These two antivirus programs have been known to cause the most problems with browsing websites. If you have one of these antivirus programs installed, consider removing it and replacing it with a lightweight, unintrusive antivirus. See Uninstall Norton Internet Security for instructions on completely removing Norton software, which can be tricky. See Uninstall McAfee Total Protection for a guide on removing McAfee Security Center, another difficult program to get rid of. After removing the old antivirus, you'll want to make sure that you have a new program installed to protect your computer. See Install an Antivirus for general instructions on installing a new antivirus. The following free antivirus programs are highly-rated by security professionals and should not get in the way of loading websites: Avast! BitDefender AntiVir Microsoft Windows Defender Having multiple antivirus programs installed at the same time can cause problems. Conflicting protection could lead to some websites not loading. Keep the antivirus program that you like best and get rid of the rest. See Uninstall a Program for general instructions on removing programs. You can also find uninstallation guides for most popular antivirus programs on wikiHow.

Summary: Uninstall Norton or McAfee. Install a lightweight antivirus to replace your old one. Ensure you only have one antivirus program installed.

OTC painkillers such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen can help reduce pain and fever. Take these medicines with food if possible, and do not exceed the manufacturer's daily dosage. Avoid using aspirin to alleviate strep throat symptoms in children and teenagers due to the risk of Reye's syndrome, which can cause life-threatening swelling in the liver and brain. Salt water can also help alleviate strep throat pain. Mix about teaspoon of salt into a tall glass of warm water. Take the salt water in the back of your mouth, tilt your head back, and gargle for thirty seconds. Spit the salt water out after the back of your throat is coated. Repeat several times a day as needed. For younger children, ensure that they understand not to swallow the salt water. Many people can become dehydrated when they have strep throat because the painful swallowing stops them from drinking. However, keeping your throat lubricated will actually help reduce pain associated with swallowing. Though it may be unpleasant at first, drink plenty of water. Some people may find warm liquids more soothing than cold water. You may also want to try warm (not hot) tea with lemon or honey. Sleeping is one of the best steps you can take at home to help your immune system battle an infection. Stay home from work or school and get lots of rest. Since strep throat is highly contagious, you should also stay home to help avoid spreading the infection to peers. Your throat drying out overnight can lead to an especially painful sore throat first thing in the morning. A humidifier will add more moisture to the air while you sleep (or even as you're resting at home during the day), helping to reduce the pain of your strep throat. Ensure that you clean a humidifier daily during use since they're ideal environments for bacteria and mold. Throat lozenges and sprays designed to help with sore throat symptoms can also help reduce sore throat pain and painful swallowing. These products can help coat the throat to reduce irritation or slightly numb your throat to alleviate symptoms. Use as directed. Do not give lozenges to children under age 4, as they are at risk for choking. Hard, dry foods that can scrape and irritate your throat will be more painful to swallow. Soups, applesauce, yogurt, and mashed potatoes are just a few foods that might be easier on your throat to swallow. You should also avoid spicy foods until your symptoms subside. Irritants to your throatespecially smoking and exposure to secondhand smokecan cause additional throat pain. Other irritants you should avoid while you have strep throat include paint fumes and fumes from cleaning products. If symptoms persist, then you should see your doctor because strep throat can spread, leading to the bacterial infection in other parts of the body or other complications of your heart, kidneys, or joints. Your doctor will be able to perform a quick swab of your throat to determine your diagnosis, or he or she may also have a lab do a culture of a swab sample. If the test comes back positive, then your doctor will likely prescribe a course of antibiotics. Your physician will likely prescribe a ten-day course of antibiotics (though this can vary based on the antibiotic). Common antibiotics for strep throat include penicillin or amoxicillin unless you have an allergy to them, in which case he or she will likely prescribe cephalexin or azithromycin. When taking antibiotics: Take as directed until the prescription is gone. Skipping doses or stopping because you feel better can increase the chances of recurrence, as well as helping to produce antibiotic-resistant bacteria. See your doctor again immediately if you experience an allergic reaction to the antibiotic, with symptoms such as hives, vomiting, swelling, or trouble breathing, or if your symptoms have not started to improve within forty-eight hours of beginning your course of antibiotics. Do not return to work or school for at least twenty-four hours. You will still be contagious until you've been on the antibiotic for at least a full day.

Summary: Take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication. Gargle with salt water. Stay hydrated. Sleep. Use a humidifier. Use a lozenge or spray. Choose easy-to-swallow foods. Avoid throat irritants. See your doctor. Take the full course of antibiotics.

If your dog is waking you up more than it used to, a medical problem could be affecting its sleep or stress levels. Visiting a vet is an excellent first step so you can rule out this possibility, or catch problems early. Even if your pet is not sick, a vet can help you pinpoint the cause. Any significant change in behavior or sleep schedule could be a sign of a medical problem. Difficulty eating or eliminating could point to gastric distress that keeps your dog awake. If the dog wakes you up to beg for food in the night, it may be experiencing increased hunger due to diabetes or another metabolic disorder. A regular, predictable sleep pattern makes it easier for your dog to adapt. Do your best to go to sleep at the same time every night, and wake up at the same time every morning. While doggy sleep patterns are different than that of humans they sleep up to twenty hours a day and sleep for shorter amounts of time your dog will get used to your sleep schedule over time. If your dog wakes you up in the night to go outside, they may have a medical problem such as a urinary tract infection or Cushing's disorder. A vet can diagnose your pet and prescribe medication to treat this problem. If your vet rules these out, your dog may have a weak bladder due to old age. You can make you and your dog more comfortable by providing a pee pad. A dog door is another solution if you have an enclosed yard and are not concerned about dangerous wildlife. You can also decrease the chance of your dog waking you up by changing your dog's food schedule. Ultimately, your dog might be waking you up because they're hungry or are still active because they ate really late. If you think your dog is waking you because they're hungry, push back dinner time an hour or two. This way, your pup's belly will be fuller for a longer time. If you think your dog is waking you because they're hyper from the last meal, move dinner up a little bit. Feeding your dog at 6PM might work more than feeding them at 8PM. Another reason your dog might be waking you is because they're still awake, energetic, or are just overstimulated. This can be remedied through a number of ways: Don't play with your dog for a couple of hours before bed. Don't leave toys around your dog's sleeping area. Turn off your TV or any music before bedtime.
Summary: Consult a veterinarian about behavioral changes. Commit to a good sleep schedule. Respond to a dog's frequent urination. If you don't have time to exercise your dog during the day, try taking it on a short walk just before you go to bed at night. Alter your dog's feeding schedule. Reduce your dog's stimulation.