How many times have you heard someone say, "Well, as long as I have my health..." Indeed, good health is of paramount importance for all the obvious reasons. It is common practice to stock our medicine cabinets; take vitamins every day; try to eat square meals; and search out a job that offers health benefits. In other words, striving to live well is a way of life.

These days, new medicines and break-through treatments are on the news all the time, and popular diets and exercise fads come and go faster than you can say "Weight Watchers." Let's face it. Despite our desire to stay healthy and in shape, it is getting harder to keep all the information straight and to make smart decisions.

Therefore, more and more people are turning to health related websites. Whether you are looking for prescription drug facts, a list of physical symptoms, directions to a hospital, or a link to a current heath article, a resourceful health website can provide answers in a quick and efficient manner.

Gone are the days when folks relied on their family doctors to keep them informed about health topics. Today, doctors are always pressed for time and it can take weeks to schedule a face-to-face meeting to talk about treatment options or any other health issue on your mind. An informative site can fill in where doctors leave off and provide instantaneous advice and facts about a wide range of health concerns.

For example, a health website may include:

- facts about prescription drugs

- details about specific surgeries and treatment options

- a list of medical specialists and health care facilities in your area

- "Ask the Expert" columns

- information about clinical trials of the past and present

- links to popular health-related articles

- interactive tools such as calorie counters; body mass calculators, quizzes

- forums, chat rooms, and message boards covering a wide range of topics

When it comes to your health or the well-being of your family, you do not want to waste time searching for information or waiting for the phone to ring to receive a nurse's diagnosis. Logging on to a helpful website-whether it covers general health subjects or is focused on a specific medical issue-can save you precious time and hours of worry. And certainly, for those who do not currently have the benefits of a health insurance plan, the computer may be the only way to gather necessary advice.

The best health websites are user-friendly and up-to-date. The goal should be to create a comfortable online environment that is helpful, interesting, and, above all, reliable. Often, visitors will log on when they have pressing questions or nagging concerns and they will expect concise answers in a matter of minutes.

If your company is part of the healthcare field, consider extending yourself beyond your office walls and providing a worthwhile service for the general public. A website created to address timely health topics will not only bring recognition to your company's name, but it will also serve your community at large.