Health and Wellness Blog

Where to find reliable health information in other languages?

Living in an information explosion age like today, our challenge is not having limited access to information, but "separating the wheat from the chaff". For example, googling "diabetes", yields up 333 millions hits (as of May 3rd, 2012). So which ones can you trust?  If you are looking for a recipe for banana cake, it is ok to just take a look at the first couple of them. But if it's your health, you can't take it so lightly. Fortunately, there is help! Sites like MedlinePlus, and the Medical Library Association's website_ tell you how to find and evaluate health information on the web.

As for reliable free online health information in other languages than English, here are some useful sites:

• Canadian Cancer Society: Cancer information in other languages
• Heart and Stroke Foundation: Multilingual resources
• MedlinePlus: Health Information in Multiple Languages
• nnlm.gov: Consumer Health Information in Many Lanugages Resources
• NSW Multicultural Communication Services: Resources by language
• Stanford Health Library: Multilingual Health Information
• Tufts University: Selected Patient Information Resources in Asian Languages (SPIRAL)
• University Health Network: Resources in Other Languages - Multilingual

Moreover, don't forget your Toronto Public Library! To find out which branches have your language collection, click here.

Or you can search our catalogue and order the materials you want before you go. Here is how to search the Toronto Public Library website for multilingual materials.

There are two different ways to search.

The easiest way is to search in your own language. For example, to find some Chinese diabetes materials, _ simply type Hanyu Pinyin Tang Niao Bing in the search box from our library home page, and click Search. 20 results turn up (as of May 3rd, 2012).

Another way is to search in English for materials in your language, here is how to:

1. click Advanced search (it's on top of our home page, right next to the Search button)
2. type keywords/subject in the search box (leave All fields unchanged),
3. select Type of material that you prefer (books, movies & video, audiobooks, etc.)
4. select Language 
5. select appropriate branch from At library branch (we have 98 branches) You can select any one from the list but since we have limited multilingual materials, it's better not to limit this at all. If an item is not available in your branch, _ it can be transferred to your local branch for pick-up. So it's best to select any branch
6. select Age level (children/Teen/Adult)
7. select Include [Reference Materials (in-library only)/Circulating Materials (take-home)/Fiction-Books/ Non-Fiction Books]
8. click Search

Here is an example: a customer wants to find some Chinese materials on diabetes in the Toronto Public Library that she/ he can borrow.

Go to Advanced search, type "diabetes" (leave All fields unchanged), choose "any type" from Type, choose "Chinese" from Language, choose "any branch" from At library branch,  choose "Adult+Teen+Children" from Age level, choose "Circulating Materials (take-home)+Non-Fiction Books", then click Search. Viola! 17 items (as of May 3rd, 2012) show up.

Look through the 17 items and choose the one you want to borrow. Then click the green button Place Hold under each item to reserve them (If you didn't log in to your account before the search, you will be asked for your library and PIN number), then choose the branch from which you want to pick up the materials, finally click Place Hold again.

Then just relax and wait for the Library's notification (phone/email). Normally it takes 4-5 business days for the material to be transferred from branch to branch (if the material is available in the branch). Upon the notification, you got 7 days to pick-up your items.

Thyroid Disease

Are you one of the many people with an undiagnosed thyroid disorder?  It is estimated that 1 in every 3 Canadians has a thyroid disease but as many as half don't know it.

Thyroid diseases include:

• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
• Graves' Eye Disease
• Thyroiditis including Hashimoto's Disease
• Thyroid cancer

For more information, read About Thyroid Disease from the Thyroid Foundation of Canada. 

Also read about thyroid conditions at MyThyroid.com, a site maintained by Dr. Daniel Drucker, University of Toronto, Mount Sinai Hospital.

Check out the Library's recent books about thyroid disease.  To see which branch has a copy of the book and to place a hold, click on the title or cover link;

 

The Complete Thyroid Book	The Everything Guide to Thyroid Disease	Quickfacts Thyroid Cancer

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Thyroid Disease	Cooking Well. Thyroid Health	The Thyroid Diet Revolution

Rare Diseases

What is a rare disease?

• >Rare diseases are diseases that affect a small number of people, usually fewer than 1 in 2,000
• >A rare disease may be more common in some parts of the world, among certain populations and at different time periods
• >They are often genetic diseases, but could also be infectious or auto-immune diseases
• >They are often serious chronic or life-threatening diseases

 

 

Some rare diseases such as Legionnaires' disease, listeriosis (contaminated food), rabies, sickle cell disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Stephen Hawking's disease), Crohn's disease, cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease ("mad cow disease")have a higher profile than others among the general population as they are often covered by the media.

To see a full list of rare diseases, go to the Encyclopaedia for Patients alphabetical list from Orphanet.  Click on a disease to get the information sheet.  Limited information including abstract, synonyms, general discussion and organizations can also be accessed for free through the Rare Disease Database compiled by NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders).

If you know someone who has been diagnosed with a rare disease, a good first place to go is For Patients and Families by NORD.  Read patient stories, connect with others who have the same rare disease, get news about clinical trials, or ask a nurse or a genetic counselor in the Patient Information Center.

For news, events and current issues in Canada, go to the Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders.

Check out the Library's recent books about specific rare diseases.  To see which branch has a copy of the book and to place a hold, click on the title or cover link;  

100 Questions & Answers About Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis	Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: a Guide for Patients and Families	Cystic Fibrosis: the Facts

Guillain-Barré Syndrome: From Diagnosis to Recovery	Huntington's Disease	Thalassaemia: the Biography

Let's Talk About Speech Disorders

 

For many, trying to say words and be understood is difficult and frustrating.  In Canada, up to 10% of children and up to 6% of adults have a speech disorder.  For more information read the Speech, Language and Hearing Fact Sheet from the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists & Audiologists.

 

Speech disorders are common to both children and adults and are characterized by an inability to produce speech sounds correctly or fluently.  Examples of speech disorders are stuttering and apraxia.

For information about speech disorders in children and teens, go to MedLinePlus or KidsHealth.  Find links to specific speech disorders in adults at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association site.

Stuttering is a disfluency disorder where a person repeats words or parts of words or has trouble getting the word out altogether.  Famous people who have had problems with stuttering or stammering include King George VI who was depicted in the film, The King's Speech, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Tiger Woods, Marilyn Monroe and Nicole Kidman.  For a more complete list, read Famous People Who Stutter from The Stuttering Foundation.

Read a fact sheet about stuttering from the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists & Audiologists or from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.  Watch Stuttering and Your Child: Help for Parents a streaming video on YouTube from The Stuttering Foundation. 

Find a self-help group to join from the Canadian Stuttering Association

Early detection is important for overcoming a speech disorder.  To find a professional speech-language pathologist in your area, go to Find a Professional at the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists & Audiologists web site.

Check out the Library's recent books about speech disorders for more information.  To see which branch has a copy of the book and to place a hold, click on the cover or title link;

Childhood Speech, Language and Listening Problems	The Child and Adolescent Stuttering Treatment and Activity Resource Guide	Yoga for Stuttering

Be Aware of the Insects!: Lyme Disease and West Nile Virus

Lyme disease in humans is caused by the bite of a tick infected by a bacterium normally carried by small animals such as mice, squirrels and birds.  Generally ticks attach themselves to humans who brush against tall grasses and bushes.  Several parks in Ontario as well as the north shores of Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River are places where blacklegged ticks are commonly found. If you are bitten by an infected tick you may experience the following symptoms:

• -Fever
• -Headache
• -Muscle and joint pains
• -Fatigue
• -Skin rash

For more information read the Lyme Disease Fact Sheet from the Public Health Agency of Canada or Lyme Disease from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

 

Mosquitoes infected with the West Nile virus spread the virus to humans through bites. West Nile season is from May to October, the traditional mosquito season.  The virus first appeared in Ontario in 2001.  Most people bitten by infected mosquitoes do not have any symptoms.  Mild symptoms include:

• fever
• headache
• body aches
• mild rash

Some people suffer more severe symptoms such as:

• severe headache
• high fever
• stiff neck
• nausea
• vomiting
• drowsiness
• confusion
• muscle weakness and paralysis

If you experience any of these symptoms you should seek medical attention.

For more information read Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment from the Public Health Agency of Canada.  For information about how to protect yourself, read West Nile virus from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

Check out the Library's recent books about Lyme disease for more information.  To see which branch has a copy of the book and to place a hold, click on the cover or title link;

 

The Lyme Disease Survival Guide	Ending Denial: the Lyme Disease Epidemic	Insights into Lyme Disease Treatment

Asperger's in Adults

 

Many adults with Asperger's Syndrome have never been diagnosed with AS since the syndrome was only diagnosed after it was included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 1994.  It is a lifelong disorder that can affect relationships, your education and your job.

To read an excerpt from the DSM, go to PsychiatryOnline.

                                                                            

Reference copies of the DSM are available to read at the Toronto Reference Library and North York Central Library.

 

 

 

There are several common traits of individuals with Asperger's Syndrome including:

• Impaired social interaction evident in poor or intense eye-to eye contact or inappropriate facial expressions or body postures
• Rigid or repetitive behaviors including persistant preoccupation with favorite activities or interests or rigidity about rules, routines or rituals    

For more information read What is Asperger Syndrome from the Aspergers Society of Ontario.  Also read Top Ten Reasons for Adults to Seek an Asperger Syndrome Diagnosis.

Check out the Library's recent books about Asperger's Syndrome in adults for more information.  To see which branch has a copy of the book and to place a hold, click on the cover or title link; 

Getting to Grips with Asperger Syndrome	Connecting with Your Asperger Partner	Asperger's on the Job

Could It Be Autism?

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental disability that affects approximately 70,000 people in Ontario.  Typically it appears in the first three years of life and it is four times more likely to occur in boys than in girls.

        Some early signs that your child may be autistic include:

•         -Delayed speech or no words by 16 months
•         -Doesn't make eye contact
•         -Doesn't seem to hear you -- appears deaf
•         -Indifferent to people including parents -- resists cuddling
•         -Prefers to play alone -- not interested in playing with children
•         -Develops repetitive movements such as rocking or spinning
•         -Requires specific routines or rituals

For a more complete list of symptoms, go to the Mayo Clinic article about autism, Autism Speaks Canada or Autism Canada.

The Geneva Centre for Autism in Toronto provides a list of services for children and their parents and caregivers including skill building groups, support groups and circles, respite, and much more.

Subscribe to the Autism Speaks Official Blog or register for E-speaks Newsletter.

Check out the Library's recent books about autism for more information.  To see which branch has a copy of the book and to place a hold, click on the cover or title link; 

The First Year: Autism Spectrum Disorders	Making Sense of Autistic Spectrum Disorders	Children with High-Functioning Autism

Empowered Autism Parenting	Healing Our Autistic Children	Motivate to Communicate!

Surviving Prostate Cancer

 

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian men.  In an average week 470 men in Canada will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and of those 80 will die from prostate cancer.

 

To learn more about The Burden of Prostate Cancer in Canada, read the June 2009 article from the Canadian Urological Association Journal.

 

 

 

 Risk factors include:

• Age over 50
• Family history
• Race -- the risk is higher for African-Canadian men
• Diet -- especially a high-fat diet

How do you know if you have prostate cancer?  Read the Signs and symptoms of prostate cancer from the Canadian Cancer Society.

Treatments for prostate cancer include:

• Radiation therapy
• Hormone therapy
• Surgery
• Ultrasound treatment
• Chemotherapy
• Alternative medicine

For a more complete description of each treatment, read  Prostate cancer: Treatment and drugs at the Mayo Clinic site.

View an animated video of a surgical removal of the prostate at The Prostate Centre.

Ask the Doctor at the Prostate Cancer Canada site for more information about prostate cancer.  Go to The Prostate Centre for information about support groups in Toronto.

Check out the Library's recent books about prostate cancer for more information.  To see which branch has a copy of the book and to place a hold, click on the cover or title link; 

Dr. Peter Scardino's Prostate Book	Prostate & Cancer	The Cleveland Clinic Guide to Prostate Cancer

This Joint Needs Fixing!: Hip and Knee Surgery

As many as 70% of Canadians will require orthopaedic surgery in their lifetime.  Most Canadians requiring joint replacement are 65 or older, though there has been a significant increase in adults  45 to 54 years of age needing knee replacement.  Read Hip and Knee Replacements in Canada: Canadian Joint Replacement Registry (CJRR) 2008-2009 Annual Report, a publication by the Canadian Institute for Health Information for more information.

The most common reason for hip or knee replacement (also known as hip or knee arthroplasty) is severe pain and limited mobility as a result of degenerative osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

Knee arthroscopy is commonly done to repair or remove torn cartilage, reconstruct a torn cruciate ligament, remove loose bone fragments or inflammed joint linings.  More than 4 million knee arthroscopies are done worldwide each year. 

Surgery might be right for you if:

• You have problems walking, climbing stairs or getting out of chairs or bed
• You have already tried other treatments such as losing weight, physical therapy, using a cane or medications that haven't worked
• You have stopped doing activities that you enjoy such as walking or gardening because you are in too much pain

Watch an animated knee or hip replacement surgery or a knee arthroscopic surgery at the Arthritis Foundation: Surgical Procedures site and read about the types of surgery and their benefits and risks.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website includes substantial fact sheets for both hip and knee replacement as well as knee arthroscopy.  Read the Knee Arthroscopy fact sheet (English only) or the Total Hip Replacement or Total Knee Replacement fact sheets in both English or translated into Chinese.      

                                                                                                                   

For more information about knee arthroscopy go to YourSurgery.com.

Visit the Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation: Care Path Article on Total Joint Replacement for information about what to expect before, during and after your surgery.

To find out how long your wait time for orthopaedic surgery in Ontario is, visit Ontario Wait Times: Orthopaedic Surgery (Bone/Spine) published by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

Check out the Library's recent books about hip and knee surgery for more information.  To see which branch has a copy of the book and to place a hold, click on the title link;

Hip and Knee Surgery	100 Questions and Answers about Hip Replacement	Knee Surgery: the Essential Guide to Total Knee Recovery

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the eye's optic nerve and result in vision loss and  blindness. It's the second most common cause of vision loss in seniors in Canada.

There are different types of glaucoma. The most common one is open-angle glaucoma (more than 250,000 Canadians have it). Most glaucomas involve the drainage system within the eye: the fluid drains too slowly out of the eye - when the normal fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly rises glaucoma occurs. If the pressure isn't controlled, it may cause damage to the optic nerve and other parts of the eye.

Anyone can develop glaucoma, although some people are at higher risk than others. Glaucoma risk factors include:

• Elevated internal eye pressure (intraocular pressure)
• Age
• Ethnic background
• Family history of glaucoma
• Medical conditions
• Other eye conditions
• Nearsightedness
• Prolonged corticosteroid use

Glaucoma has no symptoms at first. People with open-angle glaucoma will slowly lose their peripheral (side) vision without treatment - they seem to be looking through a tunnel (tunnel vision). Over time, straight-ahead vision may decrease until no vision remains.

There is no cure for glaucoma. If it is detected early, glaucoma can be managed before irreversible vison loss occurs. For high risk people after age 35, it is recommended to have eye exam every year or two. Glaucoma treatments include medicines, laser trabeculoplasty, conventional surgery, or a combination of any of these.

Check out some books and DVD from the Toronto Public Library on your topic:

 

More information on your topic:

• CNIB: Glaucoma
• MedlinePlus: Glaucoma
• National Eye Institute: Facts About Glaucoma
• Glaucoma Research Foundation: Diagnostic Tests, Alternative Medicine
• Glaucoma Foundation: Doctor I Have a Question about Glaucoma: A Guide for Patients and Their Families, How Glaucoma is Treated