Tag Archives: Myrtle Beach

Stem Cells For Relieving Chronic Pain

March 3, 2015

Relieve Chronic Pain without Surgery with Stem Cell

Chronic pain can make your life unbearable. No one wants to be maimed by chronic pain. However there are conditions that may enslave you to chronic pain. Diseases such as cancer and arthritis are known to cause unbearable pains that must be mitigated failure to which the pain may beckon some other grievous conditions that may shorten your life in the long run. There has been various ways through which patients have been put on programs that help them mitigate on the effects of chronic pain. Some of the most common avenues through which chronic pain is managed are through the use of pain drugs such as the opioids. However the use of these drugs also poses a great challenge as the patient may become dependent on them and they can also be easily abused leading to addiction among other problems associated with narcotic drug use.  Apart from the use of these opioid to manage chronic pain there are also circumstances that a chronic pain patient may have to be put to surgery to help reverse the chronic pain and restore normal tissue functioning.

Well, today there are leading regeneration centers that have understood that there must be a better way of dealing with chronic pain. the frustrations that patients go through in search of a better treatment for their pain has put scientist on their heels, researching on better ways that are not only effective but also affordable. Today most regeneration centers dealing with chronic pain are focusing on providing innovative stem cell treatments to our patients in order to reinvigorate their quality of life without complex surgery that most patients maimed by chronic pain dread. With advanced technology, chronic pain patients are getting better treatment that is less invasive by the use of stem cell therapy.

chronic pain

Stem cell therapy can help in controlling your pain

Stem cell therapy is a highly beneficial treatment that aims to assist patients who typically suffer from chronic pain, take back control of their lives. Stem cells have contributed to the healing process of various patients with medical conditions that resulted in damage to the joints or nervous system. You will however need to find a reputable hospital or doctor who has experience in treating chronic pain with stem cell therapy to help you take back control of your life. Generally, the use of stem cell therapy in pain management has seen many patients of pain for example those maimed by osteoarthritis, back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, knee joint pain and rotator cuff syndrome get relief from pain and improve quality of their lives. Stem cell therapy is yet to replace the old ways of managing pain such as use of opioids that may make the patient addicted to them in the long run and surgery that is dangerously invasive and cause myriads of discomfort. Today, reputable doctors are utilizing stem cell therapy for patients suffering from osteoarthritis, neurological diseases and degenerative conditions. The pain treatment is now aimed at reducing pain, increasing strength, increasing flexibility, increasing mobility and energy of chronic pain patients that suffer from these conditions.

How is it done?

Chronic PainAs mentioned earlier, the stem cells are responsible for healing of the body, the body needs to have enough of these stem cells to be able to heal incases of acute pain. However the stem cells may get diminished as a person ages there by utilizing the power of stem cell therapy, the patient’s own stem cells can be harvested and injected right into the area where they are most needed. The process involves isolating these stem cells from a sample of the patient’s blood, bone marrow or adipose tissue and injecting them into the damaged body part to promote healing. Platelet-rich-plasma (PRP), a concentrated suspension of platelets (blood cells that cause clotting of blood) and growth factors, may also be used to assist the process of repair. The stem cell therapy works to repair the damaged tissues by utilizing the healing ability of undifferentiated cells that form all other cells in our bodies.

Before, the harvesting of the stem cells that are to be used in the treatment, a doctor will apply a local anesthetic in the area from which these stem cells will be harvested. After which, about 30-60cc of bone marrow stem cells or about 20cc of adipose-derived stem cells is extracted. What follows is separation of stem cells and the platelets from the rest of the body by the help of a centrifugal machine. Finally, the    Healthy stem cells and growth factors are then injected directly into the damaged area where they facilitate healing of the damaged tissues. After this stem cell injection, PRP injection may also be given after four to six weeks should there be need.

At AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center we assist a wide variety of patients who suffer from chronic pain with our stem cell therapy. Chronic pain can be overbearing, draining, and leave you feeling hopeless. That’s why it’s important to remember that there is help available at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. Our lead doctor, Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) has a vast experience in the field of integrative medicine that pain patients can tap on for their own good. Call on her today at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and find out how she can harness the power of stem cell therapy to help you win back control of your life.

Relieve Chronic Pain without Surgery with Stem Cell

Related articles
Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin

Safe Autologous Stem Cell Transplant for Diabetes

March 1, 2015

According to a recent WHO report, diabetes is one of the top ten leading causes of death worldwide; in 2012 the global prevalence of diabetes was estimated to be more than 10% among adults. The most prevalent type of diabetes is the type 2 and it is rampant in adult population. It is reported that diabetes is the leading cause of renal failure and blindness in developed countries, a person suffering from diabetes also has high chances of having a limb amputated. The risk of limb amputation is 10 times higher in diabetic patients. It is also known that most diabetic patients develop hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, which account for high rates of morbidity and mortality among adult patients. Most patients receive treatment through oral medication but this is also dangerous since after sometime they become insulin dependent. Oral insulin medication is also not so effective since exogenous insulin cannot provide the tight glycemic control exerted by the pancreas-derived insulin secretion. Due to these myriad problems stem cell therapy can be very useful in replacing the affected cells and restore normal cell function normalizing insulin levels in the long run.

What is autologous stem cell transplant?

The body has stem cells in the bone marrow, in muscle tissues and also in the adipose tissues.  These stem cells turn into red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets to help your body stay healthy. However there are situations when the amount of stem cells in the body is not enough to keep you healthy. This may be caused by some diseases like multiple myeloma or by aging. When this happens there will be need for supplementing the amounts of the stem cells so that they can be able to offer protection to your body. This calls for stem cell transplant which may be done by placing healthy stem cells in your body through an IV to restore the normal functions of the stem cells. at times the stem cells may be harvested from outside the body especially from placentas after successful normal delivery, however when this stem cells are sourced from within the body of the patient then it is referred to as autologous stem cell transplant. Autologous stem cell transplant is safer since the cells are from the body and therefore there is no risk of them getting rejected neither to induce unpleasant allergic reaction.

autologous stem cell transplant

How stem cells collected

In autologous stem cell transplants, the doctors use peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. With peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, the stem cells are taken from blood. The growth factor G-CSF may be used to stimulate the growth of new stem cells so they spill over into the blood. G-CSF is a protein that is produced naturally in the body. The blood is removed from a vein and passed through a machine that separates the stem cells. The machine then returns the remaining blood through a needle in the person’s arm or through a central venous catheter. This way of collecting stem cells is called apheresis. In adults, most autologous transplants use stem cells from blood. In a child, the decision whether to use cells from the bone marrow or the blood depends on the size of the child.

Mesenchymal stem cells work best for diabetes

In the past cell based therapy as used in treatment of diabetes began by use of islet transplantation have been successful in providing a source for insulin secreting cells. However this method has had its share of failures and disadvantages that created a vacuum that doctors hoped to be filled by a better cell based therapy. Some of the downs of the islet transplantations included; limited donors, graft rejection, the need for continued immune suppression and exhaustion of the donor cell pool. the search for a more reliable and sustainable source of insulin secreting cells made stem cell therapy a target as a promising alternative for islet transplantation in  diabetic patients who fail to control hyperglycemia even with insulin injection. Autologous stem cell transplantation may provide the best outcome for those patients, since autologous cells are readily available and do not entail prolonged hospital stays or sustained immunotoxic therapy. Among autologous adult stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells therapy has been applied with varying degrees of success in both animal models and in clinical trials.

autologous stem cell transplantCell-based therapies for diabetes mellitus had achieved lots of success with the application of islet transplantation from cadaveric donors, and the success of the Edmonton protocol back in 1999. Despite the success of islet transplantation in fighting diabetes more so for type 1, there were some drawbacks for example there was need to use immunosuppressive regime so as to favor graft acceptance and prevent rejection. It is with these loopholes that researchers sought to find better treatment with mesenchymal stem cells. Stem cell therapy is a solution to some of the drawbacks of islet transplantation especially the shortage of donors. Autologous stem cell therapy allows for a person’s on organs to be used in the transplant.

In autologous stem cell transplant the most effective mesenchymal stem cells are used to differentiate into insulin producing cells. The mesenchymal stem cells can be harvested in the bone marrows or in the adipose tissues where they are found in plenty. The mesenchymal stem cells have very many advantages when used as they have a high capacity to self-replicate and differentiate to bone and fat-forming cells and other tissue cells. They maintain the capacity of multilineage differentiation potential, both within and across lineage barriers. They are easy to cultivate and expand, and maintain pluripotentiality after prolonged culture conditions. For more information on diabetes, Visit us at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Centre at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) an expert in integrative and regenerative medicine will be able to help.

Safe Autologous Stem Cell Transplant for Diabetes

Related articles
Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin

Yeast Infection And Weight Gain

January 6, 2015

Yeast Infection Can Contribute To Weight Gain

Yeast infection is a common condition in women. Over 75% of women today have experienced at least one type of yeast infection in their lives. Not to say that men don’t get yeast infections. It’s just that women are affected by it more than men.

Today over 70 million Americans have yeast infections. Only 30% of these statistics are men. This clarifies that women are the victims of yeast infection in most cases.

Yeast infections starts with a fungus infestation. The fungus thrives in the gut. It produces toxins into the blood. These toxins are associated with fatigue and dizziness. They affect the thyroid causing a hormonal imbalance.

This hormonal imbalance is what causes cravings for things like sugar and alcohol. Well, it is common knowledge that these two are associated with weight gain.

Antibiotics are very common in our households. What you don’t know is that they cause yeast in your body to over grow. Eating a refined diet may also contribute to an overgrowth of yeast. Refined flour especially wheat flour and sugar feed the bacteria causing them to grow. Another bacteria overgrowth causing factor is the increase in stress hormones in your body.

yeast-infections

What is Yeast?

Normally yeast exists in the human bodies. Candida albicans is the common yeast that exists in our bodies. Yeast infection occurs when there is an over growth of Candida albicans.

It normally exists among good bacteria in the gut. They live together and maintain an optimum balance. The useful bacteria play a role in digestion of sugars and making of vitamins which are useful in human nutrition. Some bacteria form lactic acid which protect the body e.g. guts from yeast infection.

Candida thrives in the body in places like the digestive track, mouth, vagina and skin. It lives in harmony with other bacteria and yeast. Antibiotic are the major triggers of yeast overgrowth. The moment you start taking antibiotics disrupts this harmony and the balance that existed.

The useful and bad bacteria in the body are destroyed. However, antibiotics do not affect the yeast. When good and bad bacteria are destroyed by antibiotics it means the competition is over. Yeast can now thrive and this causes it to over grow.

The growth is facilitated by the refined sugars we take in our diets. They feed the yeast contributing to its growth. The antibiotics destroy even the bacteria responsible for production of lactic acid which counteracts the growth of yeast. The growing yeast therefore affects the tissues of where it thrives e.g. the intestinal walls.

Yeast Overgrowth and Weight Gain

The overgrowth of yeast has direct effect on weight gain. It leads to bloating that causes an increase in belly fat. This affects women most.

A woman may be cutting out calories in her diet and taking only a few yet she still gains weight. This may be hard for people to believe. However, she may be on a diet but the food she is eating containing sugars and carbohydrates may be contributing to this weight gain.

As seen refined carbohydrates and sugars act as food for the yeast. This causes an over growth of yeast in the body. Let’s take a case where she is on antibiotics. These destroy the good and bad bacteria that keep yeast in check. The yeast is therefore able to grow without competition. Adding a carbohydrate and sugar diet to this equation makes weight loss next to impossible even on the stickiest calorie diet.

The build-up of toxics combined with bloating causes a decline in the functioning of thyroid. This leads to a decrease in metabolism which eventually causes weight gain.

Yeast overgrowth creates a strong craving for sugars and carbohydrates. The carbohydrates in the body build up into fat that is stored in the tissues, a major cause of weight gain.

The yeast overgrowth also causes a considerable overworking of the immune system due to toxics. The toxic overload leads to chronic stress. Studies show that chronic cells lead to an increase in levels of cortisol. High levels of cortisol make it difficult to lose weight because of the chronic stress in the body.

yeast-infection

Managing Yeast Overgrowth

Diet: The best way of managing yeast overgrowth is to stay clear of refined sugars and carbohydrates. Also keep away from fermented foods and dairy product. These will only accelerate the yeast overgrowth.

Probiotics: these refer to good bacteria. They boost nutrition. When introduced into the body they enhance the balance of bacteria and yeast that had been lost and yeast growth is minimized.

Avoid Exposure to Chemicals and Medications: chemicals such as pathogens which are found in our homes in form of paints, perfumes, and paints should be avoided. Also stay away from medications such as antibiotics and birth control pills which cause yeast to over growth.

AwareMed is the best place to learn more about yeast over growth and its effect on weight gain. Dr. Dalal Akoury will provide more expert opinion on this and other health issues. This is the kind of knowledge you won’t find anywhere else. Just visit www.awaremednetwork.com and experience change today.

Yeast Infection Can Contribute To Weight Gain

 

Related articles
Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin

Erectile Dysfunction: Causes and Cure

December 29, 2014

Erectile Dysfunction, Causes and Cure

Erectile dysfunction is one problem that has seen even the most masculine men wet pillows with tears behind closed doors. This is a problem that will continue to haunt men if they fail to seek immediate help. Erectile dysfunction also known as impotence refers to a situation when a man can no longer get or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. Having an erection trouble once in a while is not necessarily a cause for alarm but if erectile dysfunction is an ongoing problem, it will not only cause stress and depression but will also cause relationship problems as well as affect your self-confidence. Erectile dysfunction sounds like failure or weakness to many men. It gives them a feel of inferiority and may go a long way in affecting their way of expressing themselves. Erectile dysfunction affects men even beyond the boundaries of the bedroom as it lowers their self-esteem leaving them with an inferiority disease. In most cases erectile dysfunction is caused by deficiency in the testosterone hormone. Testosterone hormone is majorly produced in the testes and is the hormone that is entirely responsible for sexual drive in a man. Without this hormone any man will not be able to have the urge to have sexual intercourse and even if he was to have sex just out of responsibility he will not be able to achieve an erection that can last long enough to optimally perform the sexual intercourse act. The levels of this hormone however vary with age. As one is aging the levels of this hormone will go down and this is just normal however incase the levels of this hormone are flooring at an early age it can be solved by going for testosterone therapy which may help to restore the normal testosterone levels in a man.

Erectile Dysfunction

Causes of Erectile Dysfunction

To achieve an effective erection that can last long enough to satisfy a woman or long enough for procreation several factors come to play. Male arousal is a very complex process. Here are some of the causes of Erectile Dysfunction.

Stress- this is one of the psychological factors that has been found to cause erectile dysfunction. Sex begins in the brain and so when the brain is worked up clogged by stress then it may become very difficult achieving an erection. Other psychological factors that may cause erectile dysfunction include anxiety and depression.

Low Testosterone Levels

Testosterone is a major cause of hypogonadism. Testosterone is the necessity for a man to be sexually active. When levels of testosterone decline the urge to have sex declines and so is the ability of an erection to last long enough to perform satisfactory sex. Low testosterone levels also causes dump moods which may not have very good effects on a man’s ability to erect. However there are natural ways that can be employed to help restore testosterone levels and resolve the whole problem of erectile dysfunction. One of the ways through which an erectile dysfunction caused by low testosterone levels be solved is going for testosterone replacement therapy.

Other causes of erectile dysfunction include;

  • Certain prescription medications
  • Tobacco use
  • Alcoholism and other forms of substance abuse
  • Treatments for prostate cancer or enlarged prostate
  • Heart disease
  • Clogged blood vessels (atherosclerosis)
  • High cholesterol
  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Wounds in the penis

Erectile Dysfunction Testing

There are very many causes of erectile dysfunction and therefore it is important for tests to be done to reveal the cause of the disease before giving any therapy. There are also very many tests that can be done to show the cause and the state of your erectile dysfunction. Some of the tests that can be done include;

Urinalysis-Analysis of urine can provide lots of information, including information on protein, sugar and testosterone levels. Abnormal measurements of these substances can indicate diabetes, kidney disease or a testosterone deficiency, all which can cause ED.

Penile biothesiometry– This test involves the use of electromagnetic vibration to determine sensitivity and nerve function. A decreased sensitivity to these vibrations may indicate nerve damage.

Vasoactive injection– During this test, an erection is produced by injecting special solutions that cause the blood vessels to dilate allowing blood to enter the penis.

Dynamic infusion cavernosometry– This test is used for men with ED who have a venous leak. During this test, fluid is pumped into the penis at a predetermined rate. By measuring the rate at which fluid must be pumped to attain a rigid erection, doctors can determine the severity of the venous leak.

Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile Dysfunction Treatment  

Just like there are several causes of erectile dysfunction so are the treatments available. However the biggest challenge in treating erectile dysfunction is that most men are ashamed to discuss this issue with their doctors. When that is done the doctor may avail you the best treatment for your situation.

Here are some of treatments;

Penile Implants- penis implants offer a permanent solution to erectile dysfunction. There are more types than you may think. Your doctor will help you choose the best for you.

Erectile Dysfunction Surgery– though not so popular a surgery can help fight erectile dysfunction as it improves the blood flow to the penis hence improving erections.

Nutritional Supplements– there are some nutrients that must be available in the body at good levels so as to make erection last. These minerals may include zinc and calcium. These minerals can be supplemented to help save the situation.

BHRT–Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy can help men regain their youthfulness and sex drive of their 30’s through BHRT. Bio identical Hormone Replacement Therapy restores hormones to physiological levels to support brain, nerves, heart, vessels, skin, bones, and other body’s systems functions for all have hormone receptors.

Find help

Erectile dysfunction can damage your confidence and your relationship. If you are troubled by ED Low testosterone may be the cause, and BHRT may be the cure. To get started with testosterone replacement therapy, please call (843) 213-1480 or contact Dr. Dalal Akoury.

 

Erectile Dysfunction: Causes and Cure

 

Related articles
Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin

Catabolic Wasting, Cachexia and Cancer; Natural Remedies

December 16, 2014

Catabolic Wasting, Cachexia and Cancer; Natural Remedies

Catabolic WastingA number of chronic diseases are characterized with loss of weight among the patients of these diseases. Be it AIDS, or other severe illnesses like cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the patients are likely to experience a wasting of the body mass. This wasting of body mass is what is referred to as Catabolic wasting, or cachexia.

Old age is also common with the decline of the general body mass of the aging individual. This is however not the same as cachexia, rather, the condition is referred to as sarcopenia. Both of these are conditions of loss of both muscle and body fat tissue. Cachexia and sarcopenia both often lead to frailty of the body and these conditions adversely affect different clinical outcomes and the victims face an increased risk of infection, falls and ultimately death. Cachexia is also associated with slower healing of wounds, significantly reduced exercise and breathing capacity. The overall life quality of the individual is usually diminished.

When the term ‘catabolic wasting’ is used, a reference to both sarcopenia and cachexia is encompassed. Catabolic mentioned here refers to the tissue breakdown; just the direct opposite of anabolic which on the other hand denotes tissue-building.

How catabolic wasting results

The wasting away of body muscle and fat tissue is caused by an interplay of a number of factors. Malnutrition is often key among these factors. This is due to reduced food consumption or impaired absorption of nutrient that frequently occurs in advanced or later stages of severe and chronic diseases. This form of malnutrition can always cause manifest loss of body muscle and fat tissue. Studies indicate that cachexia, despite being typically accompanied with loss of appetite by the patient, the condition hardly ever responds to improved food intake alone.

Among patients of AIDS for instance, dehydration is one of the commonest contributors to catabolic wasting. Dehydration is a condition of severe loss of body fluid and this is known to result in reduced aggregate body weight.

Inflammation has also been noted to play a key role in deterioration of the mass of the patients of chronic diseases. Both acute and chronic and conditions can cause serious increases in the creation of inflammatory cell-signaling molecules referred to as cytokines. Cytokines (inflammatory mediators) are known to alter a number of metabolic processes in the body. As a result, there is a reduction in muscle protein synthesis and the muscle protein also breaks down in an increased rate.

The inflammatory cytokines often activate a key metabolic regulator referred to as nuclear factor kappa B. this is also abbreviated as NF-κB.  The NF-κB in turn triggers a number of physiological changes which encourage tissue deterioration. The cytokines are also known to stimulate the release of hormone cortisol, the adrenal catalytic chemical responsible for body stress and other neurotransmitter hormones: catecholamines. Together, the cortisol hormone and hormone catecholamines can aggravate catabolic wasting by disrupting the metabolism of muscle cells. They also alter the basal metabolic rate (BMR) of the patient.

There are other factors that have been identified as being causative to catabolic wasting as well. These include reduced levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 and testosterone in the body. These substances are often responsible for inducing of anabolic actions in bodily muscle tissue. Reducing their levels therefore will have a negative response in this regard hence can lead to reduced muscle mass.

Natural Ways of Countering Catabolic Wasting

Insulin resistance, increased inflammation, oxidative damage, breakdown of protein associated with actual reduction of protein synthesis and changes in the levels of essential hormones have so far been identified to be responsible for cachexia and sarcopenia, conditions of catabolic wasting other factors also include blood vessels dysfunction and the dysfunction of nerves as well as damage caused to mitochondria which are responsible for the production of cellular energy.

Catabolic Wasting

Advanced cancer patients are therefore likely to manifest symptoms of catabolic wasting or cachexia. Precisely this is often referred to as cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome (CACS). This is because solid tumors result in the above internal changes that eventually get noticeable through body wasting as a symptom.

Natural ways meant to counter the symptoms of cachexia resulting from cancer should be targeted at the root causes of the fat tissue and muscle wastage. Researchers stress that the application of successful therapies will depend on the ability of the therapist to determine which categories of cancer patients often experience the greatest benefit when treated with a particular therapy instead of another. As such the catabolic phenotypes in patients of cancer must first be assessed before any therapy is recommended.

The effective medical treatments for cachexia often include encouraging the use of adequate amounts of liquids and food accompanied with certain drugs. These medical treatments however present serious side effects.

Catabolic wasting therefore is effectively treated by a variety of lifestyle, nutritional and innovative pharmacological interventions that may often prevent and treat cachexia and catabolic wasting in general.

Lean muscle mass may be built by taking glutamine, leucine, arginine and hydoxy-methylbutyrate (amino acids); whey protein and creatine. Omega-3 fatty acids are especially recommended by many practitioners for use in dealing with catabolic wasting. Other recommended products include conjugated linoleic acid and vitamin D which are also said to be effective in fighting lean tissue loss.

AwareMed is a perfect resurce not only to get information regarding the methods of ensuring a healthy life free from catabolic wasting, but also to purchase supplements that will help you recover from severe levels of catabolic wasting.

Catabolic Wasting, Cachexia and Cancer; Natural Remedies

 

Related articles
Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin

  • Recent Posts

  • Blog Categories