Opiate Use Leads To Decreased Sex Hormone Levels

November 13, 2014

Opiate Use Leads To Decreased Sex Hormone Levels

opiate addiction Opiates have been used for a long time in pain management. They are the best in dealing with chronic pain and so have been used worldwide to help patients with chronic pain especially cancer patients to cope with their pain and promote their recovery. The use of opiates in pain management however is little understood by the general public especially because the media has never portrayed them favorably. However the public are slowly waking up to the realization that opiates are not as bad as they are purported to be but are very essential in our hospitals to day. They have become a necessity for analgesia and patients undergoing chronic [pain have become dependent on them. Without these opiates the patients will suffer greatly.

The use of opiates in treatment of chronic pain has however been associated with deficiency in androgens. Testosterone is one of the most crucial hormones in the body as they are responsible for sex. In case deficiency in testosterone a person will suffer low sex drive. It may lead to hypogonadism which today is one of the problems that see men weep in the night for failing to rise to occasion and satisfy the sexual needs of their marital partners. Apart from hypogonadism and low levels of androgens, the long term use of these opiates may also cause such problems as adrenal dysfunction, pituitary dysfunction, and abnormality in growth and reduced bone density. When a patient has used the opiates for a long time it lowers the levels of testosterone, it is this hormone that is responsible for masculinity, bone density and even sound sex life. All these problems arise as a result of decline in testosterone and other sex hormones, opiates use being the cause of the decline in the sex hormones. Several studies have revealed that long term use of opiates in pain management causes opiate induced hypogonadism characterized by very low levels of androgens especially the testosterone hormones. The use of opiates in pain management has not only been linked to decline in sex hormones but also abnormalities in glucose and lipid metabolism.

There some side effects that patients who have used opiates in managing pain for a long time suffer, these side effects are often well managed through myriads of medical practices that may also involve hormone therapy to restore balance in hormones and help evade all the gross problems that are associated with deficiency in crucial hormones in the body. Specifically symptoms that are often associated with opiate induced hypogonadism include sexual dysfunction, osteoporosis, lack of libido, low sex drive, reduced muscle mass and loss of strength in men. In most study reports osteoporosis and poor sex functions are credited to low levels of testosterone hormone. Women are also not spared since long term use of opiates will also alter the functions of estrogen hormones making them prone to these symptoms as well.

Hormone supplementation

opiate addiction A patient undergoing opiate treatment will suffer these side effects but all will be well after some time when they have broken free from the dependence on these drugs. The levels of testosterone will surge to normal levels and so will estrogen in women. This process occurs naturally, however some people will opt for hormone supplementation which may work as the process of treatment is going on but doctors advise that this may not be good as it discourages the body to signal its natural hormone production.

Patients have suffered opiate induced hypogonadism but most cases go unrecognized hence the patients are not easily helped to deal with the situation. The decline in testosterone levels is caused by opioid drug inhibition of Luteinizing Hormone often abbreviated as LH. LH is a pituitary hormone which is involved in testosterone production. LH also helps in direct inhibition of testosterone itself. It also causes the inhibition of the entire endocrine system and adrenal hormone suppression.

Researchers have also found that it is not only opiates that are used in pain management that causes decline in sex hormones and all the other symptoms associated with the fall in level of those hormones. Another cause of decline in these sex hormones is the treatments that are used to help the patients to overcome dependency on these opiates. These substances may include methadone which is commonly used in treating patients who have become dependent on opiates after long term use to manage pain. As shown in a new study treating opioid dependence with methadone can dramatically lower testosterone levels with men being the victims.

A cross-sectional study of more than 1000 adults led by Dr. Zena Samaan showed that the men who were treated with methadone for opioid addiction had roughly one quarter of the testosterone found in the men who did not use opioids. This study shows how methadone has adverse effects on testosterone levels in men. In women however there was no notable change.

“We expected that men would have lower testosterone. That was not something new,” principal investigator Zainab (Zena) Samaan, MD, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences in the School of Medicine at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, told Medscape Medical News.

“What was surprising was the magnitude of the reduction,” Dr. Samaan concluded.

She opined that doctors should be updated by following research findings on this issue so that they will know how to manage these symptoms that are associated with decline in testosterone. She encouraged doctors to check the hormonal levels of patients before putting them on opioid therapy and continue with this check in regular intervals to help manage testosterone levels.

There are various natural addiction treatment mechanisms that can help patients addicted to opiates other using methadone that may lead to decline in testosterone levels. Here at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center we encourage natural addiction training for physicians, Nurse, practitioners, Physician assistants and counselors so that they can avail a better alternative to opiates addicted patients. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) is committed to availing help to every patient. Call on her at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for help.

Opiate Use Leads To Decreased Sex Hormone Levels

Turmeric and Women’s Health

November 12, 2014

Turmeric and Women’s Health

Turmeric plant Given the range of health issues experienced by women they are essentially a rather delicate gender. Unlike men, women have to battle with regular cycles of physiological changes involving a lot of hormonal tides and a number of variations in the composition of the chemical substances in the body.

Such compulsory cyclic processes make the woman a person of alternating moods and emotional states in addition to the generally delicate nature of their health component.

The aspect of reproduction which makes the woman’s body a biological lab conditioned to support a life, added to today’s eating habits and lifestyle present even more complications. A lot can occur in the female reproductive system. Tumors, cancers, pain associated with periods, all present the females with a challenging health factor.

Turmeric and women’s periods

Health experts have associated turmeric with anti-inflammatory effects in the human body. Most women experience a lot of pain and aches during their monthly periods. A number of them would often take this as a natural phenomenon that lasts only a few days. Others however find it a little difficult to keep up as the pain is usually too much for them. They resort therefore to various means that can bring them relief from the aches.

Turmeric has been found to bring immense relief from these menstruation related pains. The plant contains a lot of chemical compounds that give it an antispasmodic effect on the females during the monthly experience and help reduce intensity of cramps.

Turmeric therefore provides a great natural alternative to the various medicines that are currently available for relief from such menstrual cramps. This is handy when the person involved does not delight in taking medicines.

Such persons find turmeric as a great alternative since they can take it in the form of spice mixed with food. This way they do not have to experience the strain associated with ingesting the commonly biter pills or capsules.

The herb- Turmeric is said to help bring back the uterus to its proper shape and functioning. In addition, certain reports indicate that the chemicals in turmeric help with balancing of hormones in the female body and thus restores irregular periods and cases of breakouts.

The herb is useful in regulating menstruation among women as an emmenagogue. The term is used to refer to plants which rouse the blood flow around the pelvic area and the uterus. Some of these herbs stimulate the monthly periods. For Turmeric, this effect is achieved by purification and movement of still blood which causes a normal menstruation.

Turmeric as a mild contraceptive

Indian medicine practitioners have been using turmeric for decades now. Some existing reports indicate that turmeric was used before as one of the herbal methods of birth control at the time when science had not invented the modern ways of doing so.

Indian traditional medical prescriptions indicate that if you take 4-5 grams of the herbal product every day during periods then it prevents pregnancy at the next ovulation period. Science is yet to provide explanation to this state of affairs.

Turmeric

Other critical uses

Imbalances in the level of hormones among females are usually responsible for the secretion of some viscous vaginal discharge. The problem of the thick yellowish discharge also known as Leukorrhea can often go for years. Turmeric is said to provide lasting relief from this condition.

This herbal product is also said to be useful in dealing with cancers. This concern is slowly getting commendable backing from a number of scientific studies.

Turmeric and Women’s Health

Hibiscus for Kidney Support And Beyond

November 12, 2014

Hibiscus for Kidney Support And Beyond

The kidney is one of the most essential organs in every animal. The double-bean-shaped organ performs the crucial role of filtering toxins from the human blood ensuring a healthy life fluid flowing through the blood vessels.

In addition to its filtration function the kidney is also responsible for the production of certain essential hormones that support blood pressure and the blood cells production.

Its working mechanism involves accumulating waste matter into urine through several microscopic filtering units. The organ is interconnected to the rest of the body by blood vessels and directly to the major organs in the human body such as the liver, lungs and the heart.

A number of disorders may often affect the working of the kidney and this poses a severe threat to the entire body. Kidney cancer or the renal cell carcinoma is just one of the most serious diseases that may affect the kidney and render them ineffective. The cancer of the kidney involves development of tumor or cancer cells at a very fast speed that the body’s immunity mechanism cannot fight.

As a result, the cancer cells can always spread to the rest of the body via the respective blood vessels, a common symptom of this condition being the appearance of blood traces in the urine.

Hibiscus

With an ineffective set of kidneys, the body becomes vulnerable. Cases of diabetes may result as the kidney can no longer filter excess water or excess sugars and salt from the blood. The patient is faced with two dangerous possibilities, either diabetes insipidus of diabetes mellitus. This essentially means that the patient is faced with the possibility of rising blood pressure either way.

With excess water levels in the blood, the normal blood vessel sizes will appear smaller for the excess resultant fluid causing a build-up of pressure as the blood fluid forces its way through the narrow vessels.

Another scenario involves the blood containing excess amounts of blood sugars that end up getting deposited on the walls of the blood vessels. This results in a network of constricted blood vessels. As the normal blood volumes flow through the vessels, a level of pressure builds up in the process.

The Value of Hibiscus

Originally valued by certain nations as being good for tea- sour tea, Hibiscus has of late gained immense attention of scientists who are currently investing a lot in studies to establish the extent of its medical usefulness.

Various nations within the tropical region as well as the sub-tropical expanse have traditionally used the herb to treat various ailments and control certain known disorders, with each nation using it in their different unique ways.

Sudanese and the Egyptians for instance have for years used Hibiscus to maintain a normal body temperature, encourage body fluid balance as well as in heart health support.

In North Africa the herb has been used to manage respiratory health, including care for the throat and skin maintenance. Beyond the seas in Europe, the herb has popularly been in use in almost the same ways as their neighboring North Africans. They have however had additional uses including alleviation of constipation and for the promotion of proper blood circulation.

hibiscus

From all the nations that have used Hibiscus in traditional fashion, a major line of use that features commonly among all the nations and groups of people is the maintenance of normal blood pressure.

And science now has a backing on this. Recent studies have provided evidence of how hibiscus helps with cases of blood pressure. The plant is made up of a lot of plant acids such as citric, malic, allo-hydroxycitric and tartaric acids.

It also has several other chemical constituents including alkanoids, quercetin and anthocyanins which put together are useful in the maintenance of cholesterol and a normal blood pressure and ensures a holistic health of the major organs in the body. It most particularly offers a big support to the kidneys.

Hibiscus for Kidney Support And Beyond

Restoring Mitochondrial NAD/ NADH Ratio

November 11, 2014

Restoring Mitochondrial NAD/ NADH Ratio To Revitalize Mitochondrial Energy And Effectively To Treat Addiction

The term NAD may not be new to you but it is safer to have it defined so that we lay a proper foundation for understanding how important the balance between NAD and NADH is and how it can help to revitalize mitochondrial energy and effectively to treat addiction.

What is NAD?

NAD is an abbreviation of Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. It is a coenzyme that is present in all living cells. The compound is a dinucleotide, this simply means that it consists of two nucleotides joined through their phosphate groups. One nucleotide contains an adenine base and the other nicotinamide. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide exists in two forms, an oxidized and reduced form abbreviated as NAD+ and NADH respectively. It is therefore safe for us to say that NADH is a reduced form of NAD. NAD is a crucial coenzyme in metabolism. In metabolism, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide is involved in redox reactions, carrying electrons from one reaction to another. The coenzyme is, therefore, found in two forms in cells: NAD+ is an oxidizing agent – it accepts electrons from other molecules and becomes reduced. This reaction forms NADH, which can then be used as a reducing agent to donate electrons. These electron transfer reactions are the main function of NAD. Therefore there is need for a balance between the NADH and the NAD to maintain a favorable environment for homeostasis. Apart from its functions in electron transfer, the NAD has other functions in the body such as being a substrate of enzymes that add or remove chemical groups from proteins, in posttranslational modifications. Owing to its importance on performing these functions, the enzymes involved in NAD metabolism have been targeted to help come up with drugs that could heal different complications.

Mitochondrial

The NAD and the NADH are crucial in the production of energy in the mitochondria. What happens after eating is that the vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins and fats from our diet provide the building blocks to our bodies. Energy that is produced from citric acid cycle makes NAD and links it to hydrogen forming NADH which enters the electron transport chain in the mitochondria and is sparked with oxygen which breaks the nutrients to give energy through oxidation. This energy enables the heart to beat sufficiently and enable muscle contraction providing cellular energy that is required by the body cells to function. The energy that is produced is also used by the brain therefore if the level of NADH is low then the brain will not function well at the same time if NAD level is low then production of energy will be low. There is need to establish a favorable ratio between the NAD and NADH since without a good balance of the two then there will be fatigue and depression which are factors that mostly deter addicts from quitting using their substances of abuse.

In most cases NAD deficiency is first evident in brain-related symptoms of poor concentration, difficulty focusing, and attention deficit disorders. If the energy shortage lasts long enough, brain neurons cannot synthesize neurotransmitters. When this occurs, the molecules of consciousness such as serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline are affected. Anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance and other mood changes can then arise. These are not good for addicts as they may trigger them to use drugs as escapade. Many addicts got trapped after trying using drugs as self-medication against fatigue and depression. This even lowers NAD level even further and it is a continuous vicious cycle. It is also important to note that the crucial enzymes that catalyze the Citric Acid Cycle are inhibited and may get destroyed by chemical toxins that create oxidative or free radical damage. The sources of this damage are substances of abuse like cigarette smoke, drugs, and chronic stress. This problem may also be caused by exposure to myriads of toxins.

NAD+/NADH ratio

Mitochondrial The balance between the oxidized and reduced forms of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide is called the NAD+/NADH ratio. This ratio is an important component of what is called the redox state of a cell, a measurement that reflects both the metabolic activities and the health of cells. The effects of the NAD+/NADH ratio are complex, controlling the activity of several key enzymes, including glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase and pyruvate dehydrogenase. In healthy mammalian tissues, estimates of the ratio between free NAD+ and NADH in the cytoplasm typically lie at around 700; the ratio is thus favorable for oxidative reactions. These different ratios are key to the different metabolic roles of NADH and NADPH.

NAD deficiency in the body can be corrected by having an IV NAD therapy. This will not only increase the production of energy but will also increase the level of NADH which is critical for enzymatic action. The IV NAD goes straight to receptors in the brain and so is not digested in the stomach. Another reason for ensuring balance between NAD/NADH is that the correct ratios will help in restoring damaged neurotransmitters by drugs. It is a detoxifier that works faster as it takes only few days rather than weeks or months to flush out stored drugs from the body and its organs, replenish balance in the brain, and reverse damage. Results can be mental clarity, cognitive function increase, focus and concentration returns, more energy, better mood, positive outlook.

And finally, AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center encourages addicts to come for addiction recovery .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.

Restoring mitochondrial NAD/ NADH ratio to revitalize mitochondrial energy and effectively to treat addiction

Circadian Rhythms and Melatonin Go Hand-in-Hand

November 10, 2014

Circadian Rhythms and Melatonin Go Hand-in-Hand

You go to bed every day at almost a specific time and wake up around the same time daily. Have you ever imagined how come this happens almost in a rhythmic fashion?

Imagine if you could not be able to set standard waking time. You may miss going to job in time. You may be late for conferences. You may delay certain crucial arrangements meant to take place within specific times.

Fortunately that is not likely to happen because our lives are naturally programmed like the clock. From the time you wake up to the time you retire to bed. There are things that just happen spontaneously, like going for meals will follow a quest for it: you are hungry.

If you have a pre-set time for going to bed then immediately that time reaches you begin to feel tired. At that moment all your body needs is the rest. You give it to your body and you won’t even need an alarm to wake you up in the morning. You just find yourself waking up when the time your body is programmed to wake reaches.

All these rhythms of activities are controlled by systems inside our bodies. It is not us who decide the things we wish to feel. Neither do we decide exactly what to want. There are systems which do that inside our bodies, making us programmed like the clock.

This controlled daily cycle of rhythmic activity that is essentially based on the 24 hours period available every day is what is referred to as the circadian rhythm. These rhythms are not just exhibited by humans alone, rather, plants and animals also exhibit the circadian rhythms.

The rhythms relate to the 24 hour cycle of the solar and applies even to microbes like bacteria and fungi. All physiological responses are controlled within this system of activities: strength of the muscles, blood pressure, body temperature, hormonal circulation, neurotransmitter circulation and a number of other metabolic and physiological processes all follow the cycle of circadian rhythms.

Circadian Rhythms

With that background it becomes easier to understand therefore that diseases and wellbeing are channeled into these circadian rhythms. The diseases also follow their particular rhythms in the body. They are also controlled variously. For instance, studies indicate that certain breast cancer tumors grow faster at daytime that during the night.

Melatonin and the Body Processes

Melatonin, a substance produced by the brain, plays a critical role in not only growth but almost all essential processes in your body.

Some accumulating proof is indicating that interference with circadian rhythms has a close link to the growth of cancer, particularly the breast cancer. This is related to a complex network of interrelated physiological or neuroendocrineimmune processes controlled and regulated in distinct ways. In the middle of these processes is the chemical component Melatonin. Research has found that Melatonin produced in highest amounts at night during dark hours is perhaps the most crucial endogenous component in the actual regulation of these circadian rhythms and the clocks.

It works variously to ensure control of these processes including the suppression of the production of estrogen which are related to the causes of cancer. As such Melatonin has a key role in the treatment of cancer among other serious diseases.

Circadian Rhythms and Melatonin Go Hand-in-Hand

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