Need to talk about health? Try a hot line

FDA Consumer, July-August, 2003 by John Henkel

When you have questions about health topics, you may seek answers online or in a library. But sometimes a human voice is just what you need. For those times, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) has a Web site with lists of toll-free hot lines that will put you in touch with someone who can talk about any of more than 200 disorders and other health subjects. Need information about Parkinson's disease, hepatitis, diabetes, or hearing aids? There's a hot line for it. How about some answers to questions about Medicare, family problems, environmental health, or even fire prevention? Just pick up the phone.

The site also links to hot lines for information on aging, substance abuse, maternal and child health, disabilities, AIDS, and cancer. Hot line sources range from federal, state and local agencies to professional societies, support groups and voluntary organizations. Many of the hot lines also are available in Spanish.

For NLM's Health Hotlines, go to http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/ hotlines.

John Henkel is a member of the FDA's Website Management Staff.