Fibromyalgia and NAD Treatment

January 28, 2015

Fibromyalgia and NAD Treatment

There is often a thin line between chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. The two conditions exhibit almost the same symptoms. Many are the times when patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome have been diagnosed and treated for fibromyalgia.

So what is fibromyalgia? It is a health disorder that is often characterized by intense and widespread pain in the muscles. These pains are accompanied by other symptoms like increased fatigue, insomnia, mood swings and impaired memory and concentration levels. Studies show that the intense pains in patients with fibromyalgia is as a result of manipulation of the way pain signals are processed by the brain.

The symptoms of this disorder begin to manifest themselves after an individual has undergone a major stressful situation, physical trauma, infection or surgery. In some other cases the symptoms will continue building up over a period of time.

Contrary to many beliefs that fibromyalgia is a disease of the old folks, the condition can affect anybody from the young to the old. However, women are more at risk of developing the disease as compared to men. This is probably because women are more exposed to psychological stress than men.

Fibromyalgia

Most people who are diagnosed with the disease suffer from conditions such as temporomandibular joint disorders, anxiety, irritable bowel movements, headaches as well as depression. While fibromyalgia remains without a cure, the patients are given medications which aim at controlling the symptoms. Also some physiological measures such as relaxation, exercises and reducing the amount of stress you are exposed to also help ease the situation.

NAD Treatment for Fibromyalgia

Some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia are like those of chronic fatigue syndrome. NAD treatment is one that is used on patients suffering from this condition.

Basically we all need energy to survive. Every process in our bodies relies on energy and that is what keeps us healthy from circulation, breathing to even digestion. The mitochondria are responsible for generation of energy used by cells to perform their functions. Without this energy we are prone to diseases and medical conditions like chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) refers to a molecule whose function is to react with the oxygen found in the mitochondria. This reaction creates energy that is used by the cells to help you in breathing, movement, food digestion, blood pumping and thinking. In short, this energy is what enables to live your life as it is.

Studies show that lack of this molecule is what causes chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, anxiety, depression, weakening of the immune system, impaired memory and decline in concentration levels, sleeping problems, muscle aches and weakness and even drug and alcohol addictions. Deficiency in this molecule is a cellular disease epidemic that may go undetected.

How Does NAD Works?

NAD is basically and active form of vitamin B3. NAD is converted into a co-enzyme that binds with hydrogen to become NADH. Hydrogen combines with oxygen in the body to generate energy. Naturally when hydrogen and oxygen react in their liquid forms they generate energy like in the case of hot air balloons. This same reaction takes place in the body.

However due to the explosive power of hydrogen, during NAD treatment it must be carefully inserted into the NAD molecule so that it can generate energy for the body without causing harm to the patient. NAD in this case acts as the hydrogen carrier before it reacts with the oxygen to become NADH.

The process of converting NAD into NADH undergoes through a cycle called Citric Acid Cycle. The fats, carbohydrates and proteins that we eat in our diet provide the necessary chemicals that enter into the cycle. At this point the NAD molecule becomes loaded with the hydrogen which enters into the mitochondria generating a reaction with oxygen that ends up generating energy.

Fibromyalgia

The energy produced by this reaction in the mitochondria is in form of ATP and also a bit of water. The ATP is what is used by the body to assist in blood pumping, contraction of muscles and also the energy that is required by billions of cells in the body.

It is clear how important energy is for normal body function. The energy produced is utilized by body organs like the heart and brain. When there is a deficiency in the energy production the brain is the first organ that is affected. This leads to decline in concentration, memory problems and reduced attention.

If incase this shortage of energy lasts a bit longer, the brain is unable to produce neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline which are useful in maintain consciousness. We thereby start experiencing depression, anxiety, moods swings and lack of sleep. It is afterwards that the muscles begin to ache and fatigue creeps in because processes like blood pumping have reduced.

At AwareMed we believe in health and wellness and genera body health. Dr. Dalal Akoury will provide more information about this topic and more. Just visit www.awaremednetwork.com today and she will answer any questions you may have about Fibromyalgia and other health conditions.

Fibromyalgia and NAD Treatment

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Severe Mental Illness and Substance Abuse

December 1, 2014

Persons with Severe Mental Illness Are Prone To Substance Use

People with severe mental illness (SMI) are more prone to substance abuse than those who are not suffering from severe mental illness. Both epidemiological and clinical studies that have been done on this have attested to this fact. The findings of these researches have also pointed out that Individuals diagnosed with SMI are also at greater risk of hospitalization, homelessness and suicide and experience more difficulty in different spheres of their lives. Most studies have shown that individuals with SMI are more prone to substance abuse. However other studies that have been done on the same issue have not linked the two phenomena. The substances used most frequently by persons with SMI are alcohol, followed by cannabis and stimulants. Sedatives and hallucinogens are used less frequently by those with SMI. Amphetamine use is greater in persons with psychotic disorders compared with the general population. Studies have shown that both cannabis and, to a greater extent, amphetamines can provoke psychosis. Because individuals do not use cannabis or amphetamines alone, but use them in combination with several other substances, examining the effects of the use of a specific substance on mental illness is particularly challenging. A review showed that substance use has adverse long-term effects on cognitive functions in persons with SMI. The substance that has been found to affect the individuals most negatively is alcohol while cannabis use has little influence on the cognitive functions of the individuals.

Several studies have shown that many people with SMI tend to achieve full remission of their substance use while others relapse frequently. Research from different treatment settings indicate that 30 per cent of those with less severe mental illness and heavy substance use attain sustained remission, while up to 60 per cent of those with SMI and less severe substance use attain sustained remission.

There is however a lack of studies on how persons with SMI experience abstaining from substance use. Nevertheless, research on substance use by clients without the comorbidity of mental illness indicates that social support is important to successful change in behavior of these people. Clients claim that they benefit from interventions that address their multiple recovery issues as opposed to ones that emphasize recovery strictly in sobriety terms. Another qualitative study has noted the participants’ view that highly structured programs and cognitive behavioral techniques are crucial to achieving abstinence. Not only is sobriety a lifelong struggle for many clients, but also is perceived as a challenging state because of the risk that the person becomes complacent after achieving sobriety. This may indicate a need for substitute dependency to maintain the abstinence.

It is of importance to examine how individuals with a psychotic disorder experience quitting substance use and to investigate reported experiences of former abstinence periods by participants still using substances. Two qualitative studies with a primary focus on how persons with SMI experience abstaining from substance use have reported that clients view substance use as one of many sources of difficulty over a troubled life course and that social support is critical to staying clean, lack of support in most cases makes it difficult for these individuals to quit using these drugs. One ethnographic study of clients’ perspectives showed that giving up substances was seen as a source of both pleasure and pain, and presupposed a certain level of rationality.

Study findings

In a study done by Henning Pettersen, Torleif Ruud, Edle Ravndal and Anne Landheim with an objective to find out experiences of abstaining from substances of persons diagnosed with SMI. They examined both the reasons given and the requirements and strategies used when abstaining. The main reasons for quitting substance use were social relationships and meaningful activities. It was found that the stated requirements and strategies used in the search for sobriety were detachment towards people and places, positive thinking, controlling feelings and emotions, and fear of dependency. A qualitative study with semi-structured interviews was conducted, and a descriptive and explorative design was applied. This study included a purposeful sample of 11 patients with SMI and substance use being treated by assertive community treatment teams. Henning et al concluded that the results from this study are consistent with those from other qualitative studies on the importance of social relationships and meaningful activities as expressed reasons for abstaining. The strategy of actively avoiding a former adverse milieu to reach sobriety is consistent with findings from one similar study. The strategies of fear of adverse consequences, positive thinking, and controlling feelings and emotions found in the present study have not been reported by other qualitative studies.

The study had eleven participants of which nine were men and two were women. The ages of the participants were between 27-63 years. Most of the participants had a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, but persons diagnosed with bipolar disorder or an unspecified psychotic disorder also participated. For most participants, SMI had preceded their substance use. The treatment of the participants took duration of between 14-30 months after the first interview.

Severe Mental illness Cannabis and amphetamine were the main substances used in the study but alcohol and other prescription drugs were also used to a lesser extent. However most of the participants used a combination of the substances. At the time of the study four of the participants were abstaining from substance use. Their abstinence periods ranged from 3 to 18 month. At the time of the first interview seven of the participants were still using substances. By the second interview, the abstainers were still abstinent and the users had continued their use. The abstaining group and the group of users did not differ significantly in their psychiatric diagnosis or history of substance use. The 11 participants shared their experiences of shorter and longer periods of abstaining from substances. Some of them talked of their abstaining periods retrospectively, and some were abstaining at the time of the interview. From the findings of this study it is therefore safe to conclude that people suffering from SMI are more prone to substance abuse than people who don’t.

Finally, We at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are committed to availing help to addicts by availing some of the most integrative approaches to healing an addict. We advocate for natural healing to all kinds of addiction. Call on Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for help.

Persons with Severe Mental Illness Are Prone To Substance Use

Testosterone Replacement Therapy as Part of Addiction Recovery

November 15, 2014

Testosterone Replacement Therapy as Part of Addiction Recovery

Testosterone replacement therapy involves supplementation of testosterone inform of injections, pellets, patches or gel in order to treat conditions in which the testes do not produce enough testosterone. It is also available in IV forms. Just like the estrogen replacement therapy in women, this ought to be done by an expert as the dosage is important for better results and to mitigate on the side effects. This therefore cannot be done without the help of an expert. This therapy has been found to be effective in fighting hypogonadism. It is also good in improves energy levels, perfect body mass, sex functions and muscle strength among other benefits.

Testosterone replacement therapy has been used for a long time in treatment of men with erectile problems. Hypogonadism is a problem that most men go through and seek treatment from every day. The use of testosterone replacement therapy in hypogonadism is not news, however there is little known about the connection of testosterone replacement therapy and addiction recovery. To any layman there seems to be no connection between these two phenomena. Maybe it is better to know what roles the testosterone hormone plays in the bodies of human beings.

Roles of testosterone hormone

Contrary to what many people think, testosterone plays many roles in our bodies and not only sex roles. Many people think that deficiency in testosterone hormone can only affect your sexual life but the reality is that this hormone very many roles beyond ensuring a healthy sex life. Apart from production of sperms, the testosterone hormone is also crucial in production of red blood cells. This hormone also helps in distribution of fats in the body parts, increasing muscle mass, improving bone mineral density and even regulation of moods in a person. A person with low testosterone levels is often very moody, this explains why men with hypogonadal testosterone levels are mostly in bad moods. It is also this hormone that gives men the physique of man- masculinity.

Several studies have also found out that high levels of testosterone in a person reduce their risks of developing depression. Many researchers have proved that many men who suffer from depression are of low testosterone levels and therefore testosterone replacement therapy may help them to fight depression. After testosterone replacement therapy most depression patients break free from the bonds of depression. Depression is a major problem that men deal with today.

Today, in the United States alone, the number of men who have fallen victims to depression have doubled the number of women suffering from the same. This is because of the many roles that this hormone plays in men. Scientists have proved that maintaining an optimum level of testosterone hormone is an effective way of fighting depression. In a study that was published in 2005 in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, a team of researchers from the US Department of Veterans Affairs examined the connection between low testosterone levels and future depression risks in more than 700 men who were at least 50 years old. The report concluded that men aged below 50 years with low testosterone level were more likely to become depressed than men within the same age but have optimum level of testosterone hormone.

This is not the only study that established the connection between testosterone and depression. Another study that was published in 2003 in the American Journal of Psychiatry also examined the connection between these two phenomena. The research done by Harvard University worked with 56 men who had developed major depression but had failed to respond to antidepressant treatments. The researchers found that 40 percent of the men had low testosterone levels. It is therefore safe to conclude that testosterone replacement therapy can help fight depression.

Depression and Addiction Recovery

Depression seems to be the major link between testosterone replacement therapy and addiction recovery. Addicts have to fight depression even during addiction recovery. Depression should not be mistaken for a mere feeling of being down. Depression takes longer and even drains a person’s energy, in fact it because of depression that addicts are trapped in their use of substances. They take drugs to help them escape depression but use of these drugs will also result in depression as a side effect and so it is a continuous cycle. Depression may cause addiction or exacerbate it. There are also cases where there may be a dual diagnosis of addiction and depression in a patient. Each of these conditions can be cause and result as to some addiction comes first while to others depression is the original disease. It is therefore necessary to fight depression during addiction recovery as it may force the addict to use the drug in a bid to escape the symptoms of depression. Due to poor management of depression addicts have committed suicide as a result of depression. Therefore using testosterone replacement therapy which is known to not only fight addiction but also improving cognitive functions of the brain can help a great deal in fighting addiction.

Here at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center we encourage addicts to go for addiction recovery in rehabs we have qualified doctors who will see to it that every addict is helped to break the bond of addiction and enjoy life of freedom. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) is committed to availing help to every patient. Call on her at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for help.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy as Part of Addiction Recovery

Understanding Addiction as an Energy Disease

May 8, 2014

Addiction Is an Energy Disease- Getting the Facts Straight

Addiction is a horrible disease that even those who claim to be recovering from it say they are recovering for the rest of their lives. Much energy is spent trying to cover for the impact of the disease; the DTs are explained away as an outcome of the flu, hangovers are explained away as migraines or exhaustion, and bouts of vomiting are usually food poisoning or some other stomach ailment. However, it’s been shown that addiction is more than a disease that sucks an addict’s energy with the effort that goes into cover stories; it’s an energy disease that impacts even the cellular level of the addict’s being.

Thanks to the work of Dr. Dalal Akoury at the Health and Wellness Resource Center, a greater understanding of the relationship between addiction, energy and bipolar disorder. In fact, it has been noticed by Dr. Akoury and others that there is a distinct similarity between the symptoms of bipolar disorder and the symptoms of addiction.

what-is-bipolar-disorder-1

In a recently conducted study, 56 percent of those surveyed said that, in addition to having bipolar disorder, they had struggled with drugs or had been addicted to alcohol. They were likely to have relationship problems and had a higher rate of economic instability, accidental injury or incidents of self-harm that included suicide. This is quite similar to those who struggle with an alcohol addiction, as they are also prone to bouts of economic instability, due to their inability to maintain steady employment, and they may also experience a number of accidents that may result in being injured to the point of potentially dying.

While there is no solid explanation for the connection between alcoholism and bipolar disorder, it is likely that those with bipolar disorder are more prone to self-medicate as a way of coping with the painful symptoms of their condition. Depression and anxiety alone can become so debilitating that those with bipolar disorder will be eager to numb the symptoms, and using and abusing alcohol is among one of the most economically friendly ways of dealing with the symptoms of bipolar disorder.

At the low energy level end of addiction is depression, which is usually characterized by:

Hopeless feelings
Loss of interest in things that used to make you happy
Fatigue
Changes in appetite
Self-loathing
Suicidal thoughts

Certainly, if any of these feelings exist in you, you are likely experience a low energy shift and this will leave you seriously open to feelings of apathy, lack of interest in doing things and, in general, a disinterest in pastimes you used to find interesting. This would indicate a lack of energy that would allow you to continue to drive towards your maximum level of function; this means that addiction is truly an energy disease as it really robs you of your energy. On the other side of the coin, when the person with bipolar disorder experiences a manic period, energy is therefore ramped up and the person will experience racing thoughts, high spirits, and a general excess of energy. They may find themselves unable to sleep, and may turn to drugs or alcohol as a way of trying to numb the mind from racing and as a way of lulling themselves to sleep.

Unfortunately, drinking alcohol is actually one way in which you could potentially prevent sleep, as between the diuretic properties of ethanol and the dehydrating effect of the liquid you could find yourself going to the bathroom a lot and consuming a lot of water. In addition, this can also send the person with bipolar disorder who is looking for a way to feel better from the pain of their symptoms into a low period, leaving them feeling depressed and fatigued. Alcohol is also a depressant; while it should be avoided as a method of numbing the pain of bipolar disorder, as it often is used, its depressive qualities can definitely leave the person with bipolar disorder struggling in a depressive episode once again.

Expert Help from Dr. Dalal Akoury of AwareMed Health and Wellness Resource Center

The person who is struggling with addiction as an energy disease and bipolar disorder will benefit from an integrated treatment approach. This means that one on one work with a psychotherapist or a psychologist would be recommended in addition to a holistic approach where the person would also be working with an addictions specialist, a family counselor, and family and dual diagnosis support groups. By using this sort of approach to treat the addiction and the underlying causes that could include bipolar disorder, those who struggle with addiction will definitely benefit and ultimately overcome the energy disease known as addiction. For further information about addiction as an energy disease, please see Dr. Akoury’s website at www.awaremednetwork.com.

Addiction Is an Energy Disease- Getting the Facts Straight

Addiction an Energy disease

April 24, 2014

Addiction an Energy disease-Bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental disorder that affects everyone. It’s characterized by sudden and intense shifts in mood, behavior and energy levels.

Bipolar disorder, once commonly known as manic depression, is a serious mental disorder that is characterized by sudden and intense shifts in mood, behavior and energy levels. Like substance abuse, bipolar disorder poses a risk to the individual’s physical and emotional well-being. Those afflicted with bipolar disorder have a higher rate of relationship problems, economic instability, accidental injuries and suicide than the general population. They are also significantly more likely to develop an addiction to drugs or alcohol. In a study conducted recently:

About 56 percent of individuals with bipolar who participated in a national study had experienced drug or alcohol addiction during their lifetime.

Approximately 46 percent of that group had abused alcohol or were addicted to alcohol.
About 41 percent had abused drugs or were addicted to drugs.
Alcohol is the most commonly abused substance among bipolar individuals.

If you are struggling with bipolar disorder and with a drug or alcohol problem, you may have a Dual Diagnosis of bipolar disorder and substance abuse. Having a Dual Diagnosis, or a co-occurring disorder, can make recovery more challenging. Bipolar individuals may experience periods of intense depression alternating with episodes of heightened activity and an exaggerated sense of self-importance. This emotional instability can interfere with your recovery program, making it difficult to comply with the guidelines of your treatment plan.

Addiction an Energy disease-Relationship between Addiction and Bipolar

There is no easy explanation for the high rate of substance abuse and chemical dependence among bipolar individuals. One reason for this phenomenon is that a large percentage of individuals attempt to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol in an effort to numb the painful symptoms of their bipolar disorder. Symptoms of bipolar disorder such as anxiety, pain, depression and sleeplessness are so alarming, that many individuals will turn to drugs and alcohol as a means for offsetting the discomfort, if only for a little while.

Age and gender may play a part in the relationship between addictions and bipolar. According to the journal Bipolar Disorder, substance abuse is more common in young males than in other population groups.

Clinical researchers believe that brain chemistry may influence both bipolar disorder and substance abuse. People with bipolar disorder often have abnormal levels of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. These chemicals affect vital functions like appetite, metabolism, sleep and your body’s response to stress. They also affect mood and emotions. Heavy use of drugs or alcohol can interfere with the way your brain processes these chemicals, causing emotional instability, erratic energy levels and depression. People with bipolar disorder may turn to drugs or alcohol out of an unconscious need to stabilize their moods. Unfortunately, substance abuse has the opposite effect, making the symptoms of bipolar disorder worse.

Addiction an Energy disease-Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

We all go through intense episodes of sadness, elation, anger or despair. But for someone who meets the diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder, these episodes are all-consuming and uncontrollable. There are four major types of mood episodes that characterize bipolar disorder: mania, hypomania, depression and mixed episodes — each of which has a set of unique symptoms:

Depression

At the “low” end of the bipolar spectrum is depression, an emotional state that is often characterized by sadness, tearfulness and despair. Depression in bipolar disorder may last for days or weeks, depending on your mood cycle. These periods are dangerous for Dual Diagnosis individuals, who have a higher risk of self-injury and suicide when they’re using drugs and alcohol during a low period. When you’re depressed, you may experience:

Hopeless feelings
Loss of interest in things that used to make you happy
Fatigue
Changes in appetite
Self-loathing
Suicidal thoughts

Episodes

The symptoms of bipolar disorder aren’t always clearly defined. In a mixed episode, behaviors reflect a combination of mania and depression. For example, you may have suicidal feelings and loss of interest in your daily activities, combined with racing thoughts, pressured speech and loss of sleep.

You may feel the urge to drink or take drugs in an attempt to balance out these unpredictable mood swings, but intoxication is only a temporary fix that won’t provide permanent relief. To achieve a full recovery, you need professional treatment that helps you stabilize your moods as you deal with the cravings and destructive impulses that characterize addiction. Doctor Dalal Akoury is a professional in this line and she will instantly help you fix this problem.

Addiction an Energy disease-Treatment for Bipolar and Addiction

In the past, bipolar disorder and chemical dependence were addressed as separate conditions and treated at separate facilities. People who were diagnosed with bipolar disorder were referred to mental health treatment centers or psychiatric hospitals, while those who were actively abusing drugs and alcohol were sent to rehab. Today, addiction professionals recognize the importance of treating bipolar disorder and substance abuse at the same time through a process called “integrated treatment.”

Integrated treatment encompasses a number of different treatment strategies. Your treatment plan might include one-on-one psychotherapy with a mental health professional, counseling sessions with addiction specialists, Dual Diagnosis support groups, family counseling and holistic therapy. Features of an integrated program for bipolar disorder and addiction include:

It’s not enough to treat bipolar disorder without addressing the problem of substance abuse, and vice versa. Unless you receive comprehensive care for both conditions, your chances of relapse are high. Relapse prevention strategies for an individual with bipolar disorder must include coping skills for managing the psychological and emotional triggers for substance abuse. Therapeutic approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) have proven useful in teaching Dual Diagnosis patients how to regulate their emotions and avoid being overwhelmed by dramatic mood changes.

Group support is crucial to recovery when you have a Dual Diagnosis of bipolar disorder and a substance use disorder. In peer group support meetings and counseling sessions, you’ll learn about the common triggers and risk factors that people with bipolar disorder face in recovery. You’ll have the opportunity to share your experiences with others and to acquire new coping strategies from your peers.

In dual diagnosis treatment centers, the importance of psychotherapeutic medication in treating bipolar disorder is widely acknowledged. Mood-stabilizing medications may be used in combination with antipsychotic drugs or antidepressants to provide complete support for your recovery goals.

Addiction an Energy disease-Challenges to Recovery

Addiction professionals face a number of challenges when it comes to treating bipolar patients with addiction issues. For one thing, many of the symptoms of bipolar disorder are similar to those of drug and alcohol abuse. Therefore, if a person does seek out professional help, it is difficult to see where the mental disorder stops and the addiction begins.

AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury is a resource everyone suffering from elements of this article need to embrace. Doctor Akoury is an expert who has been and still is caring for patients globally with all forms of addictions while focusing on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE. My dear friend no matter the magnitude of your situation the doors of AWAREmed are open for you 24/7. Take that bold step of recovery by calling and begin your journey to comfortable, healthy and desirable life.

Addiction an Energy disease-Bipolar disorder

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