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We are here to help you make informed decisions! Our website offers trustworthy and easy-to-understand information on a broad range of health topics. Our goal is to allow you to use this knowledge in everyday life. The information can help you to talk with doctors and other medical professionals, but not replace appointments.

IQWiG

IQWiG is an independent scientific institution in Germany. It is funded through contributions from the German statutory health insurance funds. Its legal responsibilities include the assessment of diagnostic tests and medical treatments. InformedHealth.org is the English-language version of IQWiG’s German website Gesundheitsinformation.de. It provides the general public with independent, ad-free and cost-free information on many common health issues.

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Our content is developed according to international quality standards and includes articles, graphics and films. We are a diverse team with backgrounds in science, medicine and journalism. We base our information on both high-quality scientific studies and the needs of patients and consumers. Our team ensures that the content of InformedHealth.org is easy to understand, complete and up to date.

Further topics

  • Photo of two women on a walk

    Bunions

    Bunions are among the most common foot deformities. The big toe leans towards the other toes and the joint at the base of the big toe bulges out. Thi...

  • Heartburn and GERD

    Heartburn and GERD

    Many people are familiar with heartburn – a burning pain between your stomach and throat. In gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), these symptoms ...

  • Photo of a newborn baby

    Birth

    Toward the end of pregnancy, when everyday life has become more difficult, most women can't wait to finally have the baby. Regular contractions are a...

  • Photo of a man with a pulled hamstring

    Muscle strains

    Putting too much stress on a muscle or overextending it can result in a muscle strain. This kind of injury causes immediate pain right after fast or ...

  • Photo of a couple taking a stroll along the beach

    Osteoarthritis of the knee

    Osteoarthritis of the knee causes knee pain – at first, only when the joint is under strain. Things like being overweight or putting a lot of strain ...

  • Overactive thyroid

    Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)

    The thyroid gland regulates a lot of functions in the body. It is said to be overactive if it makes too many thyroid hormones. This can lead to sympt...

  • Photo of a man on the telephone

    Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)

    If you constantly feel tired, have a slow pulse and constipation, you may wonder why. These types of symptoms can be caused by various things, but th...

  • Photo of woman taking medication

    Hashimoto’s disease

    Hashimoto’s disease is a chronic inflammation of the thyroid gland. It is the most common cause of an underactive thyroid in Germany and other countr...

  • Photo of a pregnant woman and her doctor

    Gestational diabetes

    Women who find out they have pregnancy-related diabetes are often surprised because there are usually no symptoms. But it increases the risk of certa...

  • Photo of couple walking on the beach

    Generalized anxiety disorder

    We all feel scared sometimes. This can help protect us in dangerous situations: It makes us more alert so that we can react quickly. But fear can bec...

  • Photo of a patient having her thyroid examined by a doctor

    Graves’ disease

    Graves’ disease is the most common cause of an overactive thyroid. It sends the body’s metabolism into overdrive, making lots of processes (such as t...

  • Photo of patient and doctor talking

    Sinusitis

    Sinusitis is an inflammation of the air-filled spaces around the nose. It typically leads to a stuffy nose and pain in the face. Read about what help...