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Viral Infections During Pregnancy
If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. What is a viral respiratory infection? A viral respiratory infection is a contagious illness that can affect your respiratory tract (breathing) and cause other symptoms. The flu and the common cold are…
Colds and the Flu: H1N1 Influenza
If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. OVERVIEW What is H1N1 influenza? H1N1 influenza (also known as swine flu) is an infection caused by a virus. H1N1 flu began to occur in the Canada in spring 2009. At first,…
Colds and the Flu
If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. OVERVIEW What is a cold and what is the flu? A cold and the flu are viral infections. They both affect your respiratory system. This includes your throat, nose, airways and lungs. …
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) – Spirometry
If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. What is spirometry? Spirometry is a type of “pulmonary function” test. It measures how well your lungs are working. Your healthcare provider uses the test results to help determine whether you have…
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. OVERVIEW What is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)? COPD is a disease that makes it hard for you to breathe. The two main types of COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Chronic…
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis)
If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. OVERVIEW What is chronic fatigue syndrome? Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a disease that causes you to become so fatigued (tired) you can’t perform normal daily tasks. This is called chronic fatigue….
Chronic Cough
If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. OVERVIEW What is a chronic cough? A chronic cough is a cough that lasts for 8 weeks or more. It’s usually caused by an underlying condition, such as allergies or heartburn, and…
Chronic Bronchitis
If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. OVERVIEW What is chronic bronchitis? Bronchitis is an inflammation (or irritation) of the airways in the lungs. Airways are the tubes in your lungs that air passes through. They are also called…
Choosing the Right Diet to Lose Weight
If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. What kind of diet will help me lose weight? Each individual is different. There is no universal diet that will help every person lose weight. The idea of “going on a diet”…
Cholesterol – Plant Sterols and Stanols
If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. What are plant sterols and stanols? Plant sterols and stanols are substances naturally found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. How do plant sterols and stanols affect my body?…