Health Topics

Skip navigation

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( Lock Locked padlock icon ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

You Are Here:
Home →
Provider and Purpose—Part 5 of 6
URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/webeval/provider5.html

Evaluating Internet Health Information Tutorial

Previous Page
Next Page

Provider and Purpose—Part 5 of 6

Did you notice that the Institute for a Healthier Heart website has a link to an online shop?

That's a clue that the site's main purpose may be to sell something and not just to offer information. But the site may not explain this directly. You need to investigate!

Screenshot of the IHH homepage. In the header area at the top right of the screen, a red box outlines the red shopping cart icon and text 'Shop'.
A site with a shopping cart as a main item on the page may be mostly interested in selling you something.


The online store includes products from HeartDrugz, the company that funds the site. This clue suggests that the site might show a preference for the drug company or its products.

Keep this in mind as you browse the site.

Screenshot of the 'Shop' page of the IHH. A red box outlines an image of multicolored pills and the text 'HeartDrugz vitamins can help keep you strong and prevent disease.' Under that is a prompt to 'Buy Now' for $35.00. Also offered for sale on the page are a cookbook and health journal.
On this page you can see that the site's sponsor is selling heart vitamins on the site. This could create a conflict of interest that influences the type of information that the website offers.
Previous Page
Next Page