Understanding exactly what Chronic Stress really is

April 16, 2015

Understanding exactly what Chronic Stress really is: Effects of Stress on the Body

Understanding exactly what Chronic Stress really is, is the starting point for lasting treatment solution

We all live with it but what exactly is stress? In this article, we want to concentrate on the understanding exactly what chronic stress really is since it affects us individually and collectively. Our reference is going to be from the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center a medical facility which was founded by doctor Dalal Akoury primarily to offer health solutions to the suffering public. Doctor Akoury says that stress can come in many forms including:

Emotional stress
Chemical stress (toxicity)
Electromagnetic stress
Physical stress or anything else that elicits a stress response in the body

When stress set in an individual’s life, it wills not matter the kind of stress it is since the body understands stress in the same way irrespective of the type. How then does stress affect the body? The effects of stress are many and may include the following:

It can lower your immune system
Increase your cholesterol
Blood sugar and blood pressure
It can cause sexual dysfunctions
Arthritis’s
Heart disease
Weight gain
Irritable bowel syndrome
Ulcers
Cancer as well as lower thyroid function and metabolism

Normally when a person is under stress the body will switch into a fight or flight mode.

This will then trigger several physiological responses and you will have a decrease of all noncritical processes.
Your energy will be mobilized to your muscle.
Digestion will be turned off (50 percent of people have digestive complaints)
Detoxification will be impaired
You will have a decrease in cellular repair
You will be placed in a catabolic (breaking down) state. This catabolic state will weaken all your systems.

Understanding exactly what Chronic Stress really is: Different states of stress

You can be in a sick state– This is when your stress levels are higher than your resistance levels.
You can be in an average state of health – This is when your stress levels and resistance levels are about equal. These are the people who feel good until something stressful happens then they get symptoms.
The last is a state of good health – This is when your resistance is much higher than your stress levels. This leaves you with two choices; reduce stress, or increase resistance. The easiest one to do is to decrease stress. Unfortunately some people are unable to do this, therefore we must increase resistance. This means you need to support your hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis.

It is obvious that stress and sex hormones are all derived from cholesterol. It therefore means that if you are under constant stress, you will produce more stress hormones, and therefore you will need more cholesterol to make those hormones. This is how stress can lead to elevated cholesterol. When you’re continuously making stress hormones your body will decrease production of sex hormones, as well as aldosterone, this is called cortisol steal. Lower sex hormones will lead to hormonal imbalances such as irregular menstrual cycles, infertility and low libido. Lower aldosterone levels will prevent your kidneys from absorbing sodium and therefore spilling sodium into the bladder. Wherever sodium goes, water follows. This will cause dilute urine and frequent urination, as well as the craving of salt.

Understanding exactly what Chronic Stress really is: Stress and Sexual functions

Stress affects sexual function as already mentioned. It is also worth noting that sexual arousal is a parasympathetic nervous system response, whereas orgasm and ejaculation are a sympathetic nervous system response. When you have high stress, this stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, decreasing stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system and not allowing arousal to take place. Insulin is the only hormone that lowers blood sugar, whereas cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine, glucagon and growth hormone all raise blood sugar. Cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine are all stress hormones. This is how stress will increase blood sugar, causing insulin levels to rise, to lower the blood sugar and ultimately causing insulin resistance.

Understanding exactly what Chronic Stress really is: Gastrointestinal tract

Stress will also have effects on the gastrointestinal tract. It will decrease hydrochloric acid (stomach acid) and mucus production, slow the motility of the small intestine and increase the motility of the large intestine. When you have a decrease in stomach acid and mucus production, this will decrease the amount of gastric protection of the stomach. The high cortisol levels from stress will decrease immune function, therefore making it a favorable environment for Helicobacter Pylori to proliferate, and causing a gastric ulcer. If the small intestine is slower to recover from stress the motility is impaired and constipation results. When the large intestine is slower to recover from stress, motility is increased and diarrhea results.

Understanding exactly what Chronic Stress really is: Threats of Cardiac Unrest

Stress will increase cardiac risk in many ways. It will increase blood pressure. It can increase cholesterol for production of the stress hormones as already mention. The stress hormones (catacholamines) are detoxified through methylation this could decrease the methylation capacity to detoxify homo-cysteine. High levels of homo-cysteine are very toxic to the cardiovascular system. As stated earlier, cortisol, epinephrine and norepinphrine raise glucose levels. The higher blood sugar level will cause the release of insulin. Insulin will increase cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides and decrease HDL. The increase in body fat caused by stress as already mentioned is another cardiac risk factor.

Cortisol has a half-life of 100 minutes meaning that if you are under stress and have a cortisol release, in 100 minutes you will have 50% of that cortisol still in your system, after 200 minutes 25% and so on. If you are under constant stress you will continuously have high cortisol levels and have the physiological responses of that cortisol. Finally and like had indicated that it will not matter the kind of stress that affects you. All have the same effects and the body response to them in the same way. If you are under any kind of stress, it would be very important that you look for immediate solutions to prevent other illnesses that may be triggered by stress itself. In this case, scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury would be the first step you can take towards getting lasting solutions for a better health thereafter.

Understanding exactly what Chronic Stress really is: Effects of Stress on the Body

Overcoming Stress to solve Drug Addiction Problem

April 7, 2015

Overcoming Stress to solve Drug Addiction Problem: Learning healthy ways of coping with stress

Overcoming Stress to solve Drug Addiction Problem can be very devastating if not addressed in good time.

It is true that stress is in evitable in the current lifestyle we are living in however; we can bring stress to manageable levels so that its effects to human life are significantly reduced. Take the endless problem of addiction for example, if this is to be experienced and at the same time the victim is under some stressful situations, the magnitude of the complication may be overwhelming. Addiction on its own is very stressful not just to the victims but also the relatives caring for the addict. Treatment would be very ideal but even once treatment is done, the recovered addict will still have to face the problems that led to their addiction in the first place. This is so because in many instances people get into drugs in an attempt of trying to confuse certain painful emotions, calming themselves after an argument or just to forget that bad day or a problem they are going through. The most painful part of it is that when the effect of the drug is gone and you become sober, that which you were trying to escape from returns in double portions. It is because of this that overcoming stress to solve drug addiction problems become very necessary.

Doctor Dalal Akoury the MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center states that for one to be treated successfully and maintain sobriety for a long time we must individually and collectively resolve these underlying issues of stress and addiction. It is important to note that with the life situations we have today, conditions such as stress, loneliness, frustration, anger, shame, anxiety, and hopelessness will remain in your life even when you’re no longer using drugs to cover them up. Nonetheless, you will be in a healthier position only when you finally address these issues by seeking for help from the experts and professional like those at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center.

Overcoming Stress to solve Drug Addiction Problem: Reliving Stress without drugs

Drug abuse often shoots from ill-advised attempts to manage stress. In fact many people turn to alcohol or other drugs to unwind and relax after a stressful day, or to cover up painful memories and emotions that cause us to feel stressed and out of balance. This is what is commonly done by many people, but it is the wrong approach to stress solution. We have much more healthier ways to keep your stress level in check. Such steps may include exercising, meditating, using sensory strategies to relax, practicing simple breathing exercises, and challenging self-defeating thoughts says doctor Akoury.

Overcoming Stress to solve Drug Addiction Problem: Strategies of reliving stress without drugs

A time has come when we must do what it takes to ensure that we eliminate all the stressors out of our lives if we are to keep healthy. For instance you may feel like doing drugs is the only way to handle unpleasant feelings, that feeling is very common and you are not the only one feeling that way. The truth is doing drugs will only land you into being more stressed. Instead you can learn to get through such difficulties without falling back on your addiction. Different quick stress relief strategies work better for some people than others. The secret is to find the one that works best for you, and helps you calm down when you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed. When you’re confident in your ability to quickly de-stress, facing strong feelings isn’t as intimidating or overwhelming. The following tips can be helpful to you in reducing stress:

Exercise releases endorphins, relieves stress, and promotes emotional well-being. Try running in place, jumping rope, or walking around the block.
Step outside and savor the warm sun and fresh air. Enjoy a beautiful view or landscape.
Yoga and meditation are excellent ways to bust stress and find balance.
Play with your dog or cat, enjoying the relaxing touch of your pet’s fur.
Put on some calming music.
Light a scented candle.
Breathe in the scent of fresh flowers or coffee beans, or savor a scent that reminds you of a favorite vacation, such as sunscreen or a seashell.
Close your eyes and picture a peaceful place, such as a sandy beach. Or think of a fond memory, such as your child’s first steps or time spent with friends.
Make yourself a steaming cup of tea.
Look at favorite family photos.
Give yourself a neck or shoulder massage.
Soak in a hot bath or shower.

Overcoming Stress to solve Drug Addiction Problem: Keep triggers and cravings in check

While getting sober from drugs is an important first step, it’s only the beginning of the recovery process. Once sober, the brain needs time to recover and rebuild connections that have changed while addicted. During this time, drug cravings can be intense. You can support your continued sobriety by making a conscious effort to avoid people, places, and situations that trigger the urge to use drugs like for instance:

Make a break from old drug buddies – be careful when choosing friends after healing from drug abuse. Desist from hanging out with old friends who are still doing drugs. Instead chose to surround yourself with people who support your new life of sobriety and not those who tempt you to slip back into old habits.

Avoid bars and clubs – keep distance from all social places like bars and clubs even if you don’t have a problem with alcohol. Remember that drinking lowers inhibitions and impairs judgment, which can easily lead to relapse. Drugs are often readily available and the temptation to use can be overpowering. Also avoid any other environments and situations that you could easily associate with drug use.

Use caution with prescription drugs – Stay away from prescription drugs with the potential for abuse or use only when necessary and with extreme caution. Drugs with a high abuse potential include painkillers, sleeping pills, and anti-anxiety medication.

Finally keep regular visits to your health provider for periodic assessment. This is very important because it help you know if there is any symptom of other infection that needs to be addressed before they escalate into chronic problems. Experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury are very much available to helping you get the best no matter your situation. All you need to do is to schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury today and you will live to tell the story of great recovery.

Overcoming Stress to solve Drug Addiction Problem: Learning healthy ways of coping with stress

Effects of Cannabis Deregulation on College Students

March 16, 2015

Effects of Cannabis Deregulation on College Students

Scientifically Cannabis sativa popularly known by many titles such as weed, marijuana among others, has always been a drug that is accessible to many youths in spite of harsh laws that regulate its use in given countries. In most countries the use of this drug is prohibited and if you are unlucky to be caught you will serve a jail term longer enough to make you regret knowing it in the first place. Despite the stringent rules that have outlawed the use of this drug in many countries it has remained one of the highly abused drugs especially by college students and teens who are out of school.

Marijuana is currently an outlawed drug in most countries but it does not defy the saying that every dark cloud has a silver lining, it also has good effects that were once valued- this drug being rich in THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). THC is one of the most active ingredient in cannabis that has medicinal qualities, due to its high content in this medicinal content, many researchers have opined that marijuana can be used in treatment of many diseases including cancer. However owing to the fact that it is a highly addictive drug that is prone to be abused it has attracted the attentions for all the wrong reasons making it outlawed in many parts of the world.

The use of cannabis is common despite the strict laws in fact it is on the rise among college students, thanks to its hallucinatory effects that has made it a darling to many students. Most college students begin using this drug without even knowing all the side effects that it is always associated with. Due to peer pressure and a need to belong some students also begin using this drug since some of their friends are using it. in the long run the number of college students affected grows and by the time they become aware of the dangerous effects of using cannabis they are have already become addicted to the drug so much that it can’t be easily stopped. This leads to a situation where college students become adversely affected with the drug so much that they cannot effectively study.

Cannabis and students

The use of cocaine on the rise among students

According to an article published on Michigan University News on Sept/8/2014; the use of illicit drugs has been rising at an alarming rate among American college students since 2006 when only 34 per cent indicated that they had used some illicit drugs in years prior to 2006. By 2013 the rate of those who indicated to have used illicit drugs had heightened by 39 per cent. The report also stated that marijuana is one of the drugs that are highly abused by college students. This study was done by University of Michigan scientists who conduct the nationwide Monitoring the Future study.

The report states that the use of marijuana is on the rise while that of other drugs of leisure is declining and this can be attributed to availability of this drug and affordability in comparison to such drugs as cocaine and heroin. According to this study, Daily marijuana use is now at the highest rate among college students in more than three decades. 51 percent of all full-time college students currently have used an illicit drug at some time in their lives; roughly four in 10 have used one or more such drugs in just the 12 months preceding the survey.

The results are based on a nationally representative sample of some 1,100 students enrolled full time in a 2- or 4-year college in spring 2013. The survey is part of the long-term MTF study, which also tracks substance use among the nation’s secondary students and older adults under research grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

The study showed that marijuana has remained the most widely used illicit drug over the 34 years that MTF has tracked substance use by college students, but the level of use has varied considerably over time. In 2006, 30 percent of the nation’s college students said they used marijuana in the prior 12 months, whereas in 2013 nearly 36 percent indicated doing so. This shows how marijuana use in colleges is rising despite the fact that it is still regulated. The question is what will happen if it is deregulated.

If marijuana would be deregulated today, the students will begin using it like some sort of over the counter drugs, without fear of authorities and deregulation in itself may sound as an approval by the state on the positive effects of the drug hence many students will use it.

Cannabis

These are some of the problems that the students will face

Inconsistence in performance- consuming alcohol doesn’t end with blowing the smoke in the air; its effects are far more than the euphoric effects that an individual may get from using the drug. When used for a long time it will result in anxiety which will not enable the student to study and perform well in exams and being that it will be unregulated the dosage may hike to a dangerous limit that over a time may cause cognitive malfunctions.

Depression- this is a threat that most people using cannabis have to face. Depression is not good for a student as it alienates him from his studies and even lecturers it may graduate to other serious problems.

Addiction to marijuana is a serious concern that needs to be duly addressed. Here at AWAREmed we are dedicated to offer the best treatment available to addicts. Contact Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) for more help in any kind of addiction you may be wrestling with.

Effects of Cannabis Deregulation on College Students

Chronic Stress Can Affect the Aging Process

January 19, 2015

Chronic Stress Can Affect the Aging Process – Aging and Stress

Chronic Stress Can Affect the Aging Process. The solution is to stop trying to do too many things at once

Stress is almost becoming part of life in the current society we are living in today. It is a condition that cut across all ages and gender indiscriminately. This is happening because of the life situations people go through to make ends meet. Like for instance the young are struggling to establish a career, achieve financial security as they juggle between employment and family demands. While the young are going through these, the old are equally feeling the impact of chronic stress due to failing health, deteriorating finances and to add salt to injury, the body defense mechanisms against stress gradually break down as age sets in. in a midst these difficult situations, it is still important to note that chronic stress can easily facilitate the aging process in your life. Now as the days turn into months and months into years stress will always form part of our lives. This may sound like finding yourself between a rock and a hard place but the good news is that there is hope at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care.

Doctor Akoury is a medical professional of over two decades and has been of help to many people across the globe. Many people of all walks of life visit this facility and are taking activities tailored to ensure that stress in brought to a manageable level and eventually eradicated altogether. Some other useful things helpful in managing stress may include the following:

Being physically active
Staying connected to friends and family members
Have adequate sleep

Chronic Stress Can Affect the Aging Process – The stress alarm

Besides the above, stress comes in two basic flavors, physical and emotional and both can be especially taxing for older people. The impacts of physical stress are clear. As people approach their sunset days, the healing process of wounds slows down and colds become harder to shake. A 75-year-old heart can be slow to respond to the demands of exercise. And when an 80-year-old walks into a chilly room, it will take an extra-long time for her body temperature to adjust.

Emotional stress is more subtle, but if it’s chronic, the eventual consequences can be as harmful. At any age, stressed-out brains sound an alarm that releases potentially harmful hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. Ideally, the brain turns down the alarm when stress hormones get too high.

Stress hormones provide energy and focus in the short term, but too much stress over too many years can throw a person’s system off-balance. Overloads of stress hormones have been linked to many health problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and weakened immune function. For older people already at heightened risk for these illnesses, managing stress is particularly important.

Over time, the brain can slowly lose its skills at regulating hormone levels. As a result, older people who feel worried or anxious tend to produce larger amounts of stress hormones, and the alarm doesn’t shut down as quickly. The flow of stress hormones can be especially hard on older brains in general.

Chronic Stress Can Affect the Aging Process – Speeding up the clock

Stress doesn’t just make a person feel older. In a very realistic sense, it can speed up aging. Several studies have established that stress can add years to the age of individual immune system cells.

Chronic Stress management – The real fountain of youth

The good news is that we can put what we know about stress and aging to work for us. Learn to manage and reduce your stress load and you have a better chance to live a long, healthy life.

Maintaining a positive outlook is one key for people who feel good about themselves as they get older live about seven and a half years longer than “glass half empty” types. Researchers say the people with more positive attitudes may also deal with stress better and have a stronger will to live.

Staying close to friends and family is an excellent way to cut down on stress. It is important to remember that social support can help prevent stress and stress-related diseases. The benefits of friends and family can be especially striking for seniors. According to an article published in the American Journal of Health Promotion it was noted that social support can slow down the flow of stress hormones in seniors and, not coincidentally, increase longevity. Other studies have found that social interactions can help older people stay mentally sharp and may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.

Exercise, a proven stress-buster for people of all ages, may be especially valuable in later years. Regular walks, bike rides, or water aerobics can do more than keep a person strong and independent; exercise can actually help block the effects of aging on cortisol levels. A recent study it was established that physically fit women in their mid-60s had essentially the same response to stress as a group of unfit women in their late 20s. In contrast, women in their mid-60s who weren’t physically fit released much larger amounts of cortisol in response to stress.

In the end, anything that reduces unnecessary stress will make the later years more enjoyable and youthful. Different people will respond differently toward managing chronic stress with a view of keeping the glowing appearance. Like for instance:

Some people simply need to stop trying to do too many things at once.
Others may want to try breathing exercises or other relaxation techniques.
Still others may need to talk to a psychologist to find a new perspective on their lives.

Finally whatever the approach you settle on, fighting stress overload is worth the effort. Experts are in agreement that reducing stress in later years can help prevent disabilities and frequent trips to the hospital. And if people end up feeling younger, healthier, and happier, that’s could be the best gift that one can give to him or herself. Like I had said before managing chronic stress is very important for your youthful skin. We know that this may not be very easy to do on your own and that is why doctor Akoury is readily available just on a phone call and you will be able to get an opportunity to get all the solutions about the effects of chronic stress to your skin and beauty in general.

Chronic Stress Can Affect the Aging Process – Aging and Stress

Weight Loss and Stress the Missing Link

October 23, 2013

Understanding Weight Loss and Stress

Weight loss and Stress are linked, it is hard to lose weight when– Stress…Is Everywhere! says Dr. Dalal Akoury

Understanding Weight Loss and Stress

Lets face it people, stress will always be in our lives… to a certain degree anyways. It is almost a way of life in the 21st century. Stress can be a major prohibiting factor to weight loss and can even contribute to weight gain. Chronic stress can be tied to an increase in appetite and ultimately stress-induced weight gain. It all starts in our neuroendocrine system. This system activates a hormones in response to stress or life threatening situations. The hormones released during this response is adrenaline, corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH), and cortisol. Elevated levels of adrenaline and CRH cause a decreased appetite. This result is usually temporary. Cortisol on the other hand is there to support and replenish our body after the stressors have gone. This elevated level of cortisol remains for a long period of time and tends to increase appetite. For most people, increased appetite means increase in weight gain!

Weight Loss – Stress A Tyrannosaurs Rex or a Late Electric Bill?

This response from the neuroendocrine system is doing what it is supposed to do but it was not designed for the 21st century stressors. The increase in hormones was intended for life threatening situations such as, a tyrannosaurs rex trying to eat your entire family as it was in the time of cavemen. The calories or stored food in the body we would have used to fight off the tyrannosaurs rex in the beginning of time is not being expended in modern day. Now “we” mope around and fuss and dwell on our stressors and anger. Eating has become our stress reliever. At this point or neuroendocrine system is confused and has not received the necessary signals to know if we fought off that tyrannosaurs rex or not. This causes us to feel hungry because the hormones are still being released to restore calories lost and our depleted food stores.

AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center team and Dr. Dalal Akoury reminds us that – Weight Loss a ndStress – Cortisol and the Adrenals – are all connected

Cortisol is actually made in the Adrenal Cortex. It controls the strength of our immune system, normalizes blood sugar, and regulates blood pressure. This production is due to adrenal cortical stimulating hormone (ACTH) produced in the pituitary gland. If the adrenals are producing to much of the cortisol, the motions for increased susceptibility to infections and cancer will occur, along with weight gain around the belly area and your immune system can be compromised. Opposite of that, if too little cortisol is produced chronic fatigue can occur and so can exhaustion. An overactive immune system could develop as could autoimmune disease.

Dr. Dalal Akoury founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center describes the Weight and Stress connection – Let’s Correct That Cortisol Level!!

Weight Loss and Stress the Missing Link

Stress reduction is an essential part of all efforts to normalize cortisol. Stress is the stimuli that caused the cortisol levels to get out of hand to begin with. Each individual should explore and find the stress reduction techniques that work best for themselves. Meditation, physical activities, attitude changes, just to name a few are good paths to explore. Without stress reduction, therapeutic and support measures will ultimately fail.

Get plenty of rest. Rest must be handled as a scheduled and straight forward strategy, choice, and course of action. That may sound obvious but how well do you really schedule your rest? Otherwise it gets lost and forgotten in the high strung pace of life.

A low glycemic diet is also important. Sugar handling stress increases cortisol levels. Elevated cortisol, then disturbs the sugar handling situation, contributing towards the development of high insulin levels and possibly diabetes. Diet alone without stress reduction will not help you lose weight because weight loss and stress are connected.

Understanding Weight Loss and Stress

Nutritional supplementation is highly recommended in restoring normal cortisol levels. We suggest a Integrative Therapeutic Cortisol Manager. Our product will support a healthy sleeping habit without using habit forming ingredients. Due to the more normal sleeping pattern, the stressors associated with the unhealthy sleeping pattern will disappear. Phosphatidylserine is the main active ingredient in our Integrative Therapeutic Cortisol Manager and is believed to facilitate the repair of the cortisol receptors in the hypothalamus. It is believed that the cortisol receptors get damaged by high cortisol levels reducing the ability of the hypothalamus to sense and correct high cortisone levels. Because Phosphatidylserine helps repair the feedback control apparatus, it is useful in correcting both high and low cortisol levels.

Another nutritional supplement that is necessary are adaptogen herbs. Adaptogens are an entire category of herbs that assist the body in coping with stress by restoring hypothalamic cortisol receptor sensitivity. A combination of these adaptogens are all researched for their effects on increasing stamina, mental alertness and work performance.

The AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center team and it’s founder Dr. Dalal Akoury describe that Weight gain is caused by Stress and Having Healthy SEX will help weight loss

The adrenals are a big deal in many people’s sex lives. People usually feel sexier on vacation when the stress level is down. They can relax and also make up their sleep deficit. Many couples complain that they are just too tired to be interested in sex. A great rule for rebuilding the adrenals is “rest is best.” I can guarantee that if one spouse is feeling fearful and anxious, he or she is definitely not feeling very sexy. Remember Weight loss and stress are closely linked.

All of the adrenal hormones, and all the sex hormones for that matter, are steroids. Steroids are made from cholesterol. You need good sources of cholesterol. Forget the margarine and only eat butter. Keep up a good protein intake, which will also provide good sources of cholesterol. Remember, healthy sex equals healthy adrenals!