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Lupus
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 lupus? Lupus (say: loop-us) is a disease of the immune system that can affect many parts of the body. Normally, antibodies produced by the immune system help protect the…
Lupus – Lupus and Pregnancy
If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. Is pregnancy too risky if I have lupus? If you have a type of lupus called systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and you are thinking about getting pregnant, you may worry about how…
Lyme 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 Lyme disease? Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is spread by ticks. Lyme disease is carried by black-legged ticks (sometimes called deer ticks). In Nova Scotia and PEI,…
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a scan that uses strong magnet and radio waves to see inside your body. It can see your organs, bones and tissue. It creates detailed images of…
Male Breast Cancer
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 male breast cancer? Breast cancer is a form of cancer that occurs in your breast(s). Men can get breast cancer, but it is more common in women. Because of…
Male Infertility
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 infertility? Infertility is the inability to get pregnant after trying for at least 1 year without using birth control. About 16% of couples are infertile. How often are male…
Mallet Finger
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 mallet finger? Mallet finger is an injury to your fingertip. It is common in sports and usually happens when a ball hits the end of your finger (such as…
Marijuana Use
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 are the common side effects of marijuana use? The following are some of the common side effects of using marijuana: Trouble remembering things Slowed reaction time Difficulty concentrating Sleepiness Anxiety…
Mastitis
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 mastitis? Mastitis (say: “mass-tie-tuss”) is an inflammation of the breast that is usually caused by an infection. It often happens while a woman is breastfeeding, especially during the first…
Mastocytosis
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 mastocytosis? Mastocytosis (say “mass-toe-sigh-toe-sis”) is the abnormal growth of mast cells in the body. Mast cells are part of the immune system, which helps protect your body against infection….
Measles
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 measles? Measles (also called rubeola) is a serious respiratory illness. This means it affects the lungs and breathing tubes. It also causes a rash and a fever. It is one…
Meckel’s Diverticulum
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 Meckel’s Diverticulum? Meckel’s diverticulum (say: “die-ver-tic-yu-lum”) is a small pouch on the wall of the lower part of the small intestine (bowel) and is usually present at birth. A…
Medical Abortion
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 medical abortion? A medical abortion uses 2 different medications, taken 1 to 2 days apart, to end a pregnancy and make the uterus push out the tissue (like a…
Melasma
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 melasma? Melasma is a common skin condition in which brown patches appear on the skin. Melasma often affects the skin on the face. The patches tend to appear on…
Melatonin
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 melatonin? Melatonin is a hormone made by a part of the brain called the pineal (say: “pie-nee-all”) gland. Melatonin may help our bodies know when it’s time to go to…