Podcasts for Consumer Health Available

Are you always on the go? Now your health information can go with you – anywhere, anytime. On average, we spend over 100 hours a year commuting to and from work. Add to that time spent waiting in line, airport delays, and inclement weather and the hours of your day dwindle. Don’t fret! These time vacuums provide a great opportunity to learn about health topics by listening to a podcast. Podcasting is a method of accessing audio programs over the Internet. They can be played on your computer, or downloaded to a portable device such as an MP3 player or iPhone. There are numerous quality podcasting sites for health information: from medical topics, to fitness, to nutrition. Podcasts are a great way to conveniently catch up on current health news, get motivated in your exercise program, or learn a new recipe. Here are a few suggestions to get you started: *The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has a new series titled Healthcare 411. This weekly podcast – in English and Spanish – focuses on evidence-based information, and features consumer-friendly health news. http://healthcare411.ahrq.gov/subscribe.aspx. *Duke University Medical Center Library has compiled consumer/patient health information related podcasts – including National Public Radio’s NPR: Your Health Podcast. http://guides.mclibrary.duke.edu/content.php?pid=8784&sid=56867. *The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute offers podcasts on heart disease, insomnia, obesity, high blood pressure, and more! http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/pods/podcasts.html. *The National Institutes of Health sponsors NIH Radio, a 24-hour audio news service broadcasting the latest in health research and news in English and Spanish. http://www.nih.gov/news/radio/index.htm. *The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services HHS HealthBeat podcasts provides health promotion and disease prevention tips five days a week. http://www.hhs.gov/news/healthbeat/. *The United States Department of Agriculture offers one minute MyPyramid audio podcasts to help you make better food choices throughout the day. http://www.mypyramid.gov/audiopoddcasts/index.html Visit USA.gov (www.usa.gov) for other health podcasts from the U.S. Government. For more information, contact: Marty Magee National Network/Libraries of Medicine Education and Nebraska Liaison McGoogan Library of Medicine Univ. of Nebraska Medical Center 986706 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha NE 68198-6706 402-559-7076 800-338-7657 mmagee@unmc.edu