New York, U.S.A – U.S. News & World Report, the nation’s leading publisher of quality rankings, and Pharmacy Times, the pharmacy industry’s leading publication, have announced the 2012-2013 list of top pharmacist-recommended over-the-counter (OTC) health products for consumers.

Top Recommended Health Products identifies pharmacists’ go-to brands in approximately 150 categories, from head (migraine, allergy relief, and cough/cold) to toe (joint pain and foot cream). Some of the No. 1 pharmacist-recommended products include:

• Acid reducers: Prilosec OTC
• Cough suppressants: Delsym
• Oral antihistamines: Claritin
• Oral arthritis pain relievers: Aleve
• Pregnancy tests: First Response

Why rate health products? Americans are increasingly relying on the Web–and each other–to make everyday health decisions, such as which headache medication to buy.  But pharmacists possess a wealth of knowledge, largely untapped by consumers, about which over-the-counter products are best suited to a particular health need. Top Recommended Health Products brings the collective recommendations of thousands of pharmacists directly to consumers.

For example, by visiting the “Cough, Cold, and Allergy Products” page, cold, flu, and allergy sufferers can now use this resource to find the No.1 pharmacist-recommended remedy for their symptoms.

“We hope to make that trip to the drugstore a little more informed and a little less confusing,” saysLindsay Lyon, Senior Editor of Health & Wellness at U.S. News & World Report.

In gathering OTC data, Pharmacy Times conducted a proprietary annual survey that reaches a significant portion of the publication’s 170,000 pharmacist readers to collect feedback about more than 1,000 OTC products. In addition to publication on the U.S. News website, the list of No. 1 pharmacist-recommended products is published by Pharmacy Times and in the annual OTC Guide print edition available this month.

“Pharmacists are in the unique position to help consumers make educated choices about which over-the-counter products best meet their needs,” said Tighe Blazier, President of Pharmacy Times. “By working with U.S. News & World Report, we’re thrilled to be able to bring this expertise to consumers.”

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The research on the positive impact of human-canine relationships on health is extensive. For nearly 25 years, research had indicated that living with pets can have a positive influence on a person’s health.  Although all pets to some degree improve an individual’s health, dogs in particular have been studied.

Dogs allow improved independence and mobility for the blind.  They are used as service dogs with people that suffer from epilepsy because they are able to detect seizures before they come.  Dogs lower their owner’s blood pressure, significantly reduce anxiety, and boost immunity.

A growing number of studies suggest that children who grow up with animals will have less risk of asthma and allergies.  In a recent study, researcher James E. Gern, MD, a pediatrician at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, analyzed the blood of babies immediately after birth and one year later. He was looking for evidence of an allergic reaction, immunity changes, and for reactions to bacteria in the environment.   The results may surprise you.  If a dog lived in the home, infants were less likely to show evidence of pet allergies – 19 percent vs. 33 percent. They also were less likely to have eczema, a common allergy skin condition that causes red patches and itching. In addition, they had higher levels of some immune system chemicals — a sign of stronger immune system activation.

Studies have also shown that people with Alzheimer’s disease have fewer anxious outbursts if there is an animal in the home.  Walking a dog or just caring for a pet — for elderly people who are able — can provide exercise and companionship.  Elderly that have a pet are less likely to feel depressed and are more likely to have fewer hospital stays than their petless counterparts.

Although, not as studied as some other areas, research also suggests that owning a dog can help prevent diabetes.  According to research by exercise scientist Cindy Lentino, dog owners who regularly walk their dogs had about one-third of the risk of diabetes in comparison to non-dog walkers. Dog owners also had additional signs of good health not seen in the non-dog walking group, like lower rates of depression.

Pet owners are likely to have better mental health than those who don’t own a pet.  In one study, stockbrokers with high blood pressure who adopted a cat or dog had lower blood pressure readings in stressful situations than did people without pets.

Studies show a link between these stressful chemicals, Cortisol and norepinephrine, and plaque buildup in arteries, the red flag for heart disease, says Blair Justice, PhD, a psychology professor at the University of Texas School of Public Health and author of Who Gets Sick: How Beliefs, Moods, and Thoughts Affect Your Health.

Like any enjoyable activity, playing with a dog can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine — nerve transmitters that are known to have pleasurable and calming properties, Justice said.  “People take drugs like heroin and cocaine to raise serotonin and dopamine, but the healthy way to do it is to pet your dog, or hug your spouse, watch sunsets, or get around something beautiful in nature,” says Justice, who recently hiked the Colorado Rockies with his wife and two dogs.

Heart attack patients who have pets survive longer than those without, according to several studies. Male pet owners have less sign of heart disease — lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels — than non-owners, researchers say.  According to preventive cardiologist Barry Franklin, Ph.D., of William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, patients with heart disease who have dogs and walk them have a better prognosis.

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