Easy-to-Read Health Information

Find links to health information that is easier to read, understand, and use. These materials are designed to be clear and to follow best practices in health literacy. The links on this page are arranged alphabetically by health topic.

MedlinePlus identifies easy-to-read materials using this Health Education Materials Assessment Tool (PDF).

A

Acne

What Is Acne? (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish

Alcohol

Harmful Interactions: Mixing Alcohol with Medicines (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) Also in Spanish
Understanding the Dangers of Alcohol Overdose (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) Also in Spanish

Alzheimer's Disease

10 Frequently Asked Questions About Alzheimer's Disease (National Institute on Aging)
If My Parent Has Alzheimer's Disease, Will I Have It, Too? (National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish

Aortic Aneurysm

Talk with Your Doctor About Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion) Also in Spanish

Arthritis

Arthritis (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish

Assistive Devices

Assistive Devices: Positioning Aids (Slideshow) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

B

Back Pain

Prevent Back Pain (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion) Also in Spanish

Birth Control

How to Use a Dental Dam (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish

Birth Defects

Assistive Devices: Positioning Aids (Slideshow) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
How Do Health Care Providers Diagnose Congenital Anomalies? (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish

Blood Clots

Stop the Clot, Spread the Word® Campaign Resources (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Blood Glucose

Manage Blood Sugar (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
Your Glucose Meter (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish

Blood Thinners

What Are Anticoagulants and Antiplatelet Agents? (American Heart Association) - PDF

Bone Diseases

Health Lesson: Learning About Bones (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)

Breastfeeding

Breastfeed Your Baby (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)

Bursitis

Sports Injuries (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish

C

Cancer

Adjusting to Cancer (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
Emotions and Cancer (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Cancer--Living with Cancer

Adjusting to Cancer (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
Emotions and Cancer (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Caregiver Health

What Is Caregiver Burnout? (American Heart Association) - PDF

Caregivers

Caregiver Support (American Heart Association)

Cervical Cancer Screening

Get Screened for Cervical Cancer (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion) Also in Spanish

Child Abuse

Abuse: What If I Need Help Right Now? (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Child Dental Health

Take Care of Your Child's Teeth (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)

Child Development

Bladder Control Problems and Bedwetting in Children (National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse) Also in Spanish

Child Mental Health

Storm Stress: Helping Kids Stay Calm (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
What to Do When You Feel Lonely (Nemours Foundation)

Child Nutrition

Helping Your Child: Tips for Parents and Other Caregivers (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
How to Add Balance to a Favorite Meal (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Colorectal Cancer

Get Screened for Colorectal Cancer (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion) Also in Spanish

COPD

Oxygen Therapy: Traveling with Oxygen (American Lung Association)
Pulmonary Rehabilitation: A Path to Breathing Better (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - PDF

Corns and Calluses

Diabetes and Foot Problems (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Cosmetics

Hair Dye and Hair Relaxers (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
Tattoos and Permanent Make-Up (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish

D

DASH Eating Plan

Getting Started on DASH (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - PDF Also in Spanish

Diabetes

Take Diabetes to Heart (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - PDF

Diabetes Complications

Diabetes, Gum Disease, and Other Dental Problems (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
Manage Blood Sugar (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish

Diabetes in Children and Teens

Managing Diabetes (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Diabetes Medicines

Dos and Don'ts of Proper Sharps Disposal (Food and Drug Administration)
Insulin (Food and Drug Administration)
Insulin, Medicines, and Other Diabetes Treatments (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Diabetes Type 1

Managing Diabetes (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Diabetes Type 2

Managing Diabetes (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Diabetic Diet

Carb Counting (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Diabetes Meal Planning (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Diabetic Foot

Diabetes and Foot Problems (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Dialysis

Eating and Nutrition for Hemodialysis (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Dietary Supplements

Dietary Supplements: Tips for Women (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish

Down Syndrome

Q&A for Kids (National Down Syndrome Society)

Drug Reactions

Harmful Interactions: Mixing Alcohol with Medicines (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) Also in Spanish

Drug Use and Addiction

Science of Drug Use: A Resource for the Justice Sector (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

E

Endometriosis

Endometriosis: Glossary of Terms (Boston Children's Hospital)

Evaluating Health Information

Evaluating Internet Health Information: A Tutorial from the National Library of Medicine (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Exercise and Physical Fitness

Get Active (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)
Tips to Help You Get Active (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Exercise for Children

Helping Your Child: Tips for Parents and Other Caregivers (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Exercise for Older Adults

Health Tips for Older Adults (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Eye Wear

Contact Lens Care (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish

F

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish

G

Gangrene

Diabetes and Foot Problems (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Guide to Good Posture

Prevent Back Pain (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion) Also in Spanish

Gum Disease

Diabetes, Gum Disease, and Other Dental Problems (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

H

Hair Loss

What Is Alopecia Areata? (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish

Hair Problems

Hair Dye and Hair Relaxers (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish

Health Literacy

Understanding Medical Words: A Tutorial from the National Library of Medicine (National Library of Medicine)

Health Problems in Pregnancy

Signs and Symptoms of Urgent Maternal Warnings Signs (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish

Health Screening

Get Screened (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion) Also in Spanish
Healthy Living by Age (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health) Also in Spanish

Healthy Aging

Health Tips for Older Adults (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
Protect Your Health as You Grow Older (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion) Also in Spanish

Healthy Sleep

Sleep Diary (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - PDF

Heart Attack

How Will I Recover from My Heart Attack? (American Heart Association) - PDF
Learn What a Heart Attack Feels Like (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - PDF

Heart Disease in Women

Heart Health for Women (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
Take Action for Your Heart: Get Started! (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - PDF

Heart Diseases

Take Action for Your Heart: Get Started! (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - PDF
Take Diabetes to Heart (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - PDF

Heart Failure

How Can I Live with Heart Failure? (American Heart Association) - PDF Also in Spanish

Hepatitis

Hepatitis (Viral) (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
Hepatitis D (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
Hepatitis D (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
Hepatitis C Prevention and Control (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

High Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish

HIV

Get Tested for HIV (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)
Get the Facts about HIV (National Library of Medicine) - PDF Also in Spanish
Get the Facts about HIV Medical Care (National Library of Medicine) - PDF Also in Spanish
Get the Facts about HIV Medicines (National Library of Medicine) - PDF Also in Spanish
Get the Facts about HIV Testing (National Library of Medicine) - PDF Also in Spanish
How to Protect Yourself from Getting HIV through Drug Use (National Library of Medicine) - PDF Also in Spanish
How to Protect Yourself from Getting HIV through Sex (National Library of Medicine) - PDF Also in Spanish
How to Stay Healthy with HIV (National Library of Medicine) - PDF Also in Spanish
How to Take Care of Your Mental Health with HIV (National Library of Medicine) - PDF Also in Spanish
What to Do after Finding Out You Have HIV (National Library of Medicine) - PDF Also in Spanish

HIV and Infections

How to Stay Healthy with HIV (National Library of Medicine) - PDF Also in Spanish

HIV in Women

Women and HIV: Get the Facts on HIV Testing, Prevention, and Treatment (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish

HIV Medicines

Get the Facts about HIV Medicines (National Library of Medicine) - PDF Also in Spanish

HIV: PrEP and PEP

What Is PEP? (National Library of Medicine) - PDF Also in Spanish

How to Prevent Diabetes

Aim for a Healthy Weight (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion) Also in Spanish
Preventing Type 2 Diabetes (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

How to Prevent Heart Disease

How Do I Change Recipes? (American Heart Association) - PDF
Take Action for Your Heart: Get Started! (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - PDF
Taking Care of Our Hearts, Together (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - PDF

HPV

HPV Vaccinations and Young Adults (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)

I

Infectious Arthritis

What Is Reactive Arthritis? (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish

Ischemic Stroke

What Are Anticoagulants and Antiplatelet Agents? (American Heart Association) - PDF

J

Juvenile Arthritis

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish

K

Kidney Failure

Choosing a Treatment for Kidney Failure (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Kidney Stones

Kidney Stones (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

L

Leg Injuries and Disorders

Kids and Growing Pains (Nemours Foundation) - In English and Spanish Also in Spanish
Sports Injuries (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish

Living with HIV

Get the Facts about HIV Medical Care (National Library of Medicine) - PDF Also in Spanish
How to Stay Healthy with HIV (National Library of Medicine) - PDF Also in Spanish
How to Take Care of Your Mental Health with HIV (National Library of Medicine) - PDF Also in Spanish
What to Do after Finding Out You Have HIV (National Library of Medicine) - PDF Also in Spanish

M

Marfan Syndrome

What Is Marfan Syndrome? (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish

Medication Errors

Use Medicines Safely (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion) Also in Spanish

Medicines

Using Medicines Wisely (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish

Men's Health

Men: Take Charge of Your Health (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion) Also in Spanish

Menopause

Sleep Problems and Menopause: What Can I Do? (National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish

N

Nutrition

How Do I Change Recipes? (American Heart Association) - PDF

Nutrition for Older Adults

Health Tips for Older Adults (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

O

Obesity in Children

Help Your Child Stay at a Healthy Weight (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion) Also in Spanish

Over-the-Counter Medicines

Harmful Interactions: Mixing Alcohol with Medicines (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) Also in Spanish
Using Medicines Wisely (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish

Oxygen Therapy

Oxygen Therapy: Traveling with Oxygen (American Lung Association)

P

Pacemakers and Implantable Defibrillators

What Is a Pacemaker? (American Heart Association) - PDF

Pancreatic Diseases

Animated Pancreas Patient (National Pancreas Foundation)

Parenting

Talk to Your Kids about Sex and Healthy Relationships (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion) Also in Spanish
Talk to Your Kids about Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drugs (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion) Also in Spanish

Piercing and Tattoos

Tattoos and Permanent Make-Up (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish

Postpartum Care

Signs and Symptoms of Urgent Maternal Warnings Signs (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish

Pregnancy and Medicines

Medicine and Pregnancy (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish

Pregnancy and Nutrition

Health Tips for Pregnant Women (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Premature Babies

Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish

Prenatal Care

Have a Healthy Pregnancy (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion) Also in Spanish

Prostate Diseases

Prostate Problems (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Psoriasis

What Is Psoriasis? (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Pulmonary Rehabilitation: A Path to Breathing Better (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - PDF

Q

Quitting Smoking

Quit Smoking (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion) Also in Spanish
Smoking -- Medicines to Help You Quit (Food and Drug Administration)

R

Radiation Therapy

How Radiation Therapy Is Used to Treat Cancer (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish

S

Sjogren's Syndrome

Sjögren's Disease (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish

Skin Cancer

Take Steps to Prevent Skin Cancer (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion) Also in Spanish

Sleep Disorders

Sleep Problems (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish

Small Intestine Disorders

Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish

Sports Injuries

Sports Injuries (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish

Sprains and Strains

Sports Injuries (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish

Stress

Manage Stress (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion) Also in Spanish

T

Talking With Your Doctor

Understanding Medical Words: A Tutorial from the National Library of Medicine (National Library of Medicine)

Teen Health

Your First Pelvic Exam (Boston Children's Hospital) Also in Spanish

Teen Mental Health

Abuse: What If I Need Help Right Now? (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Abusive Relationships (Nemours Foundation)
How Can I Feel Less Lonely? (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Tooth Disorders

Diabetes, Gum Disease, and Other Dental Problems (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

U

Underage Drinking

Parents -- Talk with Your High School Grads about Celebrating Safely (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) Also in Spanish
Underage Drinking (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) Also in Spanish

Understanding Medical Research

Understanding Medical Words: A Tutorial from the National Library of Medicine (National Library of Medicine)

Urinary Incontinence

Bladder Control Problems and Bedwetting in Children (National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse) Also in Spanish

Urinary Tract Infections

Bladder Infection (Urinary Tract Infection -- UTI) in Children (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

V

Vaccines

Get Vaccines to Protect Your Health (Adults Ages 19 to 49 Years) (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion) Also in Spanish

W

Weight Control

Health Tips for Adults (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Winter Weather Emergencies

Winter Storm Safety (American Red Cross) Also in Spanish

Women's Health

Healthy Living by Age (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health) Also in Spanish
Heart Health for Women (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish

Women's Health Checkup

Get Your Well-Woman Visit Every Year (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion) Also in Spanish
Healthy Living by Age (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health) Also in Spanish
What to Ask: Women's Health (AGS Health in Aging Foundation)
Your First Pelvic Exam (Boston Children's Hospital) Also in Spanish