the Web to research her particular medical condition, the article identifies several useful health related Web sites-including many you might not have heard of.

If you're currently using the Web to look up health info or planning to do so in the future, this article is a must-read.

Learn How To Evaluate Health Information On The Web

How confident are you in separating the good from the bad when it comes to health information on the Web? Want to boost your confidence? The prestigious National Library of Medicine has created a tutorial on the subject and you can take it right now online!

Just point your browser to Evaluating Internet Health Information: A Tutorial from the National Library of Medicine. This 16 minute tutorial covers many of the important questions you should ask when determining whether a particular health site on the Web should be trusted or not.

The Center For Medicare Advocacy Is Online Too

If you're a senior with questions or issues regarding Medicare, there's a place on the Web you might be interested in called the Center For Medicare Advocacy.

From the site:

"The Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc. is a national non‑profit, non-partisan organization that provides education, advocacy, and legal assistance to help elders and people with disabilities obtain Medicare and necessary health care."

This helpful site covers the latest medicare news, offers in depth coverage on practically every medicare topic you can think of, and if you need more help, even features information on how to contact the center directly!

This is a terrific resource you'll want to reference again and again!

Keep Them In The Loop With A CaringBridge Web Site

When someone you love is in the hospital, things are tough enough without having to worry about keeping everyone in your circle up to speed on the situation. That's why you'll welcome the service that CaringBridge.org offers.

This non-profit organization makes it easy for you to create a Web site that becomes a point of contact for family and friends during times of serious illness. You can create a site for yourself or for a loved one quickly and easily, even if you've never designed a Web site before! Oh, and best of all, it's free!

To get started and learn more about this convenient service, simply log on to their site and click on Play Video or Take A Tour.

Stop By The MayoClinic.com Senior Health Center

As a savvy senior who uses the Web for research, you're probably always on the lookout for authoritative health related information. Have you discovered the MayoClinic.com Senior Health Center yet?

Here a few of the helpful features you'll find there:

• Articles on senior health issues
  


• Senior health-related quizzes and slide shows
  
  
• Featured healthy aging questions & answers

Brought to you by the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, this is one health-related Web site to put on your must-see list!

Have A Gander At Google Health

Have you heard of Google Health yet? Google, the same company best known for its famous search engine, is now offering a free service called Google Health, that's designed to help you organize all your health and medical information in one convenient place-online!

To take advantage of this service, all you need is a Google username and password. In addition to using it to store and manage medical records, you can use the service to learn more about medical conditions, help you locate doctors and hospitals and more.

Get all the details by going to Google Health and clicking on Take a quick tour.

Get Senior Health Info At EverydayHealth.com

Looking for an authoritative health site that has a special section just for seniors? Check out the Senior Health Center that you'll find on the Web site of EverydayHealth.com.

Key highlights from the special Senior Health Center include:

• The latest senior health related news

• Articles on a variety of senior health topics

• Senior health videos

And tons more! More impressive still, is that this easy to navigate health site is written in a style the average person can understand!

Tips For Healthy Aging From The New York Times

Are you looking for a concise yet comprehensive guide to taking care of your aging body? You might be interested in a special feature called A Guided Tour of Your Body that's been recently added to The Health Section of the New York Times Web site.

In this special section you'll find a series of articles and interactive tools designed to keep you on the cutting edge regarding health and aging. Information on how to keep your brain sharp as you age and the importance of adding strength training to your fitness regimen are just a few of the many highlights of this impressive resource.

This special guide covers everything from head to toe-literally!

A Quick Way To Keep Tabs On The Latest Seniors/Aging Health News

What's the latest health news regarding seniors and aging? A quick way to keep tabs on recent headlines in this field is by visiting the Seniors News & Aging News from MedicalNewsToday.com, a site billed as, "the largest independent health and medical news website on the Internet."

And starting today, you'll be able to read some of those headlines right here on The Senior Surfer! Look for the Seniors/Aging Medical News Today Headlines in the left sidebar under Medline Plus.

A Virtual Video Library On Healthy Aging

Want to know how you can access dozens of videos on the topic of healthy aging? Actually, they're right at your fingertips whenever you point your browser to MedicalNewsToday.com's Seniors/Aging Video Library.

These informative videos feature experts offering their tips and strategies for maintaining good health as you age.

Here's a short list of some of the videos you can watch there:

• Cholesterol Management

• Become a Life-Long Learner

• Physical Activity and Aging

• Sex after Sixty

Aimed at the average consumer, these videos offer a quick and easy introduction to the healthy aging topics you'll want to discuss in greater detail with your doctor at your next visit.

An Online Newsletter For Seniors With A Focus On Health

Are you 55 or older and looking for a blog that delivers timely senior news info with a particular emphasis on health? Check out Senior Time, an online newsletter for the 55+ crowd, that mainly links to the latest newsworthy articles and other resources concerning senior health issues.

The site is easy to navigate and a handy way to use the Web to stay on top of current senior health news. Definitely worth a look!

Let MedlinePlus Help You Achieve Those Exercise Goals

It's 2008 and as one of your New Year's resolutions you've decided to make exercise a priority. Now what? First, ask your doctor's advice before embarking on an exercise program. Then, head on over to the Exercise For Older Adults page from MedlinePlus.

This government sponsored site provides links and information on just about every senior exercise related topic you can think of including:

• Specific exercises you can do at home

• The latest news concerning exercise and seniors

• Related issues like tips for healthy eating

Looking to get fit in 2008? You'll want to make this site from MedlinePlus, your virtual exercise partner!

The CDC's Health Resources For Older Adults

No list of healthy aging resources on the Web would be complete without mention of the Healthy Aging for Older Adults section of the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) Web site. This terrific health resource is provided by one of the most respected health authorities in the world.

Some highlights of the site include:

• The State of Aging and Health in America 2007 Report
• Important health information specifically geared to older adults
• Links to federal and non-federal organizations involved in aging-related issues

Are you 50+ and concerned about your health as you age? Don't skip this site from the CDC!

Find Info On Healthy Aging At WebMD

Did you know that WebMD, the widely respected health information Web site, has a section specifically geared to the health and fitness needs of people over 50? It's called Healthy Aging, and if you're looking for information on senior living, exercise for seniors and more, you'll want to make it a go-to destination.

Some of the highlights include:

• The WebMD Healthy Aging Guide
• The latest news about aging
• Aging-related message boards and blogs
• The Healthy Aging Glossary

Want to learn more about the topic of aging? Healthy Aging from WebMD gives you the tools to find the information you need!

The Pocket Guide To Staying Healthy At 50+ Is Available Online

Searching for important information on how to stay healthy in your 50s and beyond? You'll want to check out The Pocket Guide To Staying Healthy At 50+, a helpful publication brought to you by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and AARP. Just click on the link above and you can read it in its entirety online!

Some of the topics covered in the guide include:

• Tips on how to talk to your doctor and other healthcare professionals
• Advice on how to make healthier lifestyle choices
• The checkups, tests and shots you'll need to stay healthy in your senior years

Incidentally, if you prefer a hard copy of this guide you can order a copy by sending an e-mail to AHRQPubs@ahrq.hhs.gov or calling the AHRQ Publications Clearinghouse at 1-800-358-9295.