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.
Vasectomy – What to Expect
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 vasectomy? A vasectomy is an operation that makes a man permanently unable to get a woman pregnant. It involves cutting the 2 tubes called vas deferens so that sperm…
Vegan Diet – How to Get the Nutrients You Need
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 vegan diet? People who follow a vegan diet avoid eating all animal products, including meat, eggs and dairy. They also don’t eat food products that have an animal source,…
Vegetarian Diet – How to Get the Nutrients You Need
If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. What does being a vegetarian mean? A vegetarian diet limits or excludes consuming animal flesh or products that come from animals. But there isn’t just one vegetarian diet. Diet choices are personal,…
Vertebroplasty for Spine Fracture Pain
If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. About 1.5 million people in Canada have osteoporosis (a decrease in the amount of bone mass) or have thinning of the bones that puts them at risk for spine fractures (broken bones)….
Viral Infections 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 is a viral respiratory infection? A viral respiratory infection is a contagious illness that can affect your respiratory tract (breathing) and cause other symptoms. The flu and the common cold are…
Vision Loss
If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. OVERVIEW How can I tell if I’m losing my vision? You might have vision problems if you have trouble with normal activities, such as reading mail, watching television, signing your name, paying…
Vitamin B-12
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 vitamin B-12? Vitamin B-12 is an important vitamin that you usually get from your food. It is mainly found in fish, shellfish, meat, eggs, dairy products and special fortified foods….
Vitamin D
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 vitamin D and why is it important? Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that is an important part of your overall good health. Your body requires vitamin D to absorb…
Vitamins and Minerals – How to Get What You Need
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 micronutrients? Micronutrients are the vitamins and minerals found in food that nourish your body and help keep you healthy. According to Health Canada, many adult Canadians do not typically get…
Vomiting and Diarrhea
If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. OVERVIEW Can vomiting and diarrhea be dangerous? Vomiting (throwing up) and diarrhea (frequent, watery bowel movements) can be harmful because they can cause dehydration. Dehydration occurs when you lose too much fluid….
Vulvar 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 vulvar cancer? The vulva is the skin and fatty tissue between the upper thighs of women, from the area of the anus to about an inch below the pubic…
Vulvodynia
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 vulvodynia? Vulvodynia (say: “vul-vo-din-ee-a”) is the word that describes pain and discomfort in the vulva. The vulva is a woman’s external genital area, or the area around the opening…
Warts
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 warts? Warts are small growths on the skin that normally don’t cause pain. Some warts itch and may hurt, especially if they’re on your feet. There are five kinds…
Weight Issues in Children
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 I know if my child is overweight? It may be hard for you to tell if your child is overweight. As children grow and develop, some weight changes are normal….
West Nile Virus
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 West Nile virus? West Nile virus is a virus that can infect humans, birds, horses and mosquitoes. Infection from this virus is most commonly found in Africa, West Asia…