Category Archives: best-addiction-treatment-education

MITOCHONDRIAL RESTORATION TO TREAT ADDICTION

July 29, 2014

What is a mitochondrion?

They are also sometimes referred to as the powerhouses. It is a membrane bound organelle which is found in most of the cells (eukaryotic cells) that make up living things.

What is the function of mitochondria?

mitochondrial restorationAs we mentioned earlier, mitochondria are also referred to as powerhouse due to the functions that they do in our bodies. Their main work is to generate the energy that our body cells require in order to execute their jobs. One of such cells which need a lot of energy is the brain cells. The brain cells are responsible for the communication to all the other parts of the body and thus these mitochondria must be transported along the cells.

Mitochondria generate chemical energy similarly to the one we normally get from batteries. This energy which is generated by the mitochondria in the form of chemical is referred to as Adenosine Triphosphate or simply ATP. This is an energy currency that every ling thing cell can use and this is what makes it possible for us to be kept alive.

What principle makes mitochondrial restoration able to treat addiction?

Most of the addictive drugs cause damage in the body organs. For instance, alcohol may cause damage to the liver, muscle weakness as well as brain damage in severe cases. Any attempt to help the patent recover from the addiction must therefore apart from treating the addiction itself focus on the damage that has been caused by the addictive drug on the various body organs.

Any cure for addiction that doesn’t address the damage caused by the drug is considered incomplete since even after the patient recovers from the addiction, he/she will suffer from other illnesses which may come as a result of the damage caused by the drug. On top of this, some of the prescription addiction recovery drugs have been found to have residual effects on the body of the addict even after recovering from the addiction.

Mitochondrial restoration is a natural process that seeks to restore the various body organs which have been previously cellular affected to their normal working state. The mitochondrial restoration targets the organs that have been affected by the addictive drug and hence whose functional capacity has been also been affected but the drug and then restores its functional state.

Addiction is known to first affect the human brain before the drug even has any effect to the other related organs. In this case therefore, the treatment of addiction must address the damage that has been caused to the brain by the drug. Mitochondrial restoration is an appropriate natural way of treating addiction, since it helps in the restoration of the various body organs to their normal working states.

The mitochondrial energy

As earlier mentioned, the core mandate of mitochondria in the body is to produce the energy required by the cells in the body. The mitochondrial energy production is usually accompanied by two very closely linked metabolic processes. These processes are; a) the citric acid cycle also known as the Krebs/ biological fuel and b) an oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS).

mitochondrial restoration

  • The citric acid cycle

This is usually a series of chemical reactions which are used by all aerobic organisms to generate energy via the process of oxidation of acetate which is derived from the food. The acetate is converted into carbon dioxide and chemical energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This cycle also provides some precursors of certain amino acids as well as the reduction of the NADH that is used in a number of other biochemical reactions in the body.

  • Oxidative phosphorylation

This is the pathway through which the mitochondrion which is released by the oxidation of nutrients is transported to the cells. They use its structure, enzymes and energy released by the oxidation processes to reform ATP. ATP is an important molecule in the body, as it works to supply energy to all the metabolic processes.

OXPHOS operates through a network of electrons, five protein complexes which are attached in the inner membrane of the mitochondria. The five protein complexes are: –

The oxidative phosphorylation converts adenosine di-phosphate (ADP) to adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This is the chemical currency of cells and can then be transported to the cells where work needs to be done.

Does mitochondrial restoration provide a permanent solution to the drug addict?

The aim of mitochondrial restoration is to ensure that the cells in the body are provided with the energy that they need to function. By ensuring that the cells are working correctly, makes it possible for the addict’s body organs to heal from the damage caused by the drugs. This ensures that the addict is healed inside out from the addiction and its damages it had caused to the addict’s body. This also helps to ensure that the recovery process doesn’t experience withdrawal symptoms and craving. This process though may take some time to complete; it provides a permanent solution to the addict as well as improving the overall well-being.

MITOCHONDRIAL RESTORATION TO TREAT ADDICTION

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Sedatives and Chronic Pain Treatment

July 28, 2014

Sedatives and Chronic Pain Treatment

What are sedatives?

SedativesSedatives refers to the drugs which when administered to a patient, they reduce tension and anxiety and cause sedation. They are drugs which cause calmness when taken by the patient. In chronic pain treatment, these drugs are administered with a purpose to kill the pain that the patient is experiencing. This is not a common medication though and it will only be made available to the public if the clinical trials have shown that the benefits of using the drug seemingly outweigh its adverse risks.

How are sedatives administered?

Sedatives are administered to patients in many ways. The mode in which the sedation is given will though be determined by the area on which the pain is being experienced. The modes through which sedation can be administered include:-

ü  Through inhalation- through nose

ü  Through mouth (oral)

ü  Under the tongue

ü  Or sometimes administered intravenously i.e. through the veins.

Is sedation helpful in pain relief?

Yes. Sedation is a medication that has been specifically developed to help people who are experiencing pain. This medication works by calming the nervous system and hence making the patient not to feel any pain. Sometime when you are experiencing chronic pain, it may be difficult for you to concentrate on anything or even have sleep. Sedation in this case can prove helpful to you.

Does sedation cure chronic pain?

There has been confusion in many people who use sedation and think they are treating pain. Sedation is not a curative medication for pain, but it is only meant to help the patient by providing temporary relief from pain.

Under what circumstances will sedation be important?

As earlier mentioned, these medicines should only be used when prescribed by a doctor, because they are known to be habit forming. This will make them less effective the next time you will need to use them.

This medication is normally in most cases prescribed to the patients who are experiencing difficulties in sleep. This is because it is very difficult for a person experiencing severe pain to get any sleep. In this case, the doctor will prescribe sedative medication which will help the patient in killing the pain and consequently the patient gets sleep.

Are there thing I should avoid when under sedation treatment?

Yes. Sedation if not well taken care of can be hazardous. Depending with the level of sedation, (e.g. Deep sedation) taking of other drugs like alcohol as this may cause extreme drowsiness and this can reduce breathing and if intense, death may occur.

When you will also want to stop taking sedation medication E.g. for sleep aid, do not stop abruptly. Instead discuss it with your doctor to be advised on how to gradually withdraw. The abrupt stoppage may subject you to withdrawal symptoms.

Which are the types of sedation?

The type of sedation medication to be administered to the patient will be determined by the doctor when the patient visits the doctor. This choice will though be based of the intended effect of the sedative in terms of intensity. The following are the common types of sedative medication:-

  • Minimal sedation – when this sedation is administered, the patients respond normally to verbal communications since this is a light sedative medication. Sometimes this method may though impair cognitive function and coordination, breathing in unaffected.
  • Moderate sedation – this is also referred to as cognitive sedation and the patient remains conscious and an respond purposefully to verbal commands either alone or by light simulation.
  • Deep sedation – if this type of sedation is administered to a patient, the patient cannot be easily aroused but responds to painful simulation. The patient may require assistance to breath.
  • General Anesthesia – this is normally a very serious sedation treatment and its intensity is high. The patient cannot be aroused even by inducing pain on him/her. Breathing ability may completely be impaired.

Does sedation have any side effects?

SedativesAlmost all drugs, prescribed or over the counter will have some side effects. In this case, sedation is no exception. Some of the powerful sedation medicines have very high chances of causing addiction to the patient, especially if they are abused. Apart from the risk of addition, these drugs may also sometimes produce unpleasant reaction to the patient. It is important to note that the reaction that results from different patients when they take a given drug is quite different and hence it is vital after you see a negative reaction to the drug you see your doctor as soon as possible.

Is sedation same as opioids treatment?

Not really. As mentioned earlier, sedation refers to the medication which is normally given to the pain experiencing patient in order to bring about calmness. On the other hand, opioids are curative mediations which are given to pain experiencing patient with aim of not just giving them a temporal relief from the pain but to get them a permanent solution to the pain. Therefore, in simple terms the difference between the two is that opioids are medications that cure pain while sedatives are medications meant to calm or cool down the pain. Both medications should be administered by a qualified physician though, to avoid risks of addiction.

Sedatives and Chronic Pain Treatment

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IT’S BITTER SWEET: THE TRUTH BEHIND SUGAR ADDICTION

July 28, 2014

It’s Bitter Sweet: The Truth Behind Sugar Addiction

sugar addictionAlmost every day in our diets we include sugary foods. Sugar is a source of sweetness that everyone will always want to get. Under normal circumstances, we take sugar in the form of food additive though some people will sometimes take it directly due to its natural sweetness. It is almost a common knowledge that sugar has been attributed to obesity and diabetes when taken in excess. This has neither made people all over the globe to reduce the intake of sugar.

Why bitter sweet?

Obviously sugar is very sweet. Its sweetness remains unquestionable, but the facts about the effects that the sugar has in our bodies makes it bitter. How? One of the negative facts about sugar is that it has been in the frontline contributor of obesity and diabetes. Due to its natural sweetness makes it a very rewarding food substance and hence leading many people to overeating and consequently obese.

Apart from these bitter facts about sugar, research has now shown that sugar is a “new tobacco”, worse than many addictive drugs we know and a secrete killer! You will not believe it, According to the research done by Dr. Mark Hyman et al, shows that sugar is over eight times more addictive than cocaine.

What makes sugar a very common source of addiction?

Unlike many other addictive drugs, which are illegal in many countries, sugar is a legal food substance all over the world. This makes sugar readily available and it is also cheap to acquire. The nature of its sweetness cannot also be underestimated as this is what actually makes a sugar a highly rewarding substance in the human brain.

How does sugar addiction occur?

Among the known foodstuffs which have capability to stimulate the pleasure centers in the brain, sugar is one of them. This center of pleasure which sugar stimulates is known as dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that controls the brain’s pleasure and reward centers. Research has shown that sugar acts on human brain in the same way as cocaine.

When sugar is taken, just like any other dopamine producing substance it enters the brain system and activates the neurotransmitters responsible for pleasure. High amounts of dopamine are released to the system and hence the rewarding effects occur. This rewarding occurs in a form of pleasure that the person taking the sugar feels. With time, the number of dopamines which are released when the sugar is taken reduces and this results to the condition known as resistance. This eventually means in order to produce the pleasurable feeling, you have to consume more that you used to consume before. This launches a viscous cycle of increased consumption of sugar leading to further desensitization and end up with an insatiable appetite for sugar.

Another qualifier factor of sugar as a silent killer substance is that apart from the increase in consumption of sugar, the dopamine receptor decrease and there is a marked decrease also in their activity. This makes the part of human brain which is responsible for execution of functions such as planning, organizing and rational decision making paralyzed.

sugar addiction

What danger does this pose? This is a double cutting sword for the sugar addict. Apart from the fact that the addict will be required to consume more and more sugar to achieve the required pleasure effect, the addiction also makes it more difficult for the addict’s brain to plan ahead and makes wise decisions on foods to take. This makes the addict to keep on dangerously eating sugary foods. This poses more danger to the addict.

What does sugar have to do with obesity?

The understanding of the relationship between sugar and obesity may look hidden unlike its direct relationship with diabetes. The main reason behind obesity is overeating. So, does it mean sugar addicts eat more than normal people? Let’s find out by asking another related question, “How do we know that we have eaten enough food and hence stop eating?”

The reason why we will always know when we have had enough of food is that our brains have a hormone known as Leptin. This hormone sends a signal when one has had enough of a food and hence the person stops eating. This hormone is naturally produces in the fat cells and it functions well under normal healthy dieting. However, this hormone is easily interrupted by things such as ingesting too much artificial sweeteners, high levels of insulin and not forgetting excess sugar. When a sugar addict consumes excess sugar, this disrupts the hormone and hence it fails to function.

When Leptin hormones fail, the hunger homes begin to run rampantly and unopposed. This makes the addict feel hungry and hence want to eat every now and then. Every time such a person eats, there will be obviously overeating since there are no regulatory signals in the brain and this is why sugar addiction is highly associated with obesity.

Can sugar addiction be treated?

Sugar addiction is curable. The main problem is that sugar has high craving levels and when you will be recovering from sugar addiction you will need to be very much determined lest you will have relapse. If you have a sugar addiction, all you need to do is to visit a specialist, a doctor of psychologist and a recovery method that best suits you will be devised based on mediation or therapy.

IT’S BITTER SWEET: THE TRUTH BEHIND SUGAR ADDICTION

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SEXUAL DYSFUNCTIONS RESULTING FROM DRUGS USE

July 28, 2014

What does sexual dysfunction mean?

sexual dysfuctionIt refers to the difficulty which may be experienced by and individual or even a couple during the normal sexual activity. It includes physical pleasure, desire for sex, arousal etc. In simpler terms, this is a condition resulting from problems getting and maintaining an erection, decreased libido level, delayed ejaculation and the lack of orgasm. The condition results to one or both of the people involved in sexual intercourse not being satisfied. It is a condition which can have many causes, ranging from physical, emotional and psychological causes. In this article though, we will dwell on the sexual dysfunction which results from drug abuse and prescription drugs.

Do drug substances cause sexual dysfunction?

Drug substances use has been among the leading causes of sexual dysfunction (Erectile dysfunction. This is because some of these drugs are interconnected with stress. As people execute their daily activities, stress becomes a common factor. Some of the drugs that people abuse are also capable of inducing stress in the person. What stress does is to cause the body release adrenaline which is known to fight with the erectile function.

There are unhealthy habits that lead to impaired circulation erode a man’s quantity and quality of erection include the excessive use of alcohol, illegal drugs abuse, and certain prescription medications or over the counter medication.

Recreational drugs that causes sexual dysfunction

There are drugs that are used by people for recreation purposes, but they are known to have influence on the sexual dysfunction. Some of these drugs include: –

o   Alcohol – alcohol is normally taken by many people for relaxation among many other reasons. Although taking of little amount of alcohol has been proven to have little or no effect on sexual drive, the excessive consumption of alcohol may impair the person’s sexual abilities.

o   Cocaine – this is an illegal drug in many countries but people still consume it. It has negative effects to the sexual drive.

o   Marijuana – this is also another illegal drug in many countries. Its usage has immense effect to the brain and causes depression in some cases. This leads to stress which triggers decline in libido and general performance in sexual activity.

o   Heroine

o   Nicotine

o   Barbiturates

o   Amphetamines

 

Opiates that cause sexual dysfunction

These are drugs that are commonly used for pain killing purposes and in most cases they are over the counter unlike prescription medication. When they are appropriately used, many of the opiates have negligible side effects but upon abuse, many of them have severe side effects. Among these side effects, is their effect on the person’s sexual dysfunction!

The following are the common opiates that are known to have effect on the sexual dysfunction:-

o   Codeine

o   Methadone

o   Morphine

o   Fentanyl (innovar)

o   Hydromorphone

o   Meperidine

o   Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percodan)

Which are the Prescription drugs that cause sexual dysfunction?

sexual dysfuctionSome drugs that are prescribed to the patients by doctors may have negative effect on the sexual functioning. This effect though comes as a side effect and the intended use of the medicine is therefore considered advantageous over the side effect. Thus the benefit that the drug gives makes it possible for us to overlook its effects on the sex drive.

The list of the prescription drugs that cause sexual dysfunction is too long and to list them will be impossible. This doesn’t though mean the prescription drug that you may be currently taking is part of these drugs which cause sexual dysfunction. The intensity of sexual dysfunction that is caused by different drugs varies also, and therefore some of the drug’s effects on sexual dysfunction are considered negligible.

The following are the common prescription drugs that have adverse effect on sexual dysfunction:-

  •         Statins and fibrates

These are medications prescribed to treat high cholesterol in the body. Researchers have argued that while limiting the cholesterol in the body, which is the building block of hormones, these prescription drugs are likely to affect the production of testosterone, estrogen and other sex hormones. Statins can also cause rhabdomyolysis (a break in muscles) leading to joint pain and fatigue why leads low sex drive.

  •        Blood pressure medications

One principle that the medication that is prescribed for high blood pressure treatment works based on is lowering of pressure in the blood. It lowers the pressure inside the blood to ensure that the heart doesn’t have to do a hard task in pumping the blood round the body.

Blood pressure itself can cause sexual dysfunction as well as its medication. In men this decrease in the blood pressure can lead to low or no desire for sex and also interfere with erection and ejaculation. On the other hand, In ladies, it can cause vaginal dryness, decrease in desire for sex or even difficulties in orgasm achievement.

The high blood pressure medication which has beta and alpha blockers has been found to have a big effect on the sexual activity. These medications work through sedation and making a person feel depressed hence through this interference with nerve impulses associated with arousal and reduction of testosterone level makes one’s sexual desire go down.

What do I do if I suspect my prescription medicine is causing sexual dysfunction?

As we have seen, not all prescription medication causes sexual dysfunction. But in case you suspect that the medication that the doctor has subjected you to is causing sexual dysfunction, you should consult your doctor who will examine whether the drugs are the cause for sexual dysfunction and advice your accordingly.

SEXUAL DYSFUNCTIONS RESULTING FROM DRUGS USE

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The Neurobiology Of Abuse, Addiction And Chemical Dependency

July 27, 2014

What is neurobiology?

Neurobiology is the study of nervous system cells and their organization into the functional circuits that process information and mediate behavior. Neurobiology is different from neuroscience, since neuroscience is much broader and looks at the study of the nervous system generally. Neurobiology focuses on the study of neurons, which are cells that are specialized to receive, propagate and transmit electrochemical impulses. Scientist have identified that in the human brain alone, there are over hundred billion neurons.

Is there any relationship between Abuse, Addiction and Dependency?

There can actually be argued that all these are related in one way or the other. In this case, the main condition which can be triggered by all the others is addiction. For instance, when a person develops a chemical dependency, it becomes impossible for the person to survive without taking the drug. This makes the person to make the drug part of his/her life. The prolonged usage of this drug will eventually result into addiction of the person by the drug.

On the other hand, looking at what abuse is, it is the usage of drug for a purpose other than the intended use of the substance. It can also be defined as the improper usage of a drug, whereby if it was a prescription drug, the patient uses it the wrong way and not the way the doctor recommended. This may result to drug resistance and thus the person will be required to use higher amount of the same drug if in future it is to produce the equivalent effects as before. This with time results to addiction to the drug and consequently the person will not be able to live without the drug.

How do drugs work in the human brain?

Most addictive drugs work by altering the way the brain works. The effect of the drugs that addicts look for (especially stimulants) occurs by alterations in the brain to trigger pleasure. One drugs get into the brain, they tap into the brain’s communication system. Once they are inside the brain’s communication system, they disrupt the way nerve cells normally send, receive and process information. The following are the ways through which the drugs work in the brain;

  • Imitation of the natural transmitters – natural transmitters are the chemical messengers in the brain. Due to the similarity in the chemical structure between drugs and these neurotransmitters, the drugs are able to false fully activate the nerve systems and hence make them send abnormal messages through their network.
  • Overstimulation of the reward system – this occurs by flooding the circuit with dopamine., which is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, motivation and general feelings of pleasure in the body. Almost all the drugs abused are able to activate this system, especially the stimulants. This is why the users of such drugs frequently want to use them due to the pleasure they get from the drugs’ use.

How does the process of addiction entail?

Drug addiction is not something that happens overnight. It is a process that relatively takes a long period before a person becomes an addict. This period will though vary from person to the other. The common changes that will occur in the human brain before addiction occurs are discussed below.

  • Brain adaptation – with time, the brain adjusts to the surges in dopamine by decreasing the number of dopamine receptors available. This will reduce the functioning of the reward system circuit. This results to the drug user having now to take higher amounts of the drug substance in order to attain the effect they could easily attain before after just taking a little of the drug substance. This effect is the one termed a tolerance, and the drug user at this stage is said to be tolerant to the drug.
  • Other than the dopamine, there will be other changes in the brain – the prolonged abuse of drug substances lead to damage in the brain chemical system, including glutamate and the neurotransmitter that influences the reward system circuits and also the ability to learn. Impairment in the brain can occur sometimes, especially when the optimal concentration of glutamate is altered by the drug abuse.
  • Trigger of conscious memory systems- the abuse of drugs can trigger the conscious memory systems. From psychology, conditioning is a way of learning. In this case, the environmental cues such as certain people and places may become associated with the drug and hence trigger uncontrollable cravings if the individual is exposed to these cues, even when the drug itself is not available.
  • Addiction – this is actually the step in which almost all the other alterations in the brain leads to. The brain imaging studies of drug addicted persons have indicated that changes in the areas of brain that are critical to judgment, decision making , learning and memory and also behavior control. This seeks to explain why addiction occurs, since these changes are likely what drive the drug abusers to seek out and take drugs compulsively, even when they have negative effects on their bodies.

Finally, I wish to remind you that addiction is curable and you just need to seek the qualified professional to help you out in the recovery process.

Is there any relationship between Abuse, Addiction and Dependency?

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