Disclaimer: This page contains links to commonly seen conditions in primary care. The list was curated by our staff and is subsequently thought to be accurate, up-to-date, and relevant.
It does not contain everything. Some conditions were purposely left out as information around these can be more nuanced, and may require more direct communication, and personalized information.
You may use these tools on your own and without any appointment but it is more likely that one of our team members will refer you to one or more of these and the resources.
You can always try Healthlink BC and search for most conditions. There may be websites with better infographics, videos etc. However, Health Link BC is the way to go to find information that is relevant to our area.
Do more screening tests lead to better health?
Click on a topic below to view links to more information
Topics are in alphabetical order. To quickly search this page, hit the Ctrl key and the F key (Ctrl-F) on your keyboard, then type in the topic you are interested in and hit the Enter key.
Arthritis
- Hand arthritis and hand exercises
- Hip osteoarthritis exercises: OASIS Hip Knee Exercises.pdf, Osteoarthritis hip page.pdf
- Joint protection (all joints) for osteoarthritis | Vancouver Coastal Health
- Knee Osteoarthritis simple exercises
- Healthy eating and balancing weight when you have arthritis | Vancouver Coastal Health
- Arthritis treatment webinars (free): OsteoArthritis Service Integration System (OASIS) | Vancouver Coastal Health
- Top 10 exercises for generalized joint pain and stiffness: EN-top-10-exercises_Generic.pdf
- Arthritis additional and comprehensive resources: Arthritis Pain Management Guide: Tips, Treatments & Resources | Arthritis Society Canada
Back pain
- Do I need imaging for my back pain: Choosing_Wisely_AcuteLowBackPain_Patient_Handout.pdf
- Low back pain: Exercises to reduce pain: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthwise/low-back-pain-exercises-reduce-pain
- Gentle fitness videos: https://www.ymcahome.ca/public-gentle-fit
- Back pain video explaining types: Low Back Pain
- Back pain treatment options grid: 47.en_us.1(1).pdf
- Spine conditioning exercises: 2017-rehab_spine.pdf
- Acute low back pain information booklet: acute_low_back_pain_brochure.pdf
- Chronic back pain information booklet: chronic_low_back_pain_brochure.pdf
- Detailed exercise videos for back pain: Exercises for Patients – Rapid Access Clinics For Low Back Pain
- Back pain : how much rest is too much: Treating-Lower-Back-Pain-.pdf
Bladder & Urinary Tract
- Bladder – dietary irritants bladder-irritants.pdf
- bladder control issues? : Issues with Bladder Control – Patient Education Sheet -828694.pdf (SECURED)
- Overactive bladder: Overactive Bladder – Your Pelvic Floor
- Bladder training (overcoming frequency, urgency, incontinence/leaking): Bladder Training – Your Pelvic Floor
- UTI bladder and urinary tract infections: Urinary Tract Infections in Teenagers and Adults | HealthLink BC, Urinary Tract Infection – Your Pelvic Floor
- UTI – when to get help? UTI.pdf
- Interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome information: PIB22_en_web2022.pdf
Body Weight Concerns
- Weight management – stop negative thoughts Weight Management: Stop Negative Thoughts | HealthLink BC
- Weight loss for surgery video: BC Surgical Patient Prehabilitation – Weight Loss – YouTube
- Fitness videos for any age and fitness level: On Demand Fitness — YMCA at Home
Breast Health
- Breast cancer information: Breast Cancer
- Who should get a mammogram? : Who Should Screen?
- Breast health information: Breast Health
- Breast pain : Breast Pain – Breast360.org
- Breastfeeding resources : Breastfeeding / chestfeeding online modules – Fraser Health Authority
Cardiovascular Health
Palpitations
- Overview of palpitations: heart rhythm problems symptoms
- Atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter – information booklet: Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter brochure pdf
- Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) maneuvers to slow heart rate: Vagal manoeuvres supraventricular tachycardia svt
- Heart failure (video series): youtube
Heart failure symptom checker monitoring tool
- hf-symptom-tracker.pdf
- HS_HeartFailure_LimitingFluid_EN.pdf
- Diuretics | Heart and Stroke Foundation
- HS_HeartFailure_LimitingSodium_EN.pdf
- Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors | Heart and Stroke Foundation
- Beta-blockers | Heart and Stroke Foundation
Heart conditions
- Angina: Angina | Heart and Stroke Foundation
- Heart attack: Heart attack | Heart and Stroke Foundation
- Heart failure: Heartrt failure
- Cardiac arrest: Cardiac arrest (Cardiopulmonary arrest) | Heart and Stroke Foundation
- Arrhythmia: Conditions – arrhythmia
- Diet for improved heart health: Appendix 2 Patient handout pdf
- Cholesterol: how to improve you’re your own without medication?: if nfs improve your cholesterol and triglycerides pdf, Appendix 2 Patient handout pdf
Children
- Vaccination advice – how to make informed decisions in the age of information: A parent’s guide to immunization information on the Internet | Caring for kids
- BC immunization schedule: Immunizations schedule for children | HealthLink BC
- Side effects after immunization: Side effects | HealthLink BC
- Growth and development – milestones: SCGC – Baby Navigator
- Colic and crying in babies : Colic and crying | Caring for kids
- Teething: Teething: Common Concerns | HealthLink BC
- Fever in children information: Fever and temperature taking | Caring for kids
- Picky eaters : When your child is a picky eater | Caring for kids
- Overweight and childhood obesity: Healthy Eating – Childhood Healthy Living
- Diarrhea, age 11 and younger: diarrhea age 11 and younger
- Growing pains: Growing Pains | HealthLink BC
- Anxiety in children : Anxiety | Kelty Mental Health
- Anxiety in youth: Anxiety – Foundry –
- Social anxiety: P4925E.pdf
- Depression in children and youth: Depression | Kelty Mental Health
- Shortness of breath children < 2 years – bronchiolitis – when to go to the ER: Bronchiolitis Infographic • EchoKT
- Behavioral disorders in children: Behavioural Disorders | Kelty Mental Health
- Confident parents & thriving children program (free telephone coaching. video explaining program): Confident Parents: Thriving Kids – Confident Parents: Thriving Kids
- Bullying: Bullying | Kelty Mental Health
- Social and emotional development starts early: Feelings First
- Four simple tips for raising healthy children: 4 Simple Tips for Raising Healthy Children.pdf
- Screen use and young children: Screen use and young children | Caring for kids, Better Screen Time | Andrea Davis — Better Screen Time
- Vaping – is it safer than smoking?: Health risks of vaping handout pdf
Chronic Pain
- Chronic pain: living with: PainBC Are You In Pain 08-21-2018 pdf
- Chronic pain and opioids: : Fact Sheets – AFMC
- Chronic pain : More opioids, more pain: Fueling the fire: More opioids, more pain: Fueling the fire – Harvard Health
- Chronic pain – psychosocial community resources (may not all be available in our community): Psychosocial Community Resources for People Living With Pain FINAL.pdf
- Videos: understanding chronic pain: Understanding Pain: Brainman chooses, Tame the Beast
Contraception
- Guide to free contraceptive in BC: Free contraceptives – Province of British Columbia
- Birth control options – info on different choices: 2020-09 contra choices pdf, Hormonal Contraception – Sex & U
- How effective is my birth control option?: it’s a Plan How Effective is my Birth Control E 1 pdf
- Birth control pill information: Hormonal Contraception – Sex & U
- Birth control patch information: Hormonal Contraception – Sex & U
- Birth control vaginal ring information: Hormonal Contraception – Sex & U
- Birth control intra uterine device (IUD) information: Hormonal Contraception – Sex & U
- Birth control injection: Hormonal Contraception – Sex & U
- Contraception – natural methods: Natural Methods – Sex & U
- Permanent contraception – tubal ligation: Non-Hormonal Contraception – Sex & U
- Emergency contraception information: Emergency contraception (EC) | HealthLink BC
- Birth control interaction with other medications info: Hormonal contraception and using other medications at the same time | HealthLink BC
- Pregnancy in qathet including unwanted pregnancy: Unplanned Pregnancy – Pregnant in qathet
Diabetes
- Diabetes information booklet
- Glycemic index food guide
- My diabetes care. Document to highlight all important monitoring and treatment aspects:
- Diabetes: Why exercise is important and how to do more: benefits of physical activity pdf
- Prediabetes explained
- Insulin injection technique
Diabetic medications: (commonly used in our clinic)
Diet
- Visual low-carb guides: Visual low carb guides – Diet Doctor
- Canada food guide: Canada’s Food Guide
- Eating enough calcium and vitamin D
- High potassium foods
- Iron rich diet
- Sugar spoonful equivalent information for different kinds of foods: https://phcuk.org/sugar/
- Dietary fats and/or health: Dietary fat and your health | HealthLink BC
- B12 and diet: What You Need to Know About Vitamin B12 – Unlock Food
- Diet for hypertension. DASH diet for high bloodpressure: High Blood Pressure: Using the DASH Diet | HealthLink BC
- Balanced vegetarian and vegan diets: Vegetarian Diets | HealthLink BC , Vegan Diet | HealthLink BC
- Anti-inflammatory diets: Anti Inflammatory Diet | Johns Hopkins Medicine
- Adding fruits and vegetables to your diet: Pathways | Nutrition – Adding Fruits and Vegetables to your Diet (HealthLinkBC)
- Food allergies – reading labels: food-labelling-101.pdf (SECURED)
- Cholesterol: how to improve you’re your own without medication?: if-nfs-improve-your-cholesterol-and-triglycerides.pdf , Appendix_2_Patient_handout.pdf
Ear, Nose & Throat
- Sore throat and other throat problems
- Sore throat – should I go to the ER?
- Sore throat: Should I take antibiotics (adults): infographic-lets-talk-sore-throat.pdf
- Globus/lump in the throat sensation: Learning About a Lump in the Throat
- Sinus infection-self care without antibiotics: Guide to Wise Use of Antibiotics – Do Bugs Need Drugs
- Colds, runny nose, coughing, sore ear, fever: Guide to Wise Use of Antibiotics – Do Bugs Need Drugs
- Stopping a nosebleed: Stopping a Nosebleed | HealthLink BC
- Otitis media/middle ear infection in children: otitis_parent_guide.pdf
- Eustachian tube dysfunction: Blocked Eustachian Tubes | HealthLink BC
- Otitis externa/external (swimmers ear)
- Allergic rhinitis/ hayfever/ seasonal allergies
- hearing loss adults: Hearing loss in adults | HealthLink BC
- Hearing loss children: Hearing loss in children | HealthLink BC
Elbow
Eyes
- Infectious conditions i.e. stye: Styes and Chalazia | HealthLink BC, Conjuctivitis.pdf
- Cataracts: a decision-making guide for patients final pdf
- New blood shot eye: Subconjunctival Hemorrhage: Care Instructions
Fatigue & Sleep
- Weakness and fatigue: Weakness and Fatigue | HealthLink BC
- Sleep hygiene basics: SleepHygiene.pdf
- Getting a good night’s sleep: Wellness Module 6: Getting a Good Night’s Sleep | Here to Help
- Sleep tips for older adults: Sleep Tips for Older Adults.pdf
- Sleep apnea: Sleep Apnea | HealthLink BC
- Sleeping pills – can I stay on them? insomnia-patient-booklet.pdf
Feet
Gastro-intestinal
Stomach and esophagus (food pipe)
- Controlling your heartburn/GERD: gerd controlling heartburn changing your habits
- Treating GERD with medicines pros and cons: GERD: Controlling Heartburn by Changing Your Habits | HealthLink BC
- Healthy eating for stomach ulcers: Healthy eating guidelines for people with peptic ulcers | HealthLink BC
Bowels
- Questions about colon cancer screening: Colon-Screening-Brochure.pdf
Irritable bowel syndrome
- Understanding FODMAPs (dietary advice to IBS): Understanding Fodmaps , IBS Diets FODMAP chart, 3-step FODMAP Diet A4 info sheet
- IBS information: Irritable Bowel Syndrome 3.2 pdf, a-z digestive topics IBS
- steps for better bowel movements: Steps for Better BM.pdf
- Diverticular disease of the colon: diverticular-disease
Diarrhea
- Diarrhea, age 11 and younger: diarrhea age 11 and younger
- Vomiting or diarrhea-emergency management: Vomiting or Diarrhea pdf
Hemorrhoids/anal and perianal disease
Hands & Wrists
- Dupuytren’s contracture
- Ganglion cysts of the wrist and hand including fingers
- Mallet finger information: Mallet Finger – OrthoInfo – AAOS
- Trigger finger information: Trigger Finger – Trigger Thumb – OrthoInfo – AAOS
- de Quervain’s tenosynovitis (tendinitis on the thumb side of the wrist): De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis | HealthLink BC
- Wrist sprains: Wrist Sprains – OrthoInfo – AAOS
Headaches
- What is a migraine?
- Treating frequent headaches with pain relievers. When are they not helpful?
- Headaches in children
- Do I need imaging for my headaches?
- Common migraine triggers
- Migraine preventative medications-what you should know
- Migraine tree: A roadmap to a jungle of information
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Visual/ocular migraine
- Occipital neuralgia
Hips
- Bursitis , or trochanteric pain syndrome: Hip Bursitis – OrthoInfo – AAOS
- Hip arthritis: oa_hip_pg.pdf
- Hip replacement soon? Total Hip Replacement Surgery | HealthLink BC
Hypertension / High Blood Pressure
- Diagnosis and management of high blood pressure: htn patient guide diagnosis pdf
- All types of high blood pressure: Search Results | HealthLink BC
- Blood pressure log: HTC HomeBPLog ENG pdf
- High blood pressure treatment decision aid: how do i control my blood pressure lifestyle options and choice of medicines patient decision aid pdf 6899918221 pdf
- Using the DASH diet to reduce your blood pressure: High Blood Pressure: Using the DASH Diet | HealthLink BC
Kidneys
- Chronic kidney disease: which medicines to avoid: Non Prescription Medications and Your Kidneys pdf
- Understanding chronic kidney disease: 3-1-2 Book One Living with reduced kidney function pdf
- Kidney stones: Kidney Stones | HealthLink BC
- Preventing kidney stones through diet: Kidney Stones | HealthLink BC
Knees
Lesser Known Benefit Programs
- Employment insurance caregiving/caregiver benefits: EI caregiving benefits – Canada.ca
Lungs
- Coughing – do I need medication? Guide to Wise Use of Antibiotics – Do Bugs Need Drugs
- Pneumonia? Pneumonia | HealthLink BC
- Asthma – general information BC 20091223152643asthmapat.pdf
- COPD: -Self-management video series
- COPD and physical activity: PhysicalActivity.pdf
- Asthma-childhood frequently ask questions: should know handout pdf
- Asthma in teenagers and adults
- Nutrition and chronic lung disease
- Lung cancer screening over 55: Is it worth it? ctfphclung cancerharms and benefitsfinal pdf
- COPD – living well with COPD
Men's Health
- Bladder and bowel control: Pelvic Floor Exercises for Men.pdf
- Depression and men: Men and Depression: Unique Symptoms in Men
- Should I get a blood test to check my prostate?: 2014 prostate cancer infographic en pdf, Prostate Cancer Screening Recommendations (CTF) pdf
- Benign prostate hyperplasia information: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
- Prostatitis information: Prostatitis | HealthLink BC
- Erectile dysfuction: Erection Problems (Erectile Dysfunction) | HealthLink BC
- Erectile dysfuction – is there a role for testosterone?: Treatment for Erection Problems
- Peyrone’s disease -penile deformity: Peyronie’s Disease | HealthLink BC
Miscellaneous
- 10 steps to prevent illness: FH Take charge of your health Checklist PDF
- Get help quitting tobacco -available treatments: Get help quitting tobacco – Province of British Columbia
- Quit NOW program. You are more likely to quit smoking with support: QN SmartSteps Gen 2022 pdf
- Vaping – is it safer than smoking?: Health risks of vaping-handout (final).pdf
- Smart phone and Internet addiction: Smartphone and Internet Addiction.pdf
- Travel health : Travel Health | HealthLink BC
- Dental care / Canadian dental care plan: CDCP-Pamphlet_EN.pdf
- How to apply Canadian dental care plan: CDCP-ApplicationGuide_EN.pdf
- Cancer screening: Screening saves lives
- Cannabis use and your health: Cannabis and my health – Fraser Health Authority
Other Neurological
- Restless leg syndrome: Restless Legs Syndrome | HealthLink BC
- Seizures: Seizures | HealthLink BC cysts
- Vertigo (BPPV): Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) | HealthLink BC
- Vertigo – self treatment with half somersault manoeuvre: Heidi Tom Drown in Notes Intro
Seniors
- BC seniors guide: bc seniors guide english pdf
- Parkinson’s: Extensive patient guide: Parkinsons Disease neuro 8AUG2018 en-4 pdf (SECURED)
- Parkinson’s: Brief : What is Parkinson’s – Parkinson Canada
- Dementia caregiver guide: cogimp-patient-guide.pdf
- Driving and dementia roadmap: Driving With Dementia – Home
- Reducing your risk for Alzheimer’s: Risk factors Alzheimer Society Canada 2023 pdf
- Nutrition and dementia: if nfs understanding nutrition and dementia home living pdf (SECURED)
- Fall prevention: Seniors’ falls can be prevented | HealthLink BC
- How to get up after a fall: VCH What To Do If You Fall pdf
- Why Seniors should get the flu vaccine: Why seniors should get the). Inactivated influenza (flu) vaccine | HealthLink BC
- Frailty roadmap for families: Frailty Roadmap For Families 2023.pdf (SECURED)
- Osteoporosis: Should I get a bone density test?: Bone Density Tests
- Osteoporosis: General Information: osteoporosis patient guide pdf
Sexual Health
- Sexual health concerns and problems: Concerns & Sexual Problems – Sex & U
- Painful intercourse women: Dyspareunia (Painful Sex) – Your Pelvic Floor
- HSV – Herpes infections: SmartSex Herpes Jan2022 pdf, Herpes Patient Guide pdf
- Sexually transmitted infections: STIs – Sex & U
- Pregnancy in qathet including unwanted pregnancy: Unplanned Pregnancy – Pregnant in qathet
Shoulder
- Rotator cuff tendinitis/shoulder impingement information: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/shoulder-impingementrotator-cuff-tendinitis
- Rotator cuff and shoulder conditioning program/strengthening exercises: 2017-rehab_shoulder.pdf
- Shoulder sprain (acute pain): Emergency management: https://emergencycarebc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Shoulder-Sprain.pdf
Skin
- Patient information leaflets on multiple skin conditions, treatments: Patient Information Leaflets – British Association of Dermatologists
- Acne: Acne | HealthLink BC , 1_spd_acne_short_web_final.pdf
- Tenia versicolor: Tinea Versicolor | HealthLink BC
- Warts and more: Warts and Plantar Warts | HealthLink BC
- Impetigo: Impetigo: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
- Shingles: shingles_factsheet_web_e.pdf
- Age spots / seborrheic keratosis: Seborrheic Keratoses | HealthLink BC
Skin Cancer & Pre-Cancer
- Squamous cell carcinoma short information: Squamous Cell Cancer PATIENT cda pdf
- Basal cell carcinoma: Basal Cell Cancer PATIENT cda pdf
- Melanoma: Skin Cancer, Melanoma | HealthLink BC
- Actinic keratosis: Actinic Keratosis | HealthLink BC
Stroke
- Recognize stroke signs: Signs of stroke | Heart and Stroke Foundation
- Post Stroke checklist: CSBP Post Stroke Checklist EN pdf
- Stroke recovery including information for caregivers: Family Caregivers – Stroke Recovery Association of BC
Thyroid Diseases
- Underactive thyroid: Hypothyroidism | HealthLink BC
- Thyroid disease – various information booklets: Thyroid Patient Guides | Thyroid Foundation Of Canada
Women's Health
- Cervical self screening: cervix self-screening brochure pdf
- Cervical self-screening video: Cervix
- and understanding your results of self screening: Understanding Your Results
- Bacterial vaginosis: Bacterial Vaginosis | HealthLink BC
- Vaginal candidiasis (yeast): Bacterial Vaginosis | HealthLink BC
- Abnormal bleeding: Abnormal Uterine Bleeding | HealthLink BC
- Menopause and perimenopause information: Menopause and Perimenopause | HealthLink BC
- Using hormone therapy for menopause symptoms: menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf
- menopause – should I use hormone therapy?: Menopause: Should I Use Hormone Therapy (HT)? | HealthLink BC
- Non hormone treatment options: nonhormone treatment menonote pdf
- Menopause and depression: menonote menopause and depression pdf
- Menopause: what about bio-identical hormones?: menonote on bioidentical hormone therapy pdf
- Atrophic vaginitis and vaginal estrogen: Vaginal Estrogen Therapy pdf
- PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome): Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) | HealthLink BC