The active ingredient in most over-the-counter, or OTC, nasal sprays is either phenylephrine or oxymetazoline. These drugs decrease mucus production and shrink swollen blood vessels in the nasal passages and are best for short-term use, such as...
Chronic sinus infections, or chronic sinusitis, affect the upper respiratory system. The infection is different from acute infections because it lasts longer than eight weeks or is recurring, according to the Mayo Clinic. Symptoms include inflamed...
A blocked nose, or nasal obstruction, is one of the oldest and most common complaints. It can cause serious discomfort for some, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology. A blocked nose can result from infection, inflammation and...
Mold spores live year round, are not always visible and cause respiratory illnesses and infection in those with fungi allergies. By the time mold is visible, millions of spores have gathered, creating a black coating on affected areas. Mold is...
An itchy rash and a painful headache both can be bothersome conditions to deal with, although they are not related. Treatment varies considerably for a rash and congestion headache, but both conditions typically respond initially to home...
A stuffy nose, known to health professionals as nasal congestion, is a common symptom of a cold, allergies and flu. Although these health problems may be treated by a variety of methods to solve the underlying cause, draining the congestion is...
Allergies can strike at any time of the year and can cause unpleasant symptoms that make it difficult to sleep. Allergy sufferers can often experience drowsiness while they undergo treatment; however, allergies themselves don’t necessarily...
Although depression may stem from numerous factors, the exact cause usually remains a mystery. However, certain dietary nutrients or lack thereof have been linked with depression. A deficiency in vitamin B-12 can lead to several serious health...
Carcinogens are cancer-causing agents that are found in abundant amounts in cigarettes. Benzine, arsenic, carbon monoxide, acetone and nicotine are all examples. Of all these chemicals, nicotine is the one that gets the most attention due to its...
Your body uses vitamin B12 to maintain a healthy nervous system, build red blood cells and synthesize DNA. This vitamin is also known as cobalamin, because the compound molecule contains cobalt. Vitamin B12 is found in fish, shellfish, meat and...
The mechanisms of allergy medicine ingredients suit some patients better than others. Seasonal hay fever sufferers need strong, short-term action. Perennial allergy symptoms must be treated year-round, with medications that patients can safely...
Nasal sprays can be used to treat medical conditions from flu to migraine headaches to tobacco abuse. But by far the most common reason people reach for nasal sprays is to relieve nasal congestion. Adverse effects, though often affecting only a...
Nasal allergies, also known as allergic rhinitis, have symptoms including runny nose, itching, nasal stuffiness or congestion and sneezing. Though oral medications may be effective for some patients, they may cause undesirable side effects. Many...
The 17th week of pregnancy marks the middle of a woman's pregnancy. A woman's pregnant belly starts to show, and she may face new discomforts caused by hormonal changes and her expanding uterus. Sometimes, these discomforts include frequent...
If you've tossed around the idea of kicking the habit, then you probably know that there's no simple remedy to stop smoking. Nicotine, the highly addictive drug in tobacco products, will hook you just as hard as heroin or cocaine, according to the...
Nasonex is a prescription nasal spray used to treat both seasonal and year-round allergies. Because you can purchase this medication only with a prescription, you must see your doctor and have him prescribe it before starting treatment. Many...
Spring and summer months bring a slew of allergy symptoms to those who are allergic to pollen, report doctors at the Mayo Clinic. Signs of pollen allergies include runny nose, sneezing, congestion and other respiratory conditions. Avoiding the...
Overview An allergy is your body's response to a substance that is usually harmless. The immune system is a highly complex defense mechanism that helps us fight infection. It does this by identifying "foreign invaders" and then stimulating...
To eliminate or limit hay fever (allergic rhinitis) symptoms, avoidance of troublesome allergens works very well. Limit your time outdoors in the early morning or evening hours to avoid contact with allergens. On windy and dry days, pollen can...
Patients may find it difficult to distinguish between a cold and a seasonal allergy, or hay fever, because some of the symptoms are the same. Both colds and allergies usually cause nasal congestion and discharge, as well as sneezing and sometimes...
Allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever, is caused by the body's response to allergens such as pollen, dust mites or pet dander. Symptoms of allergic rhinitis include runny nose, congestion, sneezing and sinus pressure. People who experience...
Allergies are caused by an overreaction by the body's immune system to a foreign substance, such as pollen. Pollen-caused allergies are known as outdoor allergies, seasonal allergies, hay fever and allergic rhinitis and are are commonly caused by...
Nasal sprays come in two main categories, medicated or unmedicated. Medicated nasal sprays can come over-the-counter or by prescription only. Saline nasal sprays are used to provide moisture to the nasal passages and help loosen mucus or...
Nasal sprays are used to clear congestion for people with colds, the flu or allergies. They spray a fine mist of medicine into the sinus cavity, where active ingredients help to break up the congestion. Along with medicated nasal sprays, there...
Steroid nasal sprays are prescription medications that physicians use to treat nasal allergies. The sprays include fluticosone, beclamethasone and triamcinolone. They help people with nasal allergies by decreasing the body's inflammatory response...
Because fungus allergy symptoms can come and go, many patients like to use a variety of treatments for different degrees of discomfort. Taking gentler allergy medicines when possible helps to minimize side effects and, in some cases, free patients...
Astelin is a prescription nasal spray that contains the active ingredient azelastine hydrochloride, an antihistamine medication. This nasal spray can be used to alleviate nasal allergy symptoms in patients aged five years or older. Before...
Triamcinolone, the active ingredient of the prescription nasal spray Nasacort AQ, is a corticosteroid drug used to treat seasonal or continual nasal allergy symptoms. Corticosteroids improve allergy symptoms by reducing mucus and swelling in the...
A sore throat is a common condition that affects most people and is often a symptom of a cold or influenza. It is usually worse upon waking and then improves during the day. In some cases it can be caused by an allergy or a more serious condition...
