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Pregnancy – What to Expect When you Are past Your Due Date

If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. A pregnancy usually lasts for 38 to 42 weeks. It is considered overdue if it lasts more than 42 weeks. “Post-term pregnancy,” “prolonged pregnancy,” and “post-date pregnancy” are other phrases used to…

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Pregnancy With Multiples

If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. Being pregnant with multiples means you will have two, three, or more babies in your uterus at once. Twins are the most common set of multiples. Your multiples can be identical. This…

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Pregnancy-induced Hypertension (Pre-eclampsia)

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 blood pressure? Blood pressure is the pressure in the blood vessels in your body. It is the force with which the blood moves through the blood vessels. Healthcare providers…

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Premature Ejaculation

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 premature ejaculation? Premature ejaculation happens when a man has an orgasm sooner than he or his partner would like. Premature ejaculation can happen before or shortly after penetration. There…

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Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

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 premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)? PMDD is a severe form of a common problem called premenstrual syndrome, or PMS. About 75% of women of childbearing age have some PMS problems….

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Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

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 PMS? Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is the name for a group of symptoms that you may experience up to 14 days before your period (menstruation). The symptoms usually stop soon…

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Prenatal Diagnosis: Amniocentesis and CVS

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 prenatal diagnosis? Prenatal diagnosis is a way for your healthcare provider to determine, before birth, whether your fetus has a problem such as Down syndrome. Amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling…

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Prescription Drug Abuse in the Elderly

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 prescription drug abuse? Prescription drug abuse is when a person doesn’t take their prescription medicine properly. Prescription drug abuse is a term usually reserved for improper use of medicines that…

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Prescription Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Medicines

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 prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs work? Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (also called NSAIDs) stop cyclooxygenase enzymes (also called COX enzymes) in your body from working. COX enzymes speed up your body’s production…

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Prescription Weight-Loss Medicines

If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. Do prescription weight-loss medicines really work? When combined with a reduced-calorie diet and regular physical activity, prescription weight-loss medicines can help obese people lose weight. People who use these drugs may not…

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Pressure Sores

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 pressure sores? Pressure sores are areas of injured skin and tissue. They usually are caused by sitting or lying in one position for too long. This puts pressure on…

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Preterm Labour and Birth

If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. Every patient who is pregnant longs for a dream pregnancy—a 40-week, worry-free time where everything goes as planned. But some people have complications. One common complication is preterm (premature) labour. Preterm labour…

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Preventing Malnutrition in Older Adults

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 malnutrition? Malnutrition is when your body doesn’t get enough nutrients from the foods you eat to work properly. Nutrients include fats, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and minerals. These substances give your…

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Preventing 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. What is influenza? Influenza (also called “the flu”) is a viral infection in the nose, throat and lungs. It is estimated that influenza causes approximately 12,200 hospitalizations and 3,500 deaths in Canada…

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Preventive Services for Healthy Living

If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. How can my healthcare provider help me stay healthy? In addition to treating you when you are sick, your healthcare provider can follow a program designed to help you stay healthy. This…

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