Books on health abound at New Westminster library
Medical information online and in range of languages helps to answer questions
The Latin writer Publius Syrus once wrote that health and good sense are two of life's greatest blessings.
Your library can help you achieve both.
With cold and flu season upon us and the amount of medical information available, it can be hard to know where to turn for some good sense about health.
The librarians in the reference department can get you started.
The B.C. Health Guide is a great source for all types of family medical questions, such as creating a healthy lifestyle or recognizing and treating many common ailments.
The guide comes in English, French, Chinese and Punjabi and, as long as we have copies available, you can take even one home for free.
The partner website (www.healthlink
bc.ca) is one of the best one-stop medical websites around.
HealthLink B.C. also has a new phone line. Dial 811 and you can speak with a medical practitioner 24 hours a day.
Wondering about an upcoming medical test, what those symptoms mean or how your prescription medications affect you and each other?
We can help you answer all of these questions.
The online Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery and Medical Tests (found under Electronic Resources on our website, www.nwpl.ca) can help you prepare for upcoming treatments.
Consumer Reports' Consumer Drug Reference can help you learn about dosage, side effects and troubleshooting techniques for more than 12,000 medications.
The PDR Guide to Drug Interactions, Side Effects and Indications will let you know what happens when different medications are taken together.
The Mayo Clinic's website (www.mayoclinic.com) is a good online reference for information on different medications and much more.
No matter how much research you do, sometimes you just need to see a medical practitioner.
We have links to online directories for the colleges of Dental Surgeons and Physicians and Surgeons of B.C., as well as the book Directory of Canadian Healthcare Personnel.
And don't forget that the library has books on specific health topics, such as mental health, heart disease and home remedies.
