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Consumer Health Guide

Looking for reliable health information? Our guide connects you to reputable organizations and expert-backed information so you can make confident, informed decisions about your health and well-being.

 

General Consumer Health Resources

MedlinePlus MedlinePlus is a service of the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the world’s largest medical library, which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

My Healthfinder A free, evidence-based online tool from the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) that provides personalized recommendations for preventive health services.

Health Information from the National Institutes of Health Information from the National Institutes of Health on diseases and conditions as well as wellness and lifestyle topics.

The Family Caregiver: Education Center A comprehensive collection of family-friendly publications filled with practical information on caregiving issues and health conditions.

Veterans Health Library Veterans health library with resources from the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

Free Health Reference Resources

MedlinePlus Medical EncyclopediaIncludes over 4,000 articles about diseases, tests, symptoms, injuries, and surgeries. It also contains an extensive library of medical photographs and illustrations.

PubMed  From the National Library of Medicine, comprises more than 39 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books.  

Merck Manual This free site provides information about a wide range of health topics to practitioners and the public. 

Women's Health Resources

Office of Women’s Health The US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Women’s Health provides national leadership and coordination to improve the health of women and girls through policy, education, and innovative programs.

Merck Manual on Women’s Health Issues Provides information about a wide range of women’s health topics.

MedlinePlus: Women’s Health Checkup  – Prepare ahead and know the options for your next women’s health checkup.

Resources for Children and Teens

HealthyChildren.org – Information from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), including policies and guidelines, publications, and other child health resources. The site is also available in Spanish.

Office of Adolescent Health Topics focus on how adolescents develop and the issues they may face as they mature.

American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychology AACAP Resource Centers empower consumers through patient education. Contains consumer-friendly definitions, answers to frequently asked questions, clinical resources, expert videos, and abstracts

Nutrition Information Resources

EatRight.orgThe Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics offers information on nutrition and health, from meal planning and prep to choices that can help prevent or manage health conditions and more.

Diabetes Tools & Resources from AHA Living with diabetes can be overwhelming because of the many lifestyle changes needed to manage the disease. These tools can help you reach your treatment goals and better manage your diabetes. 

FoodData Central FoodData Central, from the USDA, provides nutrient and food component information. Users can search for a food item, food group, or manufacturer’s name. 

Healthy Eating Plate  The Healthy Eating Plate, created by nutrition experts at Harvard University, was designed to address deficiencies in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s MyPlate. The Healthy Eating Plate provides detailed guidance, in a simple format, to help people make the best eating choices.

FoodSafety.gov  Get the latest news, alerts, and tips on safely handling and storing food to prevent food poisoning.

Exercise Resources

Fitness | American Heart AssociationWorking small, positive steps into your daily life can help you build a healthier life routine. 

Physical Wellness Toolkit | NIHLots of helpful information about getting active and building healthy habits.

Exercise Examples & Videos | Nutrition.org View sample exercise routines and videos. Remember to start slow if you are new to exercise, and talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

Pet Health

American Veterinary Medical Association: Pet Care – The AVMA provides extensive pet care information and advice on finding a veterinarian.

MedlinePlus Pet Health MEDLINEplus offers information on care, prevention, and treatments for your furry friend.

Finding a Doctor

Consumer ReportsProvides a list of things to consider when looking for a new doctor; includes resources to help you find one.

AMA DoctorFinder Basic information on more than 814,000 physicians in the U.S. You get information on specialty training, board certification, and more. 

Find a Mental Health Professional Browse detailed listings for mental health professionals in the United States by state and city.

Finding Health Insurance

InsureKidsNow.govInformation for children up to the age of 19 who need health care or a local dental provider.

Get Covered OhioIf you need health insurance or are confused about your options, access free, unbiased local help you find the right coverage for your needs and budget.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid ServicesCMS is the federal agency that provides health coverage to more than 160 million people through Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Medicare.gov Information for people over 65, and younger people with a disability, who want to sign up for Medicare.

Healthcare.gov Information for people who need health insurance and want to apply or enroll in the Marketplace or Medicaid.

Medicaid.gov Information about the program and policy details of Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Drugs, Supplements & Products

RxList  – A source for prescription drug information. Includes an A-Z list of drugs, as well as a visual pill identifier.

MedlinePlus Drugs, Herbs & Supplements Learn about prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements and herbal remedies. Includes side effects, dosage, special precautions, and more. 

DailyMed This searchable database from the National Library of Medicine provides labeling submitted to the Food and Drug Administration by companies. It contains labeling for prescription and non-prescription drugs for human and animal use, and for additional products such as medical gases, devices, cosmetics, dietary supplements, and medical foods.

FDA for Consumers Information from the US Food and Drug Administration about food, drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, and more. Includes product recalls and alerts.

Mental Health Resources

Mental Health America of Ohio – Mental Health America of Ohio transforms how people think about mental illness, making it easier to get help, and giving people the support they need to get better and stay better. 

Learn and Find Help | Department of Behavioral Health – Ohio DBH is ready to connect you to the services and resources that you need to support prevention, treatment, and recovery. 

Mental Health (CDC) Provides mental health resources, data and hotlines for individuals and families to reach out to for support.

Suicide and Crisis Hotline – Call 988

Catalyst Life Services – Offers counseling, therapy, case management, and many other services for those in Richland County with mental health & or crisis needs for all ages.

Multilingual Resources

Health Information Translations Provides education resources in multiple languages for healthcare professionals. Resources are easy to read and culturally appropriate. 

MedlinePlus: Health Information in Multiple Languages  Information from MedlinePlus provided in multiple languages, browsable by language. 

MedlinePlus: Multiple Languages by Health Topic  Information from MedlinePlus provided in multiple languages, browsable by health topic. 

Complementary & Alternative Health Resources

Complementary, Alternative, or Integrative Health Info from NIH Complementary and Alternative Medicine is a broad category of medical treatments that are not part of mainstream medicine. This fact sheet looks into these terms to help you understand them better.

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Provides information about complementary health products and practices. Sections include Health Topics A-Z, Herbs at a Glance, Be an Informed Consumer, Know the Science, and more.

Dietary Supplement Fact SheetsA collection of fact sheets and other resources from the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) provides information about dietary supplements and their ingredients. 

How To Find a Complementary Health Practitioner | NCCIH Provides information that may help you find a complementary health practitioner.

Where to Write for Vital Records

Mansfield/Richland County Public Library subject guides are assembled by our reference team. Please contact the reference department at 419.521.3110 if you would like more help with this subject.
Last updated 02/25/2026