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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…

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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…

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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…

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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….

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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…

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What are Primary Healthcare Providers?

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 Primary Healthcare Providers? Primary healthcare providers focus on treating their clients as a whole.  They may involve a team of people including family physicians, nurse practitioners, family practice nurses, social…

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What it Takes to Lose Weight

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 it take to lose weight? To lose weight, you have to eat fewer calories than your body uses. Calories are the amount of energy in the food you eat. Some…

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What You Can Do to Change Your Child’s Behavior

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 normal behavior for a child? Normal behavior in children depends on the child’s age, personality, and physical and emotional development. A child’s behavior may be a problem if it doesn’t…

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What You Can Do to Maintain Your Health

If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. Do my habits really affect my health? Yes, very much so. All of the major causes of death (such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung disease and injury) can be prevented in…

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What You Should Know Before You Start A Weight Loss Plan

If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. The measurements that count Know your Body Mass Index (BMI) Over the past twenty years, Canadians have become more familiar with specific measurements related to health, such as cholesterol levels and blood…

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When Your Toddler Doesn’t Want to Eat

If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. How much should my child eat? How much your child eats may be very different from how much another child eats. Don’t worry if it seems that your child doesn’t eat enough…

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Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

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 whooping cough? Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a respiratory tract infection. SYMPTOMS What are the symptoms of whooping cough? Whooping cough usually starts like a cold and then turns…

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Why Should I Breastfeed?

If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. Breast milk is the perfect food for your baby. Many health organizations—Health Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO)—recommend that mothers breastfeed their newborn babies. What are the advantages of breastfeeding? Health…

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Wolff-Parkinson-White 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 Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome? Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome is a rare heart condition in which there is an extra electrical pathway present in the heart. This can cause a change in the…

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Working Safely – Advice for Teens

If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. Am I at risk of getting hurt at work? Yes, you may be. In 2016, 6 young workers between the ages of 15-19 died as a result of injuries at work. An…

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