Search Health Information Topics Online
Reliable health information available on this website will help you understand health issues that matter to you, your family and your community. Type the topic or title that you'd like to lookup and then click Search.
Parenting Tips
If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. I love my children, but being a parent can be so hard! Being a parent can be a joy, but it’s also a hard job. No parent is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes….
Parkinson’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 Parkinson’s disease? Parkinson’s disease is a disorder that affects the nervous system and causes problems with muscle movement. Normally, nerve cells that make a chemical called dopamine send signals…
Paronychia
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 paronychia? Paronychia (say: “pare-oh-nick-ee-uh”) is an infection in the skin around the fingernails or toenails. It usually affects the skin at the base (cuticle) or up the sides of…
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
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 patellofemoral pain? Patellofemoral pain is a common knee problem. If you have this condition, you feel pain under and around your kneecap. The pain can get worse when you’re…
Pelvic Floor Disorders
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 pelvic floor disorder? A group of muscles and connective tissues make up your “pelvic floor.” When your pelvic floor weakens, it can cause problems. You may have bladder- or bowel-control…
Pelvic Inflammatory 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 pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)? Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the female reproductive organs (the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries). Normally, the cervix (opening to the womb)…
Pelvic Ultrasound
If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. Overview A pelvic ultrasound is a procedure that allows your healthcare provider to look at what’s going on inside your pelvis. Your healthcare provider may request the test to diagnose unexplained pain,…
Perimenopause
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 perimenopause? Perimenopause is a stage in a woman’s reproductive years. It’s a sign that a woman is getting closer to menopause. Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when…
Peripheral Arterial Disease and Claudication
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 peripheral arterial disease? Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a problem with blood flow in the arteries, especially those in the legs. Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood from…
Peritonsillar Abscess
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 peritonsillar abscess? A peritonsillar abscess (say: pair-ee-TON-sill-er AB-sess) occurs when a sore filled with pus (a thick, whitish-yellow fluid) forms near one of your tonsils. The tonsils are…
Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymic Disorder)
If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. Get emergency care if you or a loved one has serious thoughts of suicide or harming others. OVERVIEW What is persistent depressive disorder? Persistent depressive disorder (PDD, formerly known as dysthymia, or…
Pets and Parasites
If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. Can my pets make me sick? Household pets such as dogs, cats, birds and reptiles can carry diseases or parasites that make people sick. The good news is this doesn’t happen very…
Pica
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 pica? Pica is a compulsive eating disorder in which people eat non-food items. Dirt, clay, and flaking paint are the most common items eaten. Less common items include glue,…
Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis
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 pigmented villonodular synovitis? Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a joint problem that usually affects the hip or knee. It can also occur in the shoulder, ankle, elbow, hand or…
Pilonidal Cyst
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 pilonidal cyst? A pilonidal cyst is a small sac inside the skin that is usually located near the tailbone at the top of the buttocks crease. Pilonidal (say:…