May/June 2006

Nan's Note

From Your No. 1 Health Advocate

What's in a word? And how do you define health? We asked this question recently, and the response was heartening. We heard phrases such as "peace of mind" and "security." We heard the word "fitness" used to refer to both the body and the mind. We heard people use the word "health" to describe their homes, jobs, and relationships.

Clearly, much has changed from a decade ago, when most people defined health as "not being sick." At WebMD, we realize that health is a state of mind, and the doing of things that help us feel better. At times, that is easier said than done.

In this issue, we focus on both the person who needs to heal and the one who lends support. Sometimes we refer to the latter as a "caregiver." That word does not adequately capture what people who give of themselves to support others facing health challenges really do.

It doesn't even come close to describing Ann Lopez, the wife of George Lopez, award-winning comedian, star of his own primetime show-and a man once in desperate need of a new kidney. She didn't hesitate to offer her husband one of hers. "I was crying. I thanked her and I told her I loved her," George Lopez tells WebMD. "I was more concerned about her than I was about myself." Read their moving story about that fateful decision and how it has changed their lives.

Here at WebMD, we continue to broaden our scope to help you make better health decisions. We are proud to introduce our newest trailblazer: integrative medicine, or "IM." At the root of IM is a heightened relationship between a doctor and a patient that focuses on body, mind, and spirit. The goal is to create a personalized health plan that incorporates treatment options from a spectrum of scientifically proven approaches. To see IM in action, read our article about the ways innovative chronic-pain clinics in the United States are helping desperate patients --- finally --- find relief.

Enjoy the beginning of summer and know that at WebMD we are working hard to keep you informed and integrative. Stay cool.

Yours in well-being,

Nan-Kirsten Forte, MS
Editor in Chief, WebMD the Magazine