Winfred Watson, 65, Chicago
The Web helps him manage his hypertension
After I was diagnosed at 62, I needed a doctor closer to home. I went to hospital websites, and Dr. David Baker's name came up at Northwestern because of his special interest in hypertension. I put together a narrative of my history and gave it to his assistant before I saw him so he would have my background. I went to several websites to get an idea of what my condition meant. I wasn't looking for answers. It was more that I was looking for questions I could put to Dr. Baker.
I still do a lot of research. I might see something relevant on the Web I can bring in to discuss. I often stumble across different websites. It's easy to be overwhelmed. I try to stay with websites connected with institutions known for their credibility and excellence, like Johns Hopkins and the New England Journal of Medicine . Online medical dictionaries help me understand what I'm reading. Looking at the professional literature can be worthwhile. It gives me a sense of the latest research, and I can always ask Dr. Baker about something I've read. My blood pressure is good, under 120.
This story appears in the November 8, 2004 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.