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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 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...

  • Shoulder pain

    Shoulder pain

    Shoulder pain is one of the most common orthopedic problems. It usually arises beneath the bone that forms the “roof” of the shoulder (the acromion)....

  • Photo of a school teacher giving a lesson

    Vocal nodules

    Vocal nodules typically make your voice hoarse, and it may sound raspy and breathy too. These small non-cancerous growths usually go away if you rest...

  • Photo of an older couple taking a walk on the beach

    Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

    It is normal for vision to gradually get worse with age. Some medical conditions further affect your vision: Age-related macular degeneration makes o...

  • Photo of a boy reading

    Lazy eye (amblyopia) in children

    Amblyopia is a common vision problem in children. It is caused when one eye provides sharper images than the other eye does. Because the brain prefer...