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Allergic Conjunctivitis
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 conjunctivitis? A clear, thin membrane called the conjunctiva covers your eyeball and the inside of your eyelids. If something irritates this covering, your eyes may become red and swollen….
Allergic Rhinitis
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 an allergy? You have an allergy when your body overreacts to things that don’t cause problems for most people. These things are called allergens. Your body’s overreaction to the…
Allergic Rhinitis – Nasal Sprays – How to Use Them Correctly
If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. Types of nasal sprays Nasal sprays come in two different kinds of containers: pressurized canisters and pump bottles. Steps for using a pressurized canister: Gently blow your nose to clear it of…
Allergy Shots – Could They Help Your Allergies?
If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. How do allergy shots work? An allergy shot contains a very small amount of the substance that you are allergic to (called the allergen). Common allergens include mold and pollen from grasses,…
Alzheimer’s Disease
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 Alzheimer’s disease? Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia. Dementia is a word that healthcare providers use to describe a wide range of symptoms linked to physical and functional…
Amblyopia
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 amblyopia? Amblyopia (say this: “am-blee-oh-pee-ah”) is an eye problem that causes loss of or poor vision in one or both of a child’s eyes. Amblyopia usually affects only one…
Amenorrhea
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 amenorrhea? Amenorrhea (say: “ay-men-or-ee-uh”) is when you don’t have menstrual periods. There are two types of amenorrhea. Primary amenorrhea is when you haven’t ever had a period and you…
Anaphylaxis
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 anaphylaxis? Anaphylaxis (say: “anna-full-ax-iss”) is a life-threatening allergic reaction. It starts soon after you are exposed to something you are severely allergic to. You may have swelling, itching or…
Anemia
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 anemia? Anemia is a condition that affects your red blood cells. Your red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. Hemoglobin is the…
Angina
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 angina? Angina (say: “ann-jie-na”) is a squeezing pain or a pressing feeling in the chest. It is most often caused by blockages in the arteries that supply blood to…
Ankle Sprains – Healing and Preventing Injury
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 sprain? A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament. Ligaments connect one bone to another bone at a joint and help keep the bones from moving out of place….
Antacids and Acid Reducers – OTC Relief for Heartburn and Acid Reflux
If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. What types of OTC products treat heartburn? Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are medicines you can buy without a healthcare provider’s prescription. There are 3 types of OTC medicines that treat heartburn: Antacids reduce…
Antibiotic Resistance
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 antibiotics? Antibiotics are medicines that fight (or prevent) infections caused by bacteria, certain parasites and some types of fungus. Antibiotics cannot fight infections caused by viruses (which include most colds…
Antibiotics – When They Can and Can’t Help
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 antibiotics? Antibiotics are strong medicines used to treat infections, including life-threatening contagious diseases. But antibiotics can cause more harm than good when they aren’t used the right way. You can…
Antidiarrheal Medicines – OTC Relief for Diarrhea
If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. Should I treat diarrhea? Most of the time, diarrhea doesn’t require treatment. It usually lasts only a couple of days, whether you treat it or not. However, medicine can help you feel…