Your Library Can Help You Get Heart Healthy

February is American Heart Month, a time to battle cardiovascular disease and learn what we can do to live heart-healthy lives. Heart disease, including stroke, is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States.

For up-to-date heart-healthy information, visit the Library’s user-friendly electronic databases, an authoritative source of health information, right from your home, office, or library branch. The Library’s health databases let you research a condition, alternative therapy, medical terms, and much more. Not meant to be used as a substitute for a consultation with your healthcare provider, the databases are easy-to-use, handy, searchable tools from reliable publishers to support your doctor’s recommendations.

Whether you are researching blood pressure monitors, an alternative therapy to ease arthritis pain, or planning a new exercise program, the databases allow you to read, print, and email complete articles with a library card or e-card. Be sure to check the Library’s health databases for valuable information and then follow-up with your doctor.

Health and Wellness Resource Center and Alternative Health Module has trusted medical reference materials from encyclopedias and dictionaries, directories, magazines, journals, pamphlets, and newspapers, in addition to a broad collection of “Gale” health reference titles. At your fingertips, you will find complete articles in English and Spanish on current health news and research, diseases and conditions, herbal remedies, local support information, and much more.

Savvy healthcare consumers check “Consumer Reports Health” to find comparisons of medical tests and treatments, drugs, devices, healthcare providers, health insurance plans, and hospitals. Analyses and ratings of these services and products can help you make important decisions in our expensive and complex healthcare system.

The Library’s Consumer Health Information Service (CHIS) has more free health information to read and discuss with your doctor. If you are looking for drug information, doctors’ credentials, information about diabetes, breast cancer, arthritis, or any information that has a bearing on your health or wellness, please call CHIS at 233-2736 or visit us at www.pbclibrary.org/health.htm.