Category Archives: Detoxification

Detox Centers for Alcoholics

October 24, 2014

Detox Center Is a Better Option for Alcohol Addicts Seeking Help

DetoxEvery addict wants to break free from the bondage of addiction. Alcoholism is one of the bondages that addicts have to fight with today. In fact most of addicts have had an encounter with alcohol even if their addiction is to other substances. Alcohol is very available and many people begin using alcohol due to peer pressure and the need to belong. The fact that alcohol is not an illegal substance makes the matter even worse as youths are using it more openly without fear of arrest for using it as it is with other illegal drugs like cocaine and other opioids.

However, just like all the other forms of addiction fighting alcoholism single handedly has never been easy. The alcohol addicts are trapped in this habit and none of them can easily pull himself out. Most of the home based detoxification programs do begin well but without proper care by family or chaperone who will be able to help the addict to live in a trigger free zone most of them fail to reach full recovery and go back into the filth of alcohol addiction again even after spending huge amounts of money in the home based alcohol detoxification and recovery programs. Alcoholism is a disease because it makes the addict to have no control of the quantity of alcohol he takes. In fact a person will demand more of alcohol to feel high and the more he gets the more he wants. This situation is rather complicated to deal with as the desire for alcohol becomes insatiable. The more of alcohol a person takes the more he begins to waste away and if he tries to stop then the side effects associated with withdrawal sets in making it impossible for an addict to stop g using alcohol.

There are very many shortcomings of trying an alcohol detox programs at home since there is lots of interference with the program. The honest truth is that you cannot change your lifestyle the moment you agree and begin your detox program. The cravings will be very high at the beginning and without changing to an environment where there will be few triggers then the whole recovery program will be a waste of time and resources.

Fewer Triggers at detox centers

Due to the shortcomings of home based addiction recovery programs, most governments have put in place drugs and alcohol detoxification centers to help the addicts recover from their addictions and begin their lives more effectively and be of service to their families and communities at large. There are very many advantages that an addict enjoys while accessing detox program at a detox center than while doing it anywhere else. To begin with in a detox center the triggers are minimal as opposed to a home based where the addict will have to encounter triggers in every sphere of his life. Triggers are part of the recovery program that needs to be given lots of consideration whilst choosing an appropriate detox program. The fewer the triggers the greater the chances of success in an alcohol detox program.

Today there are addiction detox centers in many states for substance-use disorders. The best thing with most addiction detox centers is that their treatment goal is to provide you with a safe, comfortable transition through the detox process from alcohol. These centers have the best trained personnel to deal with alcoholism and so you will be handled by experts. The treatment teams also understand the difficulties of addiction detoxification and therefore use techniques aimed at reducing the discomfort of detox from alcohol. Through the help of Physicians who specialize in addiction medicine the addicts are given safe medical detoxification. There are also nurses who are well trained to provide care which includes the administration of medication to counteract the uncomfortable symptoms of withdrawal and evaluate any other medical problems an addict may have.

Individualized treatment plan

Unlike in most home-based alcohol detox programs, treatment of alcohol addicts at a detox center is more individualized. The individualized treatment plan supports the addict during the detox process and prepares him for the next phase of treatment for which maybe for his substance-use disorder. Though many detox centers differ in terms of treatment teams expertize and psychiatric resources, the general view is that an alcohol detox program is more successful when done at a detox center as opposed to any other place. To get the best place to attend a detox program you may consider referral or do a research on the best detox center you can find.

DetoxThe money spent in an addiction detox center is worthy. This is because when an addict is successful recovered he is not the only beneficiary. According to a study conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found for each dollar that is spent on addiction treatment program, there is a reduction ranging between $4 to $7 in drug-related crimes. Detox centers are designed to provide patients with all of the resources they need to not only detox from alcohol or other drugs but also to learn how to begin a new life that is not dependent on drugs or alcohol. Regardless of whether you need to detox from alcohol or drugs, the right program can help you to manage your physical withdrawal symptoms and provide you with the medical assistance you need during this difficult time.

Finally, Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is dedicated in helping all addicts. Visit her at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for help.

Detox Center Is a Better Option for Alcohol Addicts Seeking Help

 

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Eating Disorders and Poly-Behavioral Addiiction

October 23, 2014

Pathological Eating Disorders and Poly-Behavioral Addiction

eating disordersEvery living thing depends on food for survival. Without eating not only will a person be weak and unable to perform optimally but he will   die because there will be deficiency in the nutrients that the body needs to continue performing optimally. Feeding is a vital part of every living thing since foods also help in protecting the body against disease causing pathogens. Certain foods are very good at immune building and so through feeding the body is nourished and protected.

However there are also eating disorders that may cause you more harm than benefits. To begin with let’s define what pathological eating disorders are and possibly get some examples of the most common pathological eating disorders.

Eating disorders are illnesses that are caused by abnormal eating. In most cases it has to do with the amount of food taken by an individual. When a [person takes to little food that is insufficient to the needs of the body he will suffer consequences that over a time may become a full blown eating disorder. Eating too much food will also result in certain eating disorders. Eating disorders harms not only the physical health but also the mental health and therefore any eating disorder must be attended to curb its severe effects. Examples of eating disorders include:

Bulimia nervosa– it is normal to turn to food when feeling hungry, lonely, bored, or stressed. However with bulimia, overeating is more like a compulsion and a person feels out of control. When a person suffers from this eating disorder he will not eat merely to get satisfied but he will punish himself by purging, fasting, or exercising to get rid of the calories. The danger of purging and binging is that it affects the body and the emotional well-being of an individual. A person suffering from bulimia will need treatment so as to be able to overcome the feelings of shame, guilt and anxiety by developing good relationship with food.

A person struggling with bulimia is constantly in conflict with himself as he homes the battle between the desire to lose weight and the uncontrollable compulsion to binge food. After eating a person will engage in any act that will undo overeating by running or inducing vomiting. This is the major cause anxiety in those struggling with this eating disorder.

 

Anorexia nervosa

It is normal to have a desire to put your weight under control. People especially ladies have the need to have lean bodies. However in some instances the need to control your weight may interfere with your eating habit. You will begin to restrict eating some foods and this may become habitual. You may restrict food to a point of starvation all in the need to lose weight and gain that lean body. This results in an eating disorder known as anorexia nervosa. A person suffering from this eating disorder has his thoughts dominated by the urge to lose weight and this may become an obsession.

This eating disorder is very dangerous as it affects all the facets of your life. You will not even know who you really are and that is a major cause of torment in anybody. A person who suffers from this eating disorder is constantly in fear of gaining weight as they believe it will interfere with their outlook. Mealtimes are always very stressful to those who are suffering from anorexia as what they always think about is what to limit so as to keep them lean.

Today pathological eating disorders and their related diseases have become a major health concern worldwide. Many people are suffering from these pathological eating disorders than malnutrition. In fact some experts have purported that obesity which is a disease related to eating disorders has become the major health problem in the world replacing heart disease and cancer.

This thought is echoed by the World Health Organization which in June, 2005 stated that “obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally, with more than 1 billion adults overweight – at least 300 million of them clinically obese – and is a major contributor to the global burden of chronic disease and disability. Often coexisting in developing countries with under-nutrition, obesity is a complex condition, with serious social and psychological dimensions, affecting virtually all ages and socioeconomic groups.”

eating disordersAnother body that has shown concern on the contribution of pathological eating disorders in poor health in people is the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which in June, 2005 reported that “during the past 20 years, obesity among adults has risen significantly in the United States. This claim was backed up by the latest data from the National Center for Health Statistics which showed that 30 percent of U.S. adults 20 years of age and older – over 60 million people are obese. The pathological eating disorders and their consequential diseases do not affect the adults only but affect people of all ages. Today the percentage of young people who are overweight has more than tripled since 1980.

Poly-behavioral addiction would be described as a state of periodic or chronic physical, mental, emotional, cultural, sexual and/ or spiritual/ religious intoxication. Pathological eating disorders are valid cause of poly-behavioral addiction just like any other substance of abuse. Therefore a person suffering from any form of eating disorders should seek help before it results into a bigger problem like obesity and other related diseases.

Here at AWAREmed we are dedicated to avail help to all those who may be suffering from pathological eating disorders. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) is an expert in integrative treatment and will be willing as always to avail help to all those in need.

Pathological Eating Disorders and Poly-Behavioral Addiction

 

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Gabapentin for Alcohol dependence

October 23, 2014

 

Gabapentin: New Hope for Alcohol Dependence

GabapentinIn the past treating alcohol and drug addicts has never been easy. Alcohol and other drugs dependence is a vice that has not only affected adversely the lives of the addicts and their dependants but also the community as well. In most cases we think that drug and alcohol dependence only affects the addicts, hell no we are wrong. The cost of these drugs and alcohol might be cheap since alcohol is readily available and can be bought at different quantities and prices. The reality is that the cost of alcohol dependence is too high to the society than it really is to the addicts themselves. Alcoholism has rendered many people jobless since their employers could not put up with their addiction. In this case the addict will not have means to get his daily quantities of alcohol to get high but the craving will be at its peak, the addict will therefore have to find other ways of getting money to buy alcohol even if it means breaking some laws. Being dependent on alcohol has made many people criminals and that is a cost that the society has to pay but unfortunately it is a cost hidden to many people.

The cost of alcohol dependence does not end there. Think of the government sponsored researches that have to be done to find ways of helping the addicts to overcome their nightmare. The cost of putting up rehab centers to cater for alcohol addicts who have become pests to their families, the very people they have a responsibility to provide for. In the past many researches have been done to find out the best medicine that could be of help to those dependent on alcohol. Alcohol dependence has affected the economy of most continents but according to a recent research finding there is a ray of hope to treatment of alcohol dependence.

A recent study that was done at San Diego by Researchers at The Scripps Research Institute declared new hope in the treatment of alcoholism in November 2013, following the results of a new study to treat the disease with a drug that is already on the market. The presence of the drug in the market is already a breakthrough as no more will be spent to establish the medicinal ability of this drug to treat alcoholics and set them free from the chains of alcohol dependence. Unlike in most cases where after a research finding the search for drugs sets in , this finding has an already available drug and that is an advantage to the would be users.

According to the research finding; Gabapentin which is already being used as a prescription drug for people suffering from epilepsy as well as for patients with some pain, including migraines is equally good for fighting alcohol dependence. This new study found the drug appears to be safe and effective in the treatment of alcohol dependence. This research finding has brought some new hope in the field of alcohol addiction treatment and recovery.

More effective in treating alcohol dependence

“Gabapentin’s effect on drinking outcomes is at least as large or greater than those of existing FDA-approved treatments,” said Barbara J. Mason in a news release from the Scripps Research Institute. Mason is the co-director of the Pearson Center for Alcoholism and Addiction Research, who led the new research. If what Mason said is to be believed then people will begin using Gabapentin in place of the drugs that have been approved by FDA already.

“Plus, it’s the only medication shown to improve sleep and mood in people who are quitting or reducing their drinking, and it’s already widely used in primary care—that’s an appealing combination,” Mason said in the release.

It is a known fact that there has never been a cure for alcoholism, but the doctors have always availed drugs to treat the symptoms that are associated with alcohol withdrawal. Some of the prescription drugs that have been used in treating symptoms related to alcoholism include naltrexone, which the National Institutes of Health describes as a prescription to prevent relapse. Alcoholism can also be treated with 12-step programs and psychotherapy. For the 12-step programs and psychotherapy you will need to find a rehab that will best individualize your treatment to help you out.

According to the TRSI researchers , this drug has more benefits as it helps with cravings, depression and sleeplessness often experienced by alcoholics, other drugs that are already approved by FDA for alcoholism are not as effective as gabapentin.

In three months of treatment, TRSI researchers also said the high-dose group refrained from heavy drinking twice as often as the placebo group, and entirely abstained four times as often as the placebo group. They reported the drug also reduced the number of drinks consumed, and said none of the patients reported serious side effects.

“I think that we can now have confidence in the pharmacological effect of this drug,” Mason said in the news release.

gabapentinAlcoholism affects millions of people. In America alone, More than eight million are thought to suffer from alcoholism. The NIH estimates more than 700,000 of them seek treatment every day and with this discovery they might as well be helped.

The new study was described as a “150-patient randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind clinical trial” in the news release. With many researchers still trying the best drug to treat alcohol dependence we should be ready for some new stuff but as for now gabapentin may just be the best for you.

We at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are committed to helping all addicts overcome the vice by availing critical information and treatment. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is experienced in integrative medicine for addiction. Visit her at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for help.

Gabapentin: New Hope for Alcohol Dependence

 

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How does a ketogenic diet work?

October 22, 2014

Choosing The Right Type Of Diet For Cancer (Ketogenic Diet)

What is ketogenic diet?

A ketogenic diet is a special form of diet in which a particular balance between proteins, carbohydrates and vitamins is used to help an individual achieve specific health objectives. In the case of cancer, such a diet is used to help a patient retain the body in a state that is appropriate to minimize the impact of the disease and enhance the overall outcome of treatment.

The uniqueness of the diet is that it is designed in such a manner that an individual consumes a high amount of required fats, an adequate amount of proteins and a low amount of carbohydrates. When such an approach is used in a person’s diet, the overall way in which the body makes energy is changed completely. Focus now shifts from breaking down carbohydrates to fats. The process by which fats are broken down to produce energy leads to the formation of ketones.  These are important compounds in the body of an individual.

How does a ketogenic diet work?

The process by which a ketogenic diet works in the human body is best understood when one considers what happens to carbohydrates that we eat as part of our diet. Basically, our bodies have been conditioned to derive their energy by breaking down carbohydrates into glucose. This conditioning has been a result of our eating habits where carbohydrates form the largest part of our meals.

However, there is an alternative way by which our bodies can get the energy required to power our daily activities: breaking down of fats that are stored in them. This is what happens when one goes without food for some time, the body automatically resorts to the stored fats for its own energy supply.

Therefore, when we change our eating habits by drastically cutting down on the amount of carbohydrates, we change the way the body gets its energy. When this type of diet is used, the body begins to break down fats into ketones in the process of getting energy.

The presence of ketones in the body offers a number of advantages.  For example, ketones have been associated with good management of the weight of one’s body. This implies that using a ketogenic diet can help one to manage the body weight. Besides, ketones have been associated with enhancing the ability of the body to combat different forms of chronic diseases, cancer being one of them. Therefore, a ketogenic diet can be useful in helping one to overcome the effect of chronic diseases.

How to choose the right ketogenic diet for cancer

There are several things that one should consider when choosing the right ketogenic diet for cancer. This is so because although ketogenic diet has been known to help the body to fight different types of chronic diseases, when it comes to cancer, there are special things that should be taken into consideration.

First, the basic principle of using a ketogenic diet to help the process of treatment against cancer arises from the fact that cancer cells largely depend on glucose for their survival. Right from the process of angiogenesis to metastasis, cancer cells require a heavy supply of glucose. Therefore, by reducing the amount of glucose in the body, this diet directly inhibits the growth of cancer cells while ensuring that normal body cells have an alternative source of energy.

Second, with regard to cancer, choosing a ketogenic diet takes into consideration the level of ketones and sugar that are required by the body. This is so because the body needs a particular amount of the nutrients so as the overall aim of the diet of killing cancer cells while nourishing normal body cells is achieved.

Third, choosing the right ketogenic diet to help one overcome the effects of cancer requires a careful selection of the kinds of foods that shall be used. This is so because some foods are not recommended for use by a person who is using this form of diet. Therefore, one has to select only the types of foods that are required for a cancer patient. This can be easily done with the help of a physician.

Choosing The Right Type Of Diet For Cancer

What are the benefits of a ketogenic diet?

There are several benefits that one gets by choosing the right type of ketogenic diet. First of all, a ketogenic diet has a direct effect on cancer cells. This is so because when one takes the diet, the amount of sugar in the body is greatly reduced. Yet cancer cells thrive on body sugars. Therefore, by inducing a state of ketosis in the body, one is able to inhibit the growth and development of cancer cells within it.

The second benefit that one gets from a ketogenic diet is that it helps the body eliminate cholesterol successfully. Cholesterol may cause a number of health complications when it is left to accumulate in the body. However, when one uses a ketogenic diet, a special form of lipoproteins that carries cholesterol to the liver for excretion is produced. The ability of the body to excrete excess cholesterol and other unwanted compounds is beneficial to an individual since it reduces the overall level of toxicity.

AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Centre is a leading destination for cancer treatment and management. Dr. Dalal Akoury is highly experienced in helping cancer patients choose the right kind of ketogenic diet for their overall wellbeing. You can visit us in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for professional help on how you can develop a ketogenic diet that is appropriate for your condition.

Choosing The Right Type Of Diet For Cancer (Ketogenic Diet)

 

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Triggers and Addiction Recovery

October 22, 2014

Tips for Managing Triggers during Addiction Recovery

TriggerOvercoming addiction is one of the resolutions that addicts have every New Year but then fail to accomplish and live by. Not once I have heard of political fanatics speak of their favorite candidates and the things they will when their preferred candidates win. One of the major promises that most people make is to stop using drugs of abuse and stay free from these drugs but that just remains there or at least they try but they fail again and again. Overcoming addiction has since remained to be one of the hardest goals to achieve especially if you think of going through it all alone without seeking professional advice. In reality it is close to impossible overcoming an addiction without seeking professional help. However getting professional help does not mean that somebody else is now doing it in your place, no. you are the person that has the sole responsibility of overcoming addiction and without your commitment all the resources; time and money spent in taking you through the addiction recovery program will be a waste. But still with your commitment it is good to note that most people fail to go through the addiction recovery to its end because of the triggers that they may encounter in their environment and that is why most doctors will prefer an addict be attended to in a rehab where such triggers are not present. In some cases a person who has gone through the drug addiction recovery successfully may be overwhelmed by the triggers in his environments until he gives in and go back right into the mess. Therefore it is really important to know situations where you might encounter triggers and avoid them but if you can’t avoid them then you should learn how to cope with them.

What are Triggers?

In layman terms, when we talk of triggers in relation to addiction recovery, we refer to those factors in your environment that may lure you back to your past habit of using drugs of abuse. The triggers may include spots in your environment which brings you memories of your drug abuse habit. It may be an event especially where you will meet people who you used to share drugs with but are still using them.

This therefore means that even after completing treatment for alcohol and other addictive substances is not yet a won fight. There is still much to fight with while you are out of the rehab and it will take much more than mere commitment to abstain from alcohol and the drugs. You will encounter cravings for your drug of choice, and for any escape, an opportunity to numb out, and perhaps, sometimes, an overall desire to not feel what you are feeling. The bigger question is what will you do when you encounter these triggers that maybe in the form of events and people?

Here are some of the few tips that could save you from falling for your drugs of choice when cravings persist.

Know your triggers– just like people begin using drugs for different reasons, addicts have different triggers. Your trigger may be as a result of an unhealthy conversation that you got into with a person and has left you depressed. Another person’s trigger maybe his past photos while another person’s trigger maybe to see someone drunk.

Prepare yourself psychologically to counter your triggers– it would be a fallacy to assume that your triggers will just disappear in thin air. Instead prepare yourself to deal with your triggers. Appreciate that triggers are part and parcel of addiction recovery and equip yourself to deal with it.

Put in practice how you would overcome before it comes– try to lay strategies to deal with the triggers you have identified before you encounter them. You may role play with yourself in trying to find the most effective strategies to help you overcome.

Adopt a healthy lifestyle– eat well and have a good sleep. Without good sleep and good nutrition you r body will be deprived of rest and vital nutritional components making it hard for you to overcome the triggers. You should also avoid being lonely as loneliness may make you slip into your past habit in search of company. The major problem is in the H.A.L.T meaning hungry, angry, lonely and tired. By eating well and having good sleep you will be free from hunger and tiredness. As for lonely and anger you need help of family and friends to help you cope.

TriggersDo not test yourself– this is even well written in the bible (don’t ask about the verse) who is unto him who sees temptation ahead but continues to commit it. If you know your triggers do not try to test yourself. If you know your triggers are your past photos holding a bottle of beer, burning the photos will be worth it. If you know passing by a certain bar will trigger you then avoid that route. This way you will be able to avoid the temptation and keep yourself far from drugs of abuse.

These are some of the tips that you could employ to help deal with triggers. Like I said triggers are part of addiction recovery and it is therefore necessary that you prepare yourself psychological, practice how you would overcome your triggers of course after knowing them and adopt a healthy lifestyle that will enable you to overcome your triggers during addiction recovery. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is dedicated in helping all addicts. Visit her at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for help.

Tips for Managing Triggers during Addiction Recovery

 

 

 

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