Category Archives: Adult Stem Cells

How-Drug-Addiction-Affects-Serotonin-And-Dopamine

Dopamine reward master and drug seeking basics

Dopamine reward master

Dopamine reward master and drug seeking basics. The neurotransmission and substance abuse needs immediate treatment

Dopamine reward master and drug seeking basics: Mesolimbic pathway

While we were looking at the dopamine influence in substance abuse, it became quite clear that when the brain’s reward center is activated, it releases dopamine which then creates a pleasing, enjoyable sensation primarily to motivate us into repeating these behaviors which are necessary for our survival. The reason why this is happening is because dopamine has rewarded us with a pleasurable feeling. That in itself is a testimony that dopamine reward master is the fueling the human survival. With that understanding of the purpose and functioning of the brains reward system. It would be important that we interrogate its (dopamine reward master) functions a little bit further.

Dopamine reward master and drug seeking basics: Ventral tegmental area (VTA)

The circuit most associated with pleasure and reward is the mesolimbic pathway which is located in the brainstem. The objective of this area of the brain is primarily concerned with basic survival. Within the mesolimbic pathway is an area called the ventral tegmental area (VTA). The VTA projects to the nucleus accumbens (thought to be the reward center). The neurotransmitter most commonly linked with the mesolimbic system is dopamine. Many people consider dopamine to be the driving force behind the human pursuit of pleasure. The release of dopamine is a pleasurable sensation. The release of dopamine motivates us to repeat behaviors or activities that prompted this release. This system’s purpose was to promote survival by rewarding life sustaining behaviors such eating and procreation.

Dopamine reward master and drug seeking basics: Nucleus accumbens

All addictive drugs and activities release varying amounts of dopamine into the nucleus accumbens with stimulant drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine releasing the most. However when it comes to drugs like alcohol or heroin, the brain’s own opiate system (endorphins) also gets involved. Doctor Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center reiterates that even though different forms of addictions have different effects in the nucleus accumbens, they share one common denominator, that is, they all activate the reward system which in turn motivates us to repeat those behaviors, even though they may be harmful. Besides what we have discussed about the concepts of reward, pleasure, and craving together, it is however very important to appreciate that there is a distinction between pleasure-seeking and drug seeking. Note that pleasure-seeking is all about the pleasurable, rewarding aspect of addiction while drug-seeking refer to the craving aspect of addiction. Dopamine may be more involved in drug-seeking (craving) component of addiction. The opiate (endorphin), GABA, or glutamatergic systems may be more involved in pleasure-seeking aspect of addiction too.

Finally pleasure-seeking and drug-seeking (cravings) are inter-related, yet distinct. Research has established that natural rewards (food, water, sex) typically lessen their influence on the reward system over time. As a behavior occurs more often, dopamine levels tend to decrease in the process. Psychologists call this habituation. This makes sense. Once you’ve eaten enough food, you don’t need to be rewarded for eating more food. Then you would be eating too much, or too much of one type of food. Therefore everyone needs to take heed of keeping the brain free from all attacks be it from substances or otherwise. Talking to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury should be your starting point. Call us today to schedule that very important appointment today for the commencement of your journey to full recovery from your addiction.

Dopamine reward master and drug seeking basics: Mesolimbic pathway

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Brain communication pathways and the role of addiction

Brain communication pathways

Brain communication pathways and the role of addiction. Mental health problems and substance abuse

Brain communication pathways and the role of addiction: Neuronal

The study of some of the elements that cause health problems in our life can be very interesting. Understanding the brains functions and how it can be affected by addiction and various substances is very important. The brain communication pathways are always the biggest casualties whenever there is an attack by the abuse of substances. The brain’s electro-chemical communication system is a communication system that sends information through a vast network of interconnecting neurons. Through this the brain communication pathways begins to develop a preferred or standard conduit of sending signals between neurons (neural pathways). Experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury MD and founder of the facility can now confirm that in the past it was believed that the brain’s neural pathways will be completely formed by the time we reached adulthood.

Brain communication pathways and the role of addiction: Neurons ability of adapting to changing circumstances

Progressively the scientific findings have established that this is a continuous process and in fact the human brain continues to create new neurons and form neural pathways throughout our entire lifespan. That is why neurons are seen as dynamic cells that are constantly adapting to changing circumstances. It therefore means that if an injury or damages happens to an individual’s brain (such as a stroke or injury) the neurons will make new communication route around the damaged area. Scientifically doctor Akoury says that this ability of recreation of neurons is known as neuronal plasticity.

Brain communication pathways and the role of addiction: Neuronal plasticity

Doctor Akoury says that neuroplasticity is responsible for the regulation of our learning processes and this enables us to adapt to our surroundings conveniently. To better understand neuroplasticity let us consider using this illustration. The brain forms neural pathways in a way that is similar to the formation of a demarcated hiking pathway. The more we travel a path, the faster, easier, and more familiar that path becomes. As the routine continues it becomes more visible, smoother, and easier to travel on. And with time this becomes a preferred route for many. This is also how neural pathways are formed. With time the brain forms familiar neural pathways which then become habitual routes. And in the event that the familiar route is blocked the brain responds swiftly by forming a new route around the blockage.

From the illustration, suppose you walk through the bush each day to visit a friend. You use the same trail each time and one day as you travel along your familiar path, you discover a huge tree has fallen over. It’s blocking your passage. You will need to forge a new path to go around the tree. At first, this new path will be narrow, difficult, and slow. It might even be uncomfortable. However with time, it will become a well-worn, comfortable path. It will be just as easy as the original path.

Brain communication pathways and the role of addiction: Neuronal

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HORMONES AND WEIGHT GAIN

Sugar addiction factor in obesity and overweight

Sugar addiction factor

Sugar addiction factor in obesity and overweight is a serious issue that when addressed in good time weight complications will be dealt with

Sugar addiction factor in obesity and overweight: Doing the right thing for your health

Not all that glitters is gold is a common phrase used to denote or to sound a warning. It could also mean to say that when the deal is too good, think again.  Based on our topic of discussion “sugar addiction factor in obesity and overweight” you are probably wondering the kind of introduction we are alluding to. But wait a minute, let me put it his way “not all that is sweet is healthy” does that mean anything to you? Are you getting the picture of where we are heading to? If there is anything that is sweeter than sugar in the line of food stuff am yet to be educated in that direction.

I can almost state authoritatively that your favorite drink is probably soda, beer and energy drinks. And further to that I can also say that whenever you feel like eating something quick, you’re always going for the processed food that are readily available in all our stores. Am I speaking your mind? Forgive me for interrogating your intelligence but the fact is, you are no different from everyone. In fact you are practicing what is happening around you and for sure, you were brought up that way seeing your seniors doing the same. For that reason I am not going to blame you either over the sugar addiction factor in obesity and overweight.

However I want you to stay with us on this link to discover for your-self the new revelations about your sweet sweetener in all meals. I am addressing the topic before us “sugar addiction factor in obesity and overweight.” Many have associated being obese with consumption of a lot of fats but wait a minute, that may have some truth in it but have you ever looked at the other side of the discussion? Experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury MD, President and also the founder of the same are sharing with us what may have escaped our minds.

Sugar addiction factor in obesity and overweight: Linking sugar to other addictive substances

Various studies have likens sugar to other controlled substances like cocaine and heroin which are seen as deadly, addictive and toxic. These are facts we cannot pretend don’t exist because they do. Therefore doctor Akoury advices that as a matter of agency, we need to start weaning ourselves off this practice. We must begin to use sugar not as a main stream diet but as a treat if we want to make any meaningful change in our health. A time has come when we must choose to go for health and drop the lucrative commercials the food industry is making us to believe. This industry is succeeding in making sugar as a staple diet and it is regrettable that we are dancing to their tune by buying their product at the expense of our health. This is what we want to correct across the globe by posting health contents to enlighten our communities into making the right decisions.

This is just the beginning of many postings about the sugar addiction factor in obesity and overweight and therefore if you want to know more, keep on the link and be counted as one of the champions of change for health. In the meantime, if you have any concern about sugar addiction you can schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today and you will have a one on one with her for further inquiries.

Sugar addiction factor in obesity and overweight: Doing the right thing for your health

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Understanding stressors and their triggers

Understanding stressors

Understanding stressors and their triggers marks the beginning of lasting solution. Whether is is your weight, work, drugs or any other.

Understanding stressors and their triggers

There are very many reasons why people do get stressed up. Some of these reasons impacts negatively to people’s health. That is why it is very important that we explore this topic of discussion “understanding stressors and their triggers’ expeditiously. To put this to perspective, we spoke to doctor Dalal Akoury MD a renowned addiction expert of over two decades and also the founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center about this. From her professional point of view anything that triggers the stress response is referred to as a stressor. There are very many stressors today but the most common ones may include:

  • Chronic stress
  • Drug abuse as a self-medication for stress
  • Alcohol and other drugs

Understanding stressors and their triggers: Chronic stress

Stress causes damage both physical and mental harm more so if it becomes persistent in an individual. Ideally the chemicals that are associated with the stress response are only meant to be in the bloodstream for short periods. That can only means that those who are chronically stressed will have such chemicals stretching and when that happens the following are likely to happen:

  • The immune system to become less effective since stress will force the immune system to release chemicals so that they end up being overused. Instead of helping people fight off infections, these chemicals begin to damage the individual’s own organs including risk of heart disease and diabetes.
  • Chronic stress leads to fatigue and depression.
  • It can increase the risk of developing ulcers and digestive problems.
  • Many people who are dealing with chronic stress will turn to substance abuse.

Understanding stressors and their triggers: Drug abuse used for self-medication for stress

Substances that are often used for self-medications are depressant in nature. Like for instance a depressant like alcohol produces a calming effect on the body, and by so doing so, the individual will feel like they have solved their problems. And as they continue using this method they become addicted to these substances all in the name of managing their stress. This is dangerous because the cure can be far more damaging then the initial symptoms.

Understanding stressors and their triggers: Alcohol and drugs

Finally, it is important to note that, the indulgence in alcohol and drugs only offers a temporal solution which is very dangerous because of the following:

  • It can lead to addiction to the drug of choice.
  • Substance abuse only masks the problem and doesn’t solve it.
  • Substance abuse increases the amount of stress in people’s lives. It makes it difficult to be effective at work, and it damages people’s ability to form meaningful relationships.

 

You can however escape this tragedy by making the right and conscious decision of seeking for help from the right professionals. Doctor Dalal Akoury and her team of experts is all you need to have this problem addressed professionally. You can scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today for a more professional treatment that will bring back your life to its best.

Understanding stressors and their triggers

 

 

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women-sexual

Appreciating intimacy importance

Appreciating intimacy

Appreciating intimacy importance and therefore sexual intimacy beyond menopause in women is very possible and can be most enjoyable

Appreciating intimacy importance: Taking timely remedies

Intimacy is an important aspect of being human because of several reasons. Drug addiction and misuse of alcohol has been proven to be the biggest enemies of intimacy and by extension making many to have difficulties in appreciating intimacy and it importance. It can never be business as usual when misuse of drugs and alcohol is eroding all the life pleasures. We are aware that very many people are ignorant of what to do in instances of drug addiction. That is why doctor Dalal Akoury MD, President and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center made a passionate decision to form this facility so that you could have some hope and where to seek for help. And as you make that very important decision, the following are some of necessities of appreciating intimacy importance in any relationship:

  • It is through intimacy that partners in a relationship get to appreciate and fully understand who they are. This closeness can easily be altered if either of the partners is struggling with addiction thereby creating rift between them and eventually killing any form of intimacy.
  • Luck of intimacy is very fundamental when it comes to the breakages of marriages and other romantic relationships. The damage that this omission (intimacy) can cause can be very painful thereby causing the feeling of un-fulfillment and more so to the sober partner who will in most cases be the one noticing that the relationship is lacking in intimacy.
  • On matters spirituality, Intimacy can be very vital and it may not be possible to progress as a unit in spiritual terms if people feel locked out from others.
  • Intimate relationships provide strength and support needed for the individual partners giving them the comfort that they do not have to face life on their own.
  • Egocentricity and self-centeredness can lead to a great suffering. However by being intimate with one another partners will be able to break down their own barriers and turn their focus away from themselves.
  • The sense of incompleteness is bound to happen because partners may feel that something is missing in their life if they do not have an intimate sexual relationship. Promiscuous sex without this feeling of closeness can be a hollow substitute.
  • If people lack intimacy in their life it can leave them feeling lonely. Loneliness can be very catastrophic in peoples’ life because it makes them vulnerable to other health complications including depression. The danger of this is that individuals may turn to maladaptive behaviors for solace.
  • Intimacy and sexual relationships are one of the most rewarding parts of the human experience. It is a real shame if people miss out on these aspects of being alive.

Appreciating intimacy importance: Drug abuse, misuse of alcohol and intimacy

Finally experts are registering that when people are so much into misuse of alcohol and drugs, then appreciating intimacy importance becomes very difficult and hence any meaningful intimate relationship also becomes very irrelevant. This is expressly true because knowing what drug users will become obsessed with these substances and the implication is that they will become so much frustrated with their habit leaving no room for anyone else. And as the individual falls further into addiction they may even lose all interest in sex completely further causing damage to sexual intimacy. Without saying much this is not healthy in any relationship and the sooner you speak to us for help the better for your relationship

Appreciating intimacy importance: Taking timely remedies

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