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Top 100 Health and Wellness Blogs
Published on Tuesday 2nd 2007f October, 2007
The risks are high when Americans turn to doctors and hospitals to remedy a
situation that otherwise might have been prevented. This is why doctors and
hospitals are the third leading cause of death in America, according to a study
published by Dr. Barbara Starfield of the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and
Public Health. Since the best way to avoid "death by hospital" is
preventative medicine, this list is offered as a prescription for health and
wellness.
This list was difficult to cobble together, as there are so many health and
wellness blogs listed on the Web. But, certain criteria were used to whittle
the list down to the blogs that you can enjoy. To that end, each blog chosen
had to include contact information. After all, you don't want to take advice
from someone who wants to remain anonymous, do you? Additionally, a sense of
humor didn't hurt the choices below. Losing weight, getting fit, and learning
about diseases is serious enough - a laugh or two can provide some good medicine
along the way.
Finally, these top blogs were chosen for their popularity among users as well
as their successes - both as professionals and as individuals who have changed
or who are publicly changing lifestyles and overcoming their diseases and disabilities.
The blogs are listed in alphabetical order within the topics listed below.
The Top Ten
These 10 bloggers offer commentary that’s the best of the best in the
world of heath and fitness, arranged in alphabetical order:
- Dr. Weil: Although
Dr. Weil is more about integrative than alternative medicine, you'll find
a healthy mix of western and eastern medicine and health philosophies through
Weil's podcasts and daily Q&A. These features are just part of a larger
site with many articles on topics such as aging, women's health, cancer, and
more.
- eDrug Search Blog: This
blog made the top ten, because it's the only blog that we found that focuses
entirely on medicines and the issues that surround them along with a drug
database. With that said, you may not agree with the this site's advocacy
for licensed online pharmacies as an alternative to high drug prices.
- GruntDoc: Allen Roberts works in a trauma
center in Texas, and he's a U.S. Navy doctor who was deployed with the U.S.
Marines for four years. Both experiences lend an exciting and decidedly knowledgeable
air to his posts. He's decided he's not a sociopath.
- Half of Me: Jennette,
also known as the "Pasta Queen," has posted her way through losing
over 186 pounds. Her book, Half of Me: The Last 200 Pounds are the Hardest,
will be published in 2008. Her site offers insights into Jennette's tenaciousness
as she offers advice about diets, exercise, and recommendations for tools
to lose weight.
- Healthcare Blogger Code of Ethics:
This blog is attached to a program that screens health care blogs and provides
those blogs with a seal that validates a good code of ethics. Here, you can
find blogs that focus on every aspect of health, and written by professionals
or by those who have life experiences with various health problems. One of
the aspects of the code includes reliability of information with citations
for sources when appropriate and with the responsibility of changing inaccuracies
when they are pointed out.
- InsureBlog: Bob Vineyard,
CLU, has fielded over 4,000 insurance related questions privately and in public
forums over the past four years. He and four other professionals provide thought-provoking
entries that all focus on health insurance policies and problems. They also
have a nice list of links to other relevant sites. This site, along with Vineyard's
other site, probably
provides the most down-to-earth and comprehensive information about health
insurance on the Web.
- My Cancer: In May 2006,
Leroy Sievers began a Morning Edition commentary on his fight with
cancer by saying, "My doctors are trying to kill me." Sievers is
now contributing monthly commentaries to Morning Edition, writing
the daily "My Cancer" blog on NPR.org and voicing a weekly podcast.
At this time, he leaves his blog to face surgery on Monday, 1 October.
- The Health Care Blog: Matthew
Holt has entertained and informed healthcare and executive audiences for more
than a decade with stories about his more than 14 years experience in the
healthcare industry. This blog reflects his style, his knowledge, and his
expertise in the industry. In this blog he talks about everything you wanted
to know about the healthcare industry, "but were afraid to ask."
- WebMD: This site has grown
into one of the most comprehensive online portals for health care. To access
the blogs, click on the "news & blogs" tab located in the upper
right on the homepage. You can also focus on women's or mens' health and medicines
at this portal.
- WSJ Health Blog: This blog is
lodged at the Wall Street Journal site, which means that you can find interesting
and valuable information about the current health care field here. Jacob Goldstein,
Scott Hensley, and other writers provide their professional insights into
Big Pharm, healthcare policies, and more.
Diet Blogs
Although some blogs listed below talk about fitness, the main focus is on diets.
We don't promote any diets, so don't consider our choices as recommendations
of the diets that any of these individuals espouse.
- A Weight Lifted: If you're
tired of dieting, this blog might fit your lifestyle. The bloggers here talk
more changing eating as a lifestyle, with plenty of good recipes. They also
fit in some talk about diabetes and exercise.
- Best Diet Tips: This is Carol's
main site that filters her blog entries at another site that she maintains.
We chose this site, as it contains information about her diet story, before
and after photos, diet comparisons, exercise, and more.
- Diet-Blog: Several professionals
filter the best of diet news and advice and combine this news with real-world
application and opinion. The whole spectrum is covered - everything from body
image to fast food.
- Diet Blog: John lost 353 pounds through
diet and body-building exercise. But, the focus here is on diet, with over
200 tips on health, and a sprinking of entries on weight loss surgery.
- eDiet Blog: This blog is part of a
larger portal that offers meal deliveries. You don't, however, need to participate
in that program to read information about diet and fitness from this site,
which includes recipes, success stories, and advice.
- Fitness, Diet, and Health:
You'll find entries in this blog about fitness, diet, exercise programs and
gadgets, and health. This blog is written by a Weight Watchers user who provides
life experience information with passion.
- Hundred Day Head Start: Don't
wait for New Year's day to begin your weight loss efforts - you can start
now (a little less than 100 days from the end of the year) and join others
with goals to lose weight through diet and exercise. There are no restrictions
on what you can do to reach your goals.
- Maria's Last Diet: Dr.
Kenneth Schwarz, a psychologist and psychoanalyst, and his wife Julie Schwarz,
a psychology technician at Dutchess Psychology Practice, started this blog
by setting down important ideas from diet and weight-loss research and studies
concerning personal change. Julie interviews women who have lost weight, and
they provide information that helps readers to overcome diet failures.
- My Fitness Pal Blog:
This blog is part of the site "My Fitness Pal," where you can sign
up for free for information beyond the scope of the blog. The blog is new,
as it was started in August 2007. You might want to peruse the rest of the
site to search diet and exercise databases.
- The Lose Weight Diet Blog:
You'll find entries related to weight loss, diet, nutrition, and exercise
in a manner that is "extremely interesting, insanely informational, and
just all around super entertaining." Expect a little sarcasm!
Weight Loss Blogs
The individuals who run the blogs listed below are in various stages of weight
loss. Like the diet blogs, you'll find before and after photos, and some maintain
statistics about their weekly progress.
- FatFighter Blogs: This site
is a useful one for overweight individuals who want to chronicle their weight
loss. The directory of sites range from "Dieting with Obstacles"
to blogs about losing weight through surgery. This is also a great resource
for those who want to find blogs that they can identify with, if you can't
find what you like in this article.
- Half Man - My Journey of
Fitness: This guy wants to be half the man he was in January 2007 - which
means he wants to go from 380 pounds to about 190 pounds. Half Man fills his
blog with images and photos that emphasize both his frustrations and joys
and that makes this blog fascinating to read. Go cheer him on!
- Jenn Loses Weight:
Jenn chronicles her journey to a healthier lifestyle. Jenn began this blog
in September, so it will be interesting to read how she does with her weight
loss ups and downs as she progresses.
- John is Fit: John is 41 years old,
6' tall, and "295 pounds fat. Far from fit." He hopes that by being
honest with himself through a public format that he can get into shape. His
journey is meticulous, so he's a perfect model for keeping a journal about
any weight loss and fitness journey.
- Just Another Weigh:
Jodi is stuck on the Weight Watcher's method of losing weight, and her blog
reflects her interest in that program along with exercise. She weighed in
at 167.8 pounds, and her goal weight is 150 (she's a tall 5'7"). While
her blog is a great read, Jodi also provides numerous links to other weight-loss
blogs on her site - this is a great resource for anyone interested in losing
weight.
- Livin' La Vida Low-Carb: Jimmy
Moore's blog is popular among those individuals who want to lose weight via
low-carb diets. On January 1, 2004, he made a New Year's resolution to lose
weight on the Atkins diet after weighing in at 410 pounds. In just one year
he lost 180 pounds and he's kept that weight off by making low-carb a permanent
lifestyle change.
- Lose the Buddha: After many
years of ups and downs, Erin finally lost forty pounds. She went from somewhere
in the 180s to 139 just this past month. her blog is interesting, fun, down-to-earth,
and realistic. She's the first person we found who talks about the fear of
being skinny - rather, the fear of losing all that comfortable weight...
- Mike's Journal: Mike writes
about his progress from an overweight couch potato to a runner and biker who
lost 140 pounds. He includes the obligatory photographs, but the difference
is that Mike's wife is also involved in this process. Mike - along with his
wife - is obsessed with fitness!
- My Weight Loss Journal:
This blog made the top ten because it's fairly comprehensive and easy to digest,
and because the topics range from cardio to weight lifting to diet. Kirk weighed
in at 350 pounds when he began his journal, and his goal is to lose 150 pounds.
You'll find all his stats, a mdoel for those who want to lose weight with
a wholistic method.
- The Amazing Adventures of Diet
Girl: Shauna is no longer on a diet, but she went from 351 pounds to half
that size between 2001 and 2006. You can read about her adventures and her
words of wisdom along with her links to other sites that will inspire you
to emulate these losers! Great before and after pics as well - she'll point
out that she gained a neck and a husband in the process.
- That Skinny Bitch: This is Melissa's
weight loss journey. She lost 81 pounds and then put the weight back on. Her
blog is peppered with personal trials with her family (one child is autistic)
and with her desire to become that skinny...well, she says it. You'll also
find some great recipes here.
Nutrition
Unlike the diet blogs listed previously, nutrition blogs focus on how to prepare
and eat healthy foods for a nutritional lifestyle.
- Balanced Health and
Nutrition: Rebecca Scritchfield has academic training in nutrition and
more than twelve years experience in the health and wellness field as a trainer
and instructor. She began this blog for friends and family who wanted to eat
their way to health with a balanced and nutritious diet.
- Eat This!: This blog
approaches every aspect about food. If you're not satisfied with this blog,
you can visit the home site where
many individuals blog about health, diet, and nutrition.
- Nutrition Blog: This blog is part
of a larger portal focuses on nutrition and food. You can find topics here
that range from AIDS and HIV to vitamins and minerals.
- Protein Power: Dr. Micheal
R. Eades and Dr. Mary Dan Eades provide two different blogs, but they're both
focused on nutrition. Both blogs contain some great images, recipes, and philosophies.
- Louis' Fitness
& Nutrition Blog: Louis Moore, M.S. writes about updates and headlines
in the fitness and nutrition field, healthy recipes, exercise descriptions
and pictures, inspiring quotes, and whatever is on his mind at the moment.
Moore has designed and led fitness programs for youth, adults, seniors, persons
with disabilities, and now specializes in women’s fitness.
- Nutrition
Frenzy: Amanda Herrington is a successful fitness model and career woman
who offers advice on how to meet your goals health and fitness goals with
ease. The focus is on nutrition, so that you gain energy to work on that body!
- Onibasu: This blog highlights topics
relating to health, nutrition and Chinese medicine. Topics include Autism,
mercury chelation, raw diets, raw dairy, traditional diets, WAPF (Weston A.
Price Foundation), acupuncture, kefir, kimchi, probiotics, and fermentation.
- The Nutrition Help Blog:
This blog is dedicated to cutting through "nutrition myths and nonsense"
to deliver useful real-world nutrition information. The author, Brad Pilon,
has just written a book about nutrition entitled, Stop, Eat, Stop.
- The Provocative Nutrition Blog:
Dina Khader, a private practitioner in nutrition counseling, offers her thoughts
and news about cutting edge nutrition for optimal health.
Walking & Hiking
One of the best exercises in the world is walking. Although you might consider
'walking' as moving from the couch to the fridge, the individuals who write
the blogs listed below are a bit more ambitious. Some merely count their steps
each day, while others hike obscure trails.
- Cutter's Blog: Cutter loves bicycling,
but he's also into hiking, walking, backpacking, and kyaking. This blog focuses
on hiking destinations in southeastern U.S., including the "South Beyond
6000," or the 40 peaks in the Southern Appalachians that rise 6000 feet
or more above sea level.
- Discover Walking: This blogger
has an affinity for walking, and shares that enthusiasm with readers through
tools for walking, paths, and methods that are easy and enticing enough to
make the unwilling walker to want to walk.
- Fat Man Walking: Steve Vaught
chronicles his, beginning with his fateful decision to walk across America
to lose weight and regain control of his life. Although he lost weight, was
part of a documentary and a book deal, he faced divorce and a few other trials.
Steve also mentions several other people in his latest entry who have faced
weight-loss issues and how they conquered them. Although the 'journal' is
sporadic lately, the site is a great tool for inspiration.
- Just a Thought: Margie Hunter
is 51-years-old with three kids and a husband who writes a sports column.
While she chronicles much of her life through her blog, her focus is on walking
and health. Some of her entries are simple, with interesting stats about odd
facts, but she always provides stats about her weight, calories burned, steps
walked, and the weather.
- Modern Hiker: Casey,
this blog's author, is "60% Geek, 40% Granola." Located in southern
California, Casey provides information about the area's walking and hiking
areas, but he also is interested in the latest walking and hiking tools (that's
the 'geek' part). He writes about gadgets for a local TV show, and he also
provides great photos for the armchair hiker.
- Nordic Walking USA:
Nordic Walking is low-impact fitness walking using specially designed, lightweight
poles. The poles relieve stress on the lower body, which creates less pressure
on ankles, hips and knees. This blog introduces Nordic walking and offers
advice, information, and tools for this activity.
- Two-Heel Drive: Tom Mangan
fills his blog with personal interests as well as information about his walks
and hikes. Although he's located in northern California, his interests go
well beyond that area. Great link resource for other walking and hiking enthusiasts.
Like Casey in the "Modern Hiker" above, Tom is a writer; so, his
entries are very interesting.
- Walking Blog:
- Walking Notes: Bryan White lives
in Melbourne, Australia, and he writes about walking as a form of exercise
and as a way of getting from A to B. Bryan logs his weight, daily steps, and
provides inspiration through his blog entries.
Faster than Walking
If you plan to become a runner, any one of the blogs listed below can help
you toward your goal. Some writers are beginners, and others are hardcore trail
runners.
- A Dumbbell In A Home Gym:
Although Nicole began her weight loss program with diets, her main love is
exercise, especially her bike. And, although she started with a home gym,
she now participates in a local public program. She definitely has some strong
opinions about diets and about exercise, and you can take them or leave them.
But, she has a certain charm that seems almost unavoidable. She's lost about
100 pounds in two years, which is quite a feat.
- A Runner's Blog: Sean Lloyd
keeps track of his progress as a resolute runner in 2002 to a marathon participation
in 2006 and beyond. He invites readers to "watch the highs and lows of
running from a middle-of-the-pack perspective."
- Fat to 5K: Emil writes about
his goal to go from 367 pounds to a slim runner. At the end of September 2007,
he ran 1.8 miles without taking a single walk break - at 336 pounds! He's
lost thirty pounds since July 2007 with a rigorous exercise routine and diet.
- Half-Fast: "Vanilla"
writes an entertaining blog about her running skills, where she claims that
she's neither fast nor slow but always in the middle of the pack. Great advice
on treadmill use and other sage tips.
- JogBlog: This is one of the
only active jogging blogs on the Internet. Cathy started jogging in January
2006 after she quit smoking, and she now does races. She provides vegetarian
recipes and information about her "running essentials" on this site,
as well as a rather candid blog about her jogging activities.
- Miscellaneous Ramblings
of a Slow Poke: "Pokey" is a 30-something mother of two boys
who chronicles her desire to become a runner.
- Old Man Running: The title says
it all. Allen Leigh is a 71-year-old self professed "geezer" who
chronicles his reentry into distance running. He's been running for 34 years
and have never had a serious injury from running.
- Run Brigitte Run: A 46-year-old
vegetarian mother of five girls (the last one at age 42!) writes about her
weight-loss trials. She walks, she goes to the gym, and she used to run. She
seems to be working back to the running, while keeping a daily FitDay summation
of her caloric intake and activities. Very down-to-earth and inspirational.
- The NYC Running Blog: Although
this blog is for New York City runners, it's a great resource for any urban
runner. You can gain insight into the activities here and adopt them for your
city, or you may just pack your bags and move to NY to participate in all
the running events.
- Trail Running Blog: This blog
is for the serious trail runner, with notes about other trail runners and
various trails and how to conquer those paths.
General Fitness
The following blogs cover a wide range of fitness, including developing and
maintaining a fit mindset. Some topics include pilates and yoga, and others
touch on avenues that lead to strength training.
- Centerworks Pilates Blog:
Aliesa R. George, founder of the Centerworks Pilates Institute, writes about
all things pilates in her blog. She also touches on health and stress management.
- Cranky Fitness: Crabby
McSlacker is a hoot, and her posts on this blog comprise a "real-world
guide to diet, exercise, health, and whining." Although not a professional
fitness expert, Crabby has the key to humor and to pertinent and interesting
information, including before and after photos of her crabbiness.
My, she lost some weight!
- Fit Buff: Mind and body fitness, aimed
at both genders, single or married. This blog is part of a larger portal,
where some members post blogs about their fitness training. You can catch
a glimpse of those pages through the blog, where the authors post "currently
browsing" entries with links.
- Fitness Destinations:
This blog, written by Aaron M. Potts, goes all over the board with various
fitness tips and advice. But, that's a good thing if you want to pick up new
tips and exercises to vary your routines. Potts spent 3 years as a personal
trainer, so he can share his classic health, fitness, and weight loss information,
as well as on-going updates based on his own continuing efforts to find new
ways to stay in shape.
- Fitness & Health with Dr. Gabe
Mirkin: Dr. Mirkin is a sports medicine doctor, fitness guru, and radio
host who writes tips for your healthy lifestyle.
- Go Workout Mom: Written by a
mom for moms, Cindy Posey offers ducation about physical fitness terms, exercises,
and health and provides a simple step-by-step plan to start the journey at
home. She's ingenious - have you thought about doing squats while cleaning
a toilet? We didn't think so...
- This Life: This blog belongs
to Dr. Monte Ladner, who is the host of the Fitness
Rocks podcast. He retired early from medical practice and now he spends
his days sharing his enthusiasm for fitness with whoever will listen.
- New World Blog: This blog
is sponsored by My Yoga online, and you'll learn much about this practice
through the writers who offer their knowledge. Explore the entire site to
find free videos for short workouts. Truly a yoga goldmine.
- Trinity Yoga: This link leads
to the blog portion of this site, which also contains forums and information
about the Trinity Yoga classes.
- Workin on my Fitness: Sue
believes that if you're not happy, then you're not eating right or exercising.
She's not a professional, but she's passionate about fitness, and she shares
everything she's learned. Although she was only a size 9 when she started
her quest, it might help to remember that she was originally a size 2. Some
people are very tiny!
Physical Health
The following blogs focus on cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. All are written
either by professionals or amateurs. The only thing that most of them have in
common is that they have had the diseases that they write about.
- Chronicles of
a Cancer Patient: Rather, the chronicles of a cancer survivor. Dave Hahn
was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in July of 2005. He went through 6 months
of ABVD chemotherapy, and he came out alright in the end. While he survived
his trials, he wanted to keep this journal available for anyone who might
face the same problems as he did.
- Diabetes.Blog.com: This blog is
a companion to the Diabetes Monitor.
The blog addresses issues that are brought up in their forums, problems and
questions that diabetics might have, and even talk about pets with diabetes.
- Diabetes Mine: Amy Tenderich
discovered that she had Type I diabetes about four years ago. Now she shares
her trials and tribulations with readers who may have questions about their
diabetes. None of the material is qualified medical advice, but Tenderich
is postive, upbeat, and can stand her own with what she knows about this disease.
- Dr. Len's Cancer Blog: Dr.
Lichtenfeld is Deputy Chief Medical Officer for the national office of the
American Cancer Society. His blog reflects his knowledge on recognized guidelines
for the prevention and early detection of cancer and guidelines for nutrition
and physical activity for cancer survivors.
- Embrace Your Heart: Eliz
Greene suffered a massive heart attack when she was seven months pregnant
with twins. She survived a ten-minute cardiac arrest, the cesarean delivery
of her twin daughters, and open-heart surgery. Now, she's on a mission to
change the way the world sees heart disease in women.
- Medicine World: This site is maintained
under close supervision of a physician, who is American board certified in
medical oncology, hematology and internal medicine. Through updated entries,
you can find information about breast, lung, colon, and prostate cancer, diabetes,
hypertension, asthma and more.
- MyDiabetesCentral.com:
This blog is just one of many resources provided by Healthcentral.com.
Dr. Bill Quick, a diabetic doctor, shares his insights, humor, and knowledge
about Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, insulin, diabetes education, clinical
trials, and diabetes websites.
- MyHeartCentral.com:
This blog also is part of the Healthcentral.com
site, where four experts share their knowledge about heart health and heart
disease. To access the blogs, visit the left column and click on an experts
profile.
- Scott's Diabetes Journal:
Scott Johnson was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in April of 1980. He recognizes
the incredible mental struggle of living with diabetes, so he shares his struggles
and successes through his blog.
- The Diabetes Blog: This blog
shares many stories, myths, rumors, and information about all types of diabetes,
diabetes medicines, and exercises and diets that focus on this disease.
Strength Training
This list was constructed under the mindset that strength training includes
body building, powerlifting, and muscle building. Which means that you can simply
firm up, or you can enter the next weight-lifting contest that comes to town.
- Skwigg's World: Renee's blog
is an extension of her site, which details
what she eats, her workouts, and photos of animals, her husband, and before
and after shots that show the results of her training with various workout
programs. Not for the faint-hearted, but inspirational for those who want
to achieve some beautiful strength.
- Steve in a Speedo?! Gross!:
There are more than a handful of triathalon blogs out there, but Steve's blog
was chosen because he has a sense of humor, he talks about his sex life, and
he loves to share his pain. In other words, he's for real.
- Strength and Fitness:
- Strong Lifts: If you want to lose
fat as you build muscle, then this blog is up your alley. The author, Mehdi,
got into strength training in 1997 and it became a passion for him. Check
out his home
gym - a little rugged, but functional!
- Trying Fitness: "Because
you've tried everything else." This site covers it all, from bodybuilding
to powerlifting and from anti-aging to food. This site is broad yet comprehensive.
- Weight
Training Exercises Blog: Mateen, an exercise and strength training enthusiast,
provides a blog within a larger site that includes articles on strength training,
bodybuilding, and muscle building. If you're interested in this form of exercise,
you may stay on this site for hours.
Medical Outlooks
The following blogs are written by doctors. The focuses range from insights
into strange surgeries to Big Pharm to emergency room situations. Great blogs
for voyeurs or for those who really want to know what goes on behind those curtains...
- A Fortunate Man: Dr. Andrew
Brown is a middle-aged general practicioner who works for the National Health
Service in a UK urban environment. While Dr. Brown tends to wander among categories,
the entries are worth reading simply because the medical environment differs
so much in the UK than it does in the US.
- Doctor Hébert's
Medical Gumbo: The "gumbo" part has more to do with location.
Doctor Hébert is in Louisiana, and he has a personal interest in the
Katrina aftermath as well as a political bent. But, his entries provide an
interesting insight into these topics from a medical perspective.
- Fat Doctor: This mom, stroke victim,
and overweight physician blogs about her work. She provides funny yet thoughtful
insights into her reactions to her job as well as valuable information about
what to expect from various conditions. But, she's sworn not to offer medical
advice. You also can find numerous resources at this site to other blogs that
vary from medical to "fat blogs" to personal favorites that have
nothing to do with either one of the previous topics.
- In the Pipeline: Derek Lowe,
the author of this Corante blog, achieved his BA from Hendrix College and
his PhD in organic chemistry from Duke before spending time in Germany on
a Humboldt Fellowship on his post-doc. He's worked for several major pharmaceutical
companies since 1989 on drug discovery projects against schizophrenia, Alzheimer's,
diabetes, osteoporosis and other diseases, and now he writes about the Big
Pharm industry, including drug research, intellectual property law and financial
strategies.
- Kevin, MD: A practicing primary-care
physician "tells it like it is." By shining a light on physician
frustrations that the mainstream media may ignore, Dr. Kevin Pho hopes to
get one step closer to resolving issues such as the death of primary care,
defensive medicine, malpractice, reimbursement, Big Pharma and health care
reform.
- MedPundit: This blog is
linked by many other medical blogs, and once you begin reading you might see
why it's so popular. The running commentary on medical news by a practicing
physician is just one appeal. The many links that might prove useful for someone
who seeks information about a wide range of topics is another.
- Placebo Journal Blog:
This blog is an extension of the magazine, Placebo Journal, and the e-newsletter,
Placebo Gazette. The writers allow readers to communicate in real time to
discuss current healthcare issues.
- Scalpel or Sword?: A
funny, sometimes irreverant look at life through the eyes of an emergency
room doctor in Texas. Not only will you learn a lot about emergency medical
procedures, you'll also learn about some of the personal and ethical problems
that this doctor - and probably many others - face in their jobs.
- Tales from the Emergency Room and
Beyond...: A Canadian nurse who works in an emergency room provides her
insights into her job. This blog reads more like a novel, so make yourself
comfortable and enjoy the trauma!
- Trusted MD: This blog, which covers everything
from exercise to health care policies, is lodged at a portal that also offers
more blogs on various health care issues. You must register first to read
them, but registration is free.
- Unbounded Medicine: If you're
faint-of-heart, don't go here. Otherwise you'll find yourself riveted by photographs
of various medical procedures that aren't that pretty. But, if you're fascinated
with the scalpel and strange diseases, then this is the spot for you. You
can also find blog entries about the strange and amazing, much like a magazine
you'd find at the grocery store check-out. Only these stories are true.
Alternative Health
Surprisingly, there are very few quality alternative health blogs on the Web.
Most 'alternative health' blogs are attached to plugs for alternative medicines
or they don't contain contact information, or both. Outside of Dr. Weil's blog
(listed above in the top ten), the following blogs provide the widest range
and the best information.
- Acupuncture Blog: This blog
is maintained by the Acupuncture Massage College, and it approaches topics
such as acupuncture methods, pilates, stress management, Chinese herbal medicine
and more.
- Deepest Health: Eric Grey, a student,
offers a blog dedicated to exploring Classical Chinese medicine. As he studies
Chinese medicine, he passes on his knowledge in posts that are intelligent,
well-written, and provocative.
- Massage and
Bodywork Blog: Although this blog addresses the massage therapist, it's
an interesting read for the patient or client who chooses massage as a therapy.
This blog is written by Julie Onofrio, who has been a massage therapist for
seventeen years.
- WakoWa Wellness Blog: Wako Takayama,
MA, certified acupressure practitioner, offers a blog through the WakoWa Wellness
center site. While her practice is rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine
(TCM), Five Elements theory and Acupressure modalities – shiatsu, reflexology,
tui na and gentle pressure acu – her work also incorporates stretches
and body-awareness principles based in yoga, as well as learnings from meditation.
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