Migraines are severe headaches that may last for a significant period of time, sometimes as long as several days. Symptoms of a migraine include head pain that throbs, light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, nausea and vomiting. Migraines are a...
Clear Eyes is a brand of eye drops used to provide temporary relief of dry eyes, allergies, eye itching and other similar discomfort. Clear Eyes is available over-the-counter, but its use should be discussed with a doctor when other health...
Preparation H is an over-the-counter medication that relieves discomfort associated with swollen, itchy or inflamed hemorrhoidal tissue. Because Preparation H contains Phenylephrine HCl 0.25 percent, a vasoconstrictor drug that causes blood...
Preparation H (the hemorrhoid ointment) was prepared with a live yeast cell derivative ( LYCD) called Bio-Dyne at one time in the U.S. It still is in Canada. It helps promote wound healing, thicken skin and reduces wrinkle volume. Today the U.S....
Caffeine is often considered a necessary morning stimulant. Without considering caffeine's numerous effects on the body, you grab a cup of coffee and wait for it to wake you up. Caffeine has effects on many aspects of the body, particularly the...
American Home Products developed a sunburn oil in 1935. From then, it evolved into the Preparation H hemorrhoid products used today. In 2002, American Home Products changed its name to Wyeth Consumer Healthcare. Preparation H is the brand name...
Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter, which is a chemical responsible for transmitting nerve impulses between nerve cells. Formed by the pineal gland, which is located in the brain, serotonin is found primarily in the brain, the lining of...
A cup of coffee helps you face the world every morning, but worry about the potential side effects of caffeine might end your morning ritual. Ubiquitous in Americans' diet, caffeine is a drug nonetheless, and it alters the way your body works. In...
Your body undergoes physiologic changes during exercise so that your working muscles receive enough oxygenated blood to sustain strenuous activity. The blood vessels will either widen to allow greater flow to a specific area or narrow to redirect...
Cellulite is fat that is visible just beneath the skin. When collagen fibers in the skin break or stretch, fat pockets can bulge through, creating the orange-peel look of cellulite. A beauty treatment from the book "Thalia: !Belleza!" uses a...
Cirrhosis is a chronic liver disease that results in symptoms such as fibrosis, decreased liver function, abdominal fluid buildup called ascites, portal hypertension and other serious complications. Detrimental changes in blood flow and blood...
Obesity and smoking are both recognized by health authorities such as the Mayo Clinic as leading causes of preventable death. Combined, their effects could be disastrous for your health. If you are obese or smoke, take control of your health....
The pain of a sinus headache results from swollen nasal passages. When the nasal passages swell, mucus can't drain as it should. Consequently, it builds up in the sinuses and causes painful pressure. Reducing the swelling of the nasal passages can...
Swollen, puffy eyes can show up if you get too much sleep or not enough, if your allergies are acting up, if you had a little too much to drink the night before or even if your mother had a tendency toward swollen eyes. Because the skin around...
Areas of darker pigmentation under your eyes, commonly referred to as dark circles, are generally associated with not sleeping enough. However, there are many other reasons why you may develop dark circles, including allergies, genetics and diet....
Shaving is one of those daily activities that many men can't stand. One of the problems is the contour of the face. One flinch or wrong move with the razor and you could open up a cut. It takes time for the cut to stop bleeding, but there is a...
Nearly one in five deaths that occur in the United States are due to smoking. Smoking causes more deaths than HIV, murder, alcohol and motor vehicle accidents combined, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the CDC....
If you suffer from ringing, buzzing, squeaking, whining or humming noises in your ears, known as tinnitus, then you know the noises can drive you crazy. Silvia Anderson, editor of the Alternative Health Journal, reports there are more than 12...
Tryptophan is one of eight essential amino acids that must be obtained through dietary proteins. In the body, tryptophan is converted into serotonin, a chemical messenger responsible for normal brain function. Tryptophan depletion decreases the...
According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," shock is defined as multisystem organ hypoperfusion. Blood flow and oxygen delivery to tissues are impeded. Shock may be due to trauma, heatstroke, blood loss, an allergic reaction,...
According to countless health authorities, including the American Heart Association, smoking is a dangerous habit and one of the leading causes of preventable death. Despite the widely publicized dangers of smoking, the American Cancer Society...
Caffeine is found naturally as a plant alkaloid of the methylxanthine group. According to "Trinity College Student Journal," it is considered the most widely used drug in the world, consumed in tea, coffee, cocoa, soft drinks, chocolate and...
Tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride is the active ingredient in some brands of over-the-counter eye drops and nasal drops and sprays. While tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride is not typically considered a treatment for pimples, some people use it as a...
Serotonin is a chemical substance also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine that is derived from the amino acid tryptophan, notes Encyclopedia Britannica. It is a vasoconstrictor, which means it aids in the narrowing of blood vessels. It also functions as...
Fluoxetine hydrochloride is an antidepressant medication used to treat depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety, eating disorders and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Fluoxetine affects multiple body systems and has the potential to...
Nosebleeds are common in children. The blood vessels in the nose are exposed to the outside environment, making them liable to rupture for numerous reasons. Though the bleeding may alarm parents, the amounts of blood lost are usually small and...
Some prescription and over-the-counter medications used while breast-feeding can cause negative and potentially harmful side effects to a nursing infant. Medications can also diminish a nursing mother's milk supply. Before taking any prescription...
Smoking and pregnancy do not mix. Smoking causes a variety of health risks to both mother and the unborn child. According to the Quitter Guide website, 20.7 million American women are smokers, and the pregnant women who smoke give birth to 20 to...
Despite overwhelming evidence in favor of quitting, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 46 million Americans continue to smoke. Full of dangerous and addictive compounds, tobacco smoke is a hazard to both you and your family's...
