An on-the-go lifestyle can leave you feeling ragged and worn out if you don't have sufficient sleep. It may seem appealing to reach for a quick fix such as an over-the-counter, or OTC, stimulant to break through your barrier of fatigue. However,...
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, 10 out of every 100 Americans will suffer an ulcer in their lifetime. Many over-the-counter (OTC) medications are available to relieve your pain and assist the healing process. Each...
Pulmonary pressure, often referred to as just blood pressure, is the amount of pressure that is placed on the walls of your arteries at any given time. Keeping a level blood pressure is important to help prevent damage to the arteries, which can...
A key component in losing weight is controlling your appetite and preventing overeating. Fortunately, there are a variety of readily available supplements that can suppress your appetite, while also stimulating the metabolism to allow you to burn...
Melatonin is a naturally-occurring hormone released in your brain that is used by your body to maintain your normal sleep-wake cycle, also called the circadian rhythm. Treatment with an over-the-counter or OTC form of melatonin may be beneficial...
If you've tried diet and exercise modifications without any success, taking a weight-loss pill might assist with dropping pounds. With dozens of diet pills available, it's hard to know which pills are safe and effective. As of 2011, there are a...
Several anti-inflammatory drugs are available over the counter--without the prescription of a physician. You should always consult with your physician before starting a new medication to determine if it is safe for your medical conditions. He will...
One of the most typical symptoms of the common cold is sinus irritation, according to the Mayo Clinic. The common cold is a viral infection caused by one of over 200 viruses. While there is no cure for a sinus cold, a person can use...
A nasal allergy is commonly defined as hay fever (allergic rhinitis), according to the Mayo Clinic. Hay fever is an allergic reaction that causes flu-like symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion and a runny nose. The most common causes for a...
The best way to tell which over the counter medicines are gluten-free is to check the ingredients list, looking for ingredients that prevent the product from using a gluten-free label according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines. If...
Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, is an allergic reaction to indoor or outdoor allergens that causes cold-like symptoms. Sinus pressure headaches, nasal congestion, sneezing and irritated eyes are common symptoms of hay fever. More than 36 million...
The H1N1 flu, also commonly known as swine flu, is an infection of the respiratory system that is similar to normal flu. It was categorized in the spring of 2009, and the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic of the disease....
The words "teen drug abuse" usually bring up images of illegal substances like cocaine and methamphetamine. Teenagers do abuse illicit drugs, but many are turning to readily available over-the-counter, or OTC, medications. They are easy to get...
Swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus, first was labeled as such in early 2009 with an outbreak in Mexico. Since then, it has swept across the world, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a global pandemic. H1N1 has symptoms...
When a sinus infection develops it causes the sinus cavity to become inflamed and swollen, causing sinus pressure, nasal discharge and congestion, according to the Mayo Clinic. A sinus infection may be the result of a bacterial or viral infection...
More than 30 million people in America suffer from sinusitis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the CDC. The sinuses are a bony structure lined with mucus membranes, located behind the eyes and nose. When someone...
Approximately 10 percent of the U.S. population may be have pet allergies, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, and 20 percent to 30 percent of people with asthma are allergic to animals. A pet allergy occurs in...
The most common allergy causing substances in children include dust mites, animal dander and mold, according to the Babycenter. A child experiences an allergic reaction when he touches, breathes or ingests a substance unrecognized by the immune...
Abusing prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) drugs can have serious consequences, according to doctors at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Abuse occurs when someone takes prescription drugs that were not prescribed for them or when...
Treating migraine headaches can require certain drugs to relieve pain or to prevent the pain from occurring. There are medications specifically for migraines and others developed to treat other ailments that also may work, either separately or in...
Known as a popular over-the-counter pain reliever, ibuprofen belongs to a class of medications commonly called NSAIDs, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Now available generically, ibuprofen works by reducing hormones that cause...
According to Medline Plus, arthritis is the inflammation of joints due to the breakdown of cartilage that normally protects joints. Without healthy cartilage, bones rub together to form bone spurs, or humps of bone in the joint. Bone spurs can...
Although there are many drugs on the market, available by prescription or as over-the-counter (OTC) medications, all drugs are classified into one of a variety of categories. Millions of OTC and prescription medicines are sold each year around the...
Herbal teas are natural remedies that are made by steeping parts of the root, plant or flower of the herb in boiling water. Many herbs are relatively benign when taken in moderate consumption, and can be safely combined with other herbs that have...
Premenstrual syndrome is a set of symptoms that occur in women 10 to 14 days before the monthly menstrual period. Because PMS symptoms can cause discomfort and difficulty performing daily activities, it's important to understand how they can be...
Gastroesophageal reflux can cause a great deal of discomfort, especially after your favorite meal. While long-term treatments exist to help decrease the symptoms of this health problem, instant remedies also exist to treat symptoms quickly and...
Influenza, whether seasonal or H1N1 (swine flu), carries symptoms such as fever, body aches, stuffy nose, runny nose, sneezing and coughing. Though the flu cannot be cured with over-the-counter (OTC) drugs--or even prescription drugs--many...
According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, or the NIAID, more than 1 billion colds are diagnosed in the United States annually. A sinus cold is caused by a common cold that affects the sinuses and the throat, according...
A sinus infection results in irritation and inflammation of the sinus cavity, commonly a result of the common cold or seasonal allergies, according to the Mayo Clinic. The most common treatment for bacterial acute sinusitis is antibiotics. While...
