Today, more and more people are cruising the information superhighway with health in mind. Almost one-third of Americans, 29%, has looked to the Internet for medical information. To make sure your virtual visits help your health rather than harm it, knowing how to find good sites is critical. And once you find reliable health information, you need to know how to evaluate and use it.

You can get your basic medical questions answered via on-line consultation services, reassurance via support groups for almost every ailment, and specialist referrals for any and all ailments. Although technology has advanced substantially, however, there is still no substitute for personal interaction�a face-to-face visit with your doctor. And while bulletin boards and online chats may be comforting, they don�t replace face-to-face support groups, individual counseling, or consultation with a professional healthcare provider.

Online support groups can offer the following benefits:

• Information
• an opportunity to help others and share experiences
• a forum to vent
• a sense of hope
• a feeling of not being alone 

Whether you are looking for online emotional support or medical information, remember that people create Web sites, so the site's credibility depends on the expertise of the people and organizations that credit the sites. If you need help recognizing reliable health information on the Internet, check out the Health on the Net Foundation code of Conduct (HONcode) for medical and health Web sites, a not-for-profit organization headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland (visit www.hon.ch/HONcode and look under "Principles." )

Even if you are confident the information you�ve found is accurate and timely, nothing you find online is a substitute for the physician-patient relationship, and it�s always wise to check with your health care professional before applying the information or remedy to yourself and your situation. All in all, surfing the Net can be good for your health: the more you learn about your condition, the more you can be a partner in managing your overall health care.

American Academy of Pediatrics: www.aap.org

American Dietetic Association: http://www.eatright.org/

MEDInfoSource: http://www.medinfosource.com/