Consumer health refers to the information, resources, and technologies available to the general public to help them manage their own health. It includes educational materials, preventive care, wellness resources, disease and treatment information, and health care options, all designed to be easily understandable and accessible to the layperson. Consumer health informatics is a sub-branch of health informatics that focuses on using modern computers and telecommunications to support consumers in obtaining information, analyzing their unique health care needs, and making decisions about their own health
. The consumer-health industry is booming, driven by an aging population, a proliferation of wellness-related products and services, and consumers' desire to control their health
