Best Sites: Heart Disease

Live Healthier, Live Longer

About this site: This site by the (US) National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute targets people who already have heart disease, but there's also plenty for those trying to prevent it. Learn what makes your cholesterol high or low, calculate the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol you should eat, then answer a food questionnaire to see how your current diet measures up. (http://rover.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd/index.htm)
Pluses: Tip sheets with practical info on everything from keeping your low-cholesterol diet on track at parties to choosing heart-healthy oils.
Minuses: Cholesterol and Heart Disease IQ quizzes are so easy they aren't very helpful.
Best feature: Visit the Cyber Kitchen to find out how much saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium you're actually getting from your usual serving size.

Mayo Clinic: Heart & Blood Vessels Center

About this site: The Heart & Blood Vessels Center at MayoClinic.com is devoted almost exclusively to helping readers understand how heart disease develops and how to prevent it. Other topics include arrhythmia and atrial fibrillation . (http://www.mayoclinic.com/home?id=3.1.9)
Pluses: The section on prevention includes a feature discussing the benefits and risks of taking nutritional supplements to combat heart disease.
Minuses: It's not clear how often the news or headline watch is updated, and the articles aren't sorted chronologically.
Best feature: The scorecards and planners (available to registered users) encourage readers to stop smoking and lose weight.

New York Online Access to Health (NOAH)

About this site: NOAH is a project developed by New York libraries and educational institutions to make reliable health information available to underserved health. The site's section on heart disease and stroke covers everything from risk factors to treatment.
Pluses: Huge list of heart/blood related conditions; you're sure to find something about anything!
Minuses: Some articles culled from university sources are difficult to read.
Best feature:

National Coalition for Women With Heart Disease

About this site: Launched by a nonprofit group founded by women heart attack survivors, this site features information and articles especially for women battling heart disease. You can read journal entries, post questions on a bulletin board, and find a health-care professional. There's even a caregiver support section for friends and family members. (http://www.womenheart.org/)
Pluses: There's plenty of detailed practical advice, like where to move your medication when the grandkids visit.
Minuses: Lackluster pages without graphics make it hard to read all the stories at one sitting.
Best feature: Use "Your Journal" to describe your successes and frustrations in dealing with heart disease as a woman. You can also read other women's entries to learn from their experiences.

American Heart Association Women's Web

About this site: Think only men get heart attacks? If so, this site will dispel that myth--and help you learn what risks women face for heart disease and stroke. You can also determine your personal risk with AHA's heart attack and stroke risk assessment quizzes. (http://www.women.americanheart.org/)
Pluses: A forum offers a place to share heart-attack prevention habits and ideas.
Minuses: If you already have heart disease, the information here may be of little use.
Best feature: Great articles for women offer advice and information on how to protect the health of your whole family.

Heart Information Network

About this site: Post-diagnosis patients will appreciate the medical news, clinic directories, nutrition advice, Q&A sheets, resource guides, and patient stories on this site. The searchable question & answer directory has nearly a thousand Q&As on everything from coronary bypass to mitral valve prolapse. (http://www.heartinfo.org/)
Pluses: Find an expert with the Heart Failure Clinic Directory.
Minuses: Long lists of navigation options can be confusing.
Best feature: The electrocardiogram library shows you how to read your own ECG.