You may not feel comfortable following your doctor online, but what about using the Internet for support? It may be good for your health.

Based on recent studies, online health support programs, interventions and reminders are increasing in popularity, reliability and impact:

• Heart attack survivors and cardiac patients who participated in an online and phone-based support program lowered their blood pressure and cholesterol levels, were more likely to quit smoking and one-third less likely to die than those who did not participate.
  
  
• Smokers who used computer-based smoking cessation programs were nearly twice as likely to successfully quit than those who did not, based on 22 clinical trials.
  
  
• One in five excessive drinkers who used an online self-help program were able to lower their levels of alcohol intake, according to a Dutch study.
  
  
• Half of the users of online psoriasis support groups believed that the quality of their lives had improved, and two in five reported a lessened severity of their psoriasis.
  
  
• Through a program developed by Kaiser Permanente, individuals who received weekly reminder emails about their health goals, including eating more fruit and vegetables and exercising more, improved their health significantly.
  

In addition to providing easy access to support programs, the Web is boosting people's ability to track medical records, find doctors and specialists, research symptoms and conditions and connect with communities.

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