Canadian Health Care Guide

• Locating Reliable Health Information Starts Here

  When it comes to learning more about our health, it is critical that the information we locate is both up to date and reliable. So how can we know that it is? Read more »

• New Parenthood Part I: From conception to childbirth

  Planning for a family is a time that finds soon-to-be parents with questions and uncertainties. You’ll need resources you can trust to help you feel ready for what’s to come…Read more »

• New Parenthood Part II: Life with a new baby

  Life as a new parent is often accompanied by many questions; seeking out information you can trust becomes an important part of being a good mom or dad…Read more »

• Want a Second Opinion? When to get one and what to expect

  In Canada, only patients who request a second opinion will go through the process of getting one. So how do you know when to make the request? Read more »

• Effective Complaining: Knowing how and when to voice your concerns

  The average Canadian is not unfamiliar with errors in the health care system, whether a medication mix-up, an oversight in treatment, a misdiagnosis, or worse…Read more »

• Get the Most out of Your Next Visit to the Doctor

  Given the hectic lifestyle of the average Canadian, the more time-efficient your doctor’s appointment, the better…Read more »

• Understanding Processes in Health Care Part I: What goes into a diagnosis?

  It is your doctor’s job to dig beneath the symptoms and uncover signs which can be felt, heard, measured, and observed – even if you do not notice them…Read more »

• Understanding Processes in Health Care Part II: What’s the hold up with my test results?

  When you undergo medical testing, the waiting game can often be more tedious than the initial symptoms…Read more »

• Information and Tips on Quitting Smoking

  Due to the highly addictive nature of tobacco, quitting smoking can be an arduous process…Read more »

• I’m Pretty Healthy. Do I still need to see a doctor?

  Your health requires a lifetime of maintenance and deserves your attention even when you are not sick…Read more »

• Periodic Health Examinations: Upgrading your annual physical

  Unlike an average check-up, a PHE gives you and your doctor more time to discuss your overall health and well-being…Read more »

• Family Doctor, Nurse Practitioner, or Physician's Assistant: Who should I see, and when?

  While your first instinct may be to go to the doctor, it can often be a challenge to get a timely appointment for a non-emergency condition…Read more »

• I’m Sexually Active—How often should I be getting tested for STIs?

  Without regular testing, you may be unaware that you have an STI, and might be unknowingly spreading it to your sexual partners…Read more »

• Newly Diagnosed Part I: Questions to ask your doctor

  A new diagnosis can leave you and your loved ones overwhelmed and confused…Read more »

• Newly Diagnosed Part II: Locating additional information

  Have you ever left a doctor’s appointment feeling overwhelmed or confused about the information that was presented to you? Read more »

• Rare Diseases: Where to go for more information

  Locating information and resources on rare diseases can often be challenging, as these conditions do not attract as much attention or visibility as more common illnesses do…Read more »

• Tips on Choosing a Counselling Professional

  You may seek a counselling professional to discuss a variety of issues. These types of professionals can include counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists…Read more »

• Teen Health: Finding credible information and programs

  Whether you are a parent or a teen, getting through the teenage years can be tough…Read more »

• Accessing Your Medical Records

  Your health information is usually stored in a central file at your doctor’s office…Read more »

• Your Personal Health Record (PHR)

  Don’t assume that every physician you visit will have a complete record of your health history…Read more »

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• Cancer Treatment Options: What else is out there?

  If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with cancer, you are likely trying to familiarize yourself with the latest cancer research…Read more »

• Clinical Trials: What are they?

  Clinical trials are controlled research studies designed to test the safety and effectiveness of medical drugs and/or techniques on human volunteers…Read more »

• STI Testing: Where do I go, and what should I expect?

  Getting tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be intimidating when you don’t know where to go or what to expect…Read more »

• Accessing Genetic Tests in Canada

  Genes determine every human characteristic from eye colour and height to susceptibility to illness, and more…Read more »

• The 5 Basic Types of Massage Therapy

  Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) may provide a variety of treatments, depending on what massage techniques they have been trained to do…Read more »

• Preparing for Surgery

  Simply put, surgery is a medical procedure in which special instruments are used to make incisions (precise cuts) into the body…Read more »

• Canadian Drug Approval: A 10-step process

  Have you ever wondered how a new medication gets approved in Canada? Read more »

• Publicly Funded Drug Plans: Know your options

  Prescription drugs often play a significant role in health care. But how can you manage your treatment if you can’t handle the cost of these medications? Read more »

• Private Drug Insurance: Your coverage explained

  About 65% of Canadians get prescription drug coverage from a private health insurance plan…Read more »

• Drug Coverage: The Special Access Programme (SAP)

  All prescription drugs need to be approved for sale in Canada in order for you to access them. But what if you have a serious chronic health condition and have exhausted all of the current available treatment options? Read more »

• Special Medication Access: Locating provincial programs

  In exceptional circumstances, provinces and territories offer special programs to access coverage for certain medications…Read more »

• Drug Lists: What do they tell you?

  A drug list is also known as a formulary. Generally, formularies contain detailed information about a medication, such as the conditions it is prescribed to treat, levels of dosages and possible side effects…Read more »

• Adverse Drug Reactions

  When you start a new medication or therapy, you should watch for serious side effects, called adverse reactions…Read more »

• Medication Safety

  The right medication can help treat your illness, but if you don’t take it correctly, it can cause serious health problems…Read more »

• Understanding Your Prescription

  Taking your medication correctly is important to achieving and maintaining good health…Read more »

• Complementary and Alternative Medicine: What you should know

  The popularity of complementary and alternative treatments is on the rise…Read more »

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• Living a Longer and Healthier Life with HIV

  Today, individuals with HIV live longer and healthier lives than ever before. Still, there are barriers that hold them back from receiving the care they need…Read more »

• Take Control of Your Life by Taking Control of Your Arthritis

  Often considered an older person’s disease, the reality is that arthritis can strike at any age. So what do you do if and when it hits? Read more »

• My Child has Been Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. Now what?

  Although there is no cure for the condition, there are ways to meet the needs of a child diagnosed with cerebral palsy…Read more »

• Chronic Disease Management: Take your health into your own hands

  It's no surprise that the exact steps for managing a chronic condition depend on the nature of the illness. There are, however, general tips to follow…Read more »

• Pain Management: Communicating your needs

  More than 10 percent of the population lives with chronic pain—that's close to 3.5 million Canadians! And those numbers more than double among seniors…Read more »

• Managing Diabetes: Make your diet work for you

  The most common advice you might receive after a diabetes diagnosis is to adjust your eating habits; but is it really that simple? Read more »

• Taking Back Control After a Stroke: Recharge your recovery

  Every 10 minutes, one Canadian suffers a stroke…Read more »

• Managing a Disability: Locating services, support, and resources

  About 15% of the population, or 4.5 million Canadians, live with a disability…Read more »

• Palliative Care

  When a patient’s health care team determines that treatment aimed at a cure is no longer an option, the focus turns to quality of life considerations…Read more »

• Trying to Beat Heart Disease? Consider cardiac rehab

  Heart disease is the second leading cause of death in adult Canadians. However, few people know what to do when they have it…Read more »

• 'Tis the Season! Your guide to coping with the flu

  Sometimes you just can’t avoid getting sick. So how do you know when the flu has hit? And how can you get better, faster? Read more »

• Concussions: What players, parents, and coaches need to know

  Anyone who plays sports – especially contact sports – is at risk of suffering a concussion…Read more »

• 4 Tips to Keep Your Bones and Joints Healthy

  Over six million Canadians have bone or joint health problems, including arthritis, rheumatism, osteoporosis, and injuries resulting from sporting activities or falls…Read more »

• Be Bone Wise: Medications and health conditions that affect your bones

  You’ve probably heard that nutrients, such as protein, vitamin D, and calcium, are essential for keeping your bones healthy. But is there anything else you should be aware of when it comes to taking care of your bones? Read more »

• Stroke: Know the warning signs, know your risk

  According to the Canadian Stroke Network, one Canadian suffers from a stroke every ten minutes…Read more »

• Transient Ischemic Attacks

  A Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), also called a mini-stroke, occurs when a blood clot or a build-up of plaque temporarily blocks blood flow to the brain…Read more »

• Understanding Mental Illness

  Many people feel very uncomfortable with the topic of mental illness. We shouldn’t…Read more »

• Cancer Support Organizations

  Cancer support organizations can provide you with information and resources about cancer (such as information on specific cancer types, drug therapies and treatment options), and help you locate avenues for support within your province or territory…Read more »

• Developmental Disability and Psychological Illness

  Psychological illness and developmental disability can be difficult to overcome, and may even be disabling…Read more »

• Multiple Sclerosis

  Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease that causes the progressive deterioration of the lining of the nerve pathways…Read more »

• Hearing Impairment

  It is common for some people to experience some degradation in hearing as they age, and for some of these people the condition may reach the point where they need a hearing aid…Read more »

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• Child and Teen Health: A resource guide for parents

  As a parent, it is your job to be on the lookout for resources that will help you care for your children and keep them healthy…Read more »

• Health Advocates: Someone by your side

  Appointing a health advocate can make your health care experience more manageable and less emotionally burdensome…Read more »

• My Child is Sick: When do I see a doctor?

  As a parent, learning to recognize the severity of your child’s symptoms will help you determine when you need to seek medical attention…Read more »

• Eldercare: Choosing the right home away from home

  With so many options available, choosing a retirement residence or a long-term care facility for a loved one may be a difficult task…Read more »

• Home Care: What provincial assistance is available?

  As Canada’s population ages, the rates of chronic diseases are also rising. More and more Canadians are looking for at-home options to care for aging loved ones…Read more »

• Caregivers

  Caregivers provide support to people whose health conditions restrict their ability to care for themselves…Read more »

• Vaccination: Your child's first line of defense

  Vaccinations, or immunizations, work by stimulating the immune system, the natural disease-fighting system of the body…Read more »

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