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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 medicines prescribed by a health care provider. They treat infections Overuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance. This makes the infection stronger. The medicine will not…
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…
Antiemetic Medicines – OTC Relief for Nausea and Vomiting
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 medicines treat nausea and vomiting? Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are medicines you can buy without a prescription from your healthcare provider. Medicines for nausea are called antiemetics. They can…
Antihistamines
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 antihistamines? Antihistamines are medicines that help stop allergy symptoms, such as itchy eyes, sneezing and a runny nose. Sometimes, an antihistamine can also help itchy rashes (especially hives). Why did…
Antihistamines – Understanding Your OTC Options
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 antihistamines are available? Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are medicines you can buy without a prescription from your healthcare provider. Antihistamines help relieve or prevent allergy symptoms. Two types of…
Antioxidants – What You Need to Know
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 antioxidants? The cells in your body are exposed to oxygen every day. Oxygen is important for your body’s health, but exposure to oxygen also causes oxidation. In oxidation, body chemicals…
Appendicitis
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 appendicitis? An appendicitis is inflammation or infection in your appendix. The appendix is a tube-like organ in your abdomen. It is attached to the first portion of your large intestine….
Are X-Rays Safe 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 are X-rays? X-rays are a form of radiation. This kind of radiation is invisible. X-rays are used to make “pictures” of the bones and organs. They have been associated with a…
Arrhythmia
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 arrhythmia? An arrhythmia is a change in the rhythm of your heartbeat. When the heart beats too fast, it’s called tachycardia. When it beats too slow, it’s called…
Artificial Hydration and Nutrition
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 artificial hydration and nutrition? If a patient isn’t able to swallow because of a medical problem, they can be given fluids and nutrition in ways other than by mouth. This…
Asperger’s Syndrome
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 Asperger’s syndrome? Asperger’s syndrome (also known as just Asperger’s) was once its own diagnosis. Now it is identified as one form of the autism spectrum disorder diagnosis (ASD). Despite this,…
Asthma
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 asthma? Asthma is a disease of the lungs. The airways of people who have asthma are extra sensitive to the things they’re allergic to (called allergens) and to other…
Asthma – Questions to Ask When it Doesn’t Get Better
If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. My asthma doesn’t seem to be getting better. What can I do? Sometimes despite efforts to treat your asthma, you end up back in the healthcare provider’s office or the emergency room,…
Asthma – Controller and Quick-Relief Medicine
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 asthma? Asthma is a chronic, or long-term, disease of the lungs. It can cause your airways (the air passages of your lungs) to become inflamed and narrow, making it harder…