Category Archives: Preceptorship Addiction Treatment

Stem Cell for ADHD Treatment

Stem Cell Transplant May Help Patients with ADHD

ADHDNew medical advances have made it possible to offer treatments for various diseases in myriad ways. Everyday researchers come up with discoveries that are making treatment easier, safer, convenient and even whole. Treating the symptoms of a disease while leaving its roots to sprout again is not very appropriate in this century. One of the treatment methods that have been found to be very effective in tackling the diseases at cell level is the stem cell therapy or other stem cell transplant.

As I have already stated in previous articles stem cells are very important in our body’s defense against infections as they are the precursors of all cells in the human body. They are more special than other cells since they are regenerative and malleable. They have the ability to replicate themselves and to repair and replace other tissues in the human body. The stem cells are needed in the body to ensure constant renewal of some tissues such as the skin. They are also very important in repairing damaged tissues in the body. In spite of their ability to repair damaged tissues, it is also important that the stem cells be in good health. When the stem cells are damaged they can lead to myriads of complications. Studies have shown that among diseases that can be healed by stem cell transplant is ADHD.

What is ADHD?

ADHD is an abbreviation that stands for Attention Deficit /Hyperactivity Disorder. ADHD is a mental health condition that causes inattention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. ADHD symptoms can lead to a number of problems, including unstable relationships, poor work or school performance, and low self-esteem. Typically, ADHD always starts in early childhood, however in rare cases it’s not diagnosed until later in life. It was once thought that ADHD was limited to childhood. However this perception of the disorder is passed with time as it has been found that these symptoms can persist into adulthood. When these symptoms are found in an adult, the disease is often referred to as adult ADHD. This disease causes many problems to both children and adults but it is treatable.

This disease may be referred to by different names depending on the age of the patient i.e. childhood ADHD and adult ADHD. However the treatment for ADHD is the same be it for adults or for children. Traditionally the treatment involved stimulant drugs or other medications, psychological counseling and treatment for any mental health conditions that occur along with adult ADHD.

Symptoms of ADHD

  • Procrastination
  • Disorganized work habits
  • Forgetfulness in daily activities. Such as forgetting to carry office keys, to meet appointments and daily schedules.
  • Failure to complete tasks such as homework or chores
  • Frequent shifts in conversation, not listening to others, not keeping one’s mind on conversations, and not following details or rules of activities in social situations
  • Difficulty paying attention to details and tendency to make careless mistakes in school or at work.
  • Easily distracted by irrelevant stimuli and frequently interrupting ongoing tasks to attend to trivial noises or events that are usually ignored by others
  • Inability to sustain attention on tasks or activities
  • Difficulty finishing schoolwork or paperwork or performing tasks that require concentration
  • Frequent shifts from one uncompleted activity to another
  • Hot temper
  • Restlessness
  • Impulsivity
  • Unstable relationships

Causes of ADHD

ADHD is still a mysterious disorder. Its exact cause isn’t known yet. However medical experts have proposed structural changes in the brain to be a main cause of the disorder. Some of the factors that have been proposed by the medical experts to be linked to ADHD include the following;

Altered brain function and anatomy- Brain scans have revealed important differences in the structure and brain activity of people with ADHD. It has been found that people with ADHD apparently have less activity in the area of the brain that controls attention than people who don’t have ADHD.

Inherited from parents– ADHD can run in families.

Smoking and drug use by mother during pregnancy– Children whose parents smoked and used other drugs of abuse are at a higher risk of being ADHD positive as they grow up. Some industrial toxins may also lead to the same if a pregnant woman is exposed to them.

Early age exposure to toxins– Babies who are exposed to environmental toxins are at high risk of suffering from the symptoms of ADHD. Such toxins include lead which is a component of many paints. When a child is exposed to lead it will disrupt his attention and behavior.

Stem cell transplant for ADHD treatment

ADHDStem cell transplant is a new intervention in the medical field. It works by replacing the damaged stem cells with healthy ones. The ability of the stem cells to multiply rapidly and give rise to millions of other healthy cells is an interesting phenomenon that the medical experts are taking full advantage of in treating diseases that have caused suffering to humans. In treating ADHD having the damaged stem cells replaced by healthy ones through stem cell transplant, the implanted stem cells with capability of giving rise to many other stem cells with higher degrees of differentiation helps in treating this disease.

Embryonic stem cells transplant have been found to be effective in treating cancer, Type 1 diabetes mellitus, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Celiac Disease, cardiac failure, muscle damage and ADHD is no exception. It is a treatment that tackles diseases at their roots and it also has no side effects. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Center is an experienced doctor in the use of integrative medicine in healing diseases. Call her on (843) 213-1480 for help.

Stem Cell Transplant May Help Patients with ADHD

 

 

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Hippocampus and addiction

The Hippocampus Is Central To Many Aspects of Addictive Process

HippocampusDuring childhood the brain will naturally produce the adequate amounts of nerve cells known as neurons which work to power the main coordination and control functions of the central nervous system. In medical terms, the process of neuron production is known as neurogenesis. During adulthood, neurogenesis essentially comes to a halt in almost all areas of the brain except for a region called the hippocampus, which plays a primary role in certain functions related to memory and learning. According to findings reported in 2011 by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, use or abuse of the illegal stimulants cocaine and methamphetamine can interfere with adult neuron growth inside the hippocampus. In turn, disruption of neuron production in this brain region can increase overall risks for the onset of a stimulant addiction.

Neurogenesis is a crucial process in the brain as it helps to populate or re-populate the brain with neurons. These neurons form the core of the communications network that makes the brain the center of all nervous system activity within the rest of the body. The primary period of neuron production occurs before birth during the process of fetal growth and development. The process of neurogenesis also continues during childhood and adolescence in a less extensive form. However, by the time an individual reaches adulthood, the production of new neurons comes to a halt except inside the hippocampus and in a region called the subventricular zone, which is located near fluid-filled chambers in the brain known as the lateral ventricles.

Getting to know hippocampus

Hippocampus belongs to a pathway called the limbic system together with other crucial structures in the brain. The hippocampus is a paired structure that assumes a resemblance of bananas. The whole of the limbic system plays a prime role in the human ability to experience rewarding or pleasurable sensations. However, as a distinct structure, the hippocampus functions largely as the brain’s center for taking in new memories, arranging those memories and creating an index that makes the newly arranged memories easy to find in the future. Other vital tasks carried out by this brain region include coordinating emotion-based responses to internal or external situations, helping the body orient itself spatially to its surroundings and providing the ability to remember and navigate the details of previously encountered physical environments.

This part of the brain plays very important roles but it can be adversely affected by the use of stimulants and other drugs of leisure. Substances such as cocaine and methamphetamine produce their primary effects inside the brain by boosting the presence of dopamine which is a neurotransmitting chemical that activates the pleasure-producing neurons contained within the limbic system. As stated above the limbic system includes the hippocampus, along with several other brain structures. According to the results of two separate studies published in 2008 in the Journal of Neuroscience and Biological Psychiatry, the presence of either cocaine or methamphetamine alters normal adult neurogenesis inside the hippocampus and damages this region’s ability replenish its neuron supply. It has been found that stimulants as well as other drugs of pleasure interfere with the basic processes of neurogenesis at an early, critical stage known as proliferation. In particular cocaine also interferes with the ability of existing immature neurons to grow into their normal mature forms.

Owing to its vital roles, the hippocampus has since become an area of particular interest, as it is central to many aspects of the addictive process, including relapse to drug taking. A recently appreciated hippocampal neuro-adaptation produced by drugs as diverse as opiates and psycho-stimulants is decreased neurogenesis in the sub-granular zone (SGZ). Stem cell Adult-generated neurons and drug-induced alterations of adult neurogenesis advance our understanding of the complex mechanisms by which opiates and psycho-stimulants affect brain function.

How drugs addiction affects Hippocampus

In a research that was done by researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in 2011, the results of this study that examined the addiction risks related to the disruption of normal neurogenesis inside the hippocampus indicated that cocaine abuse led to decreased production of neurons in the hippocampus. During this study, adult rat were deprived of their normal ability to produce new hippocampal neurons. These rats were then given free access to cocaine for four hours a day. When compared to adults rats not robbed of their ability to produce new neurons in the hippocampus, these neurogenesis-impaired rats consistently increased their cocaine intake by 60 percent. The neurogenesis-impaired rats also had a much greater tendency to seek out cocaine between the sanctioned periods of drug access; substance abuse specialists typically view this type of drug-seeking behavior as a critical indicator of a developing drug addiction.

HippocampusThese researchers also measured neurogenesis-impaired rats’ susceptibility to a drug relapse. During the first phase of this stage of testing, the rats were removed from the cages where drug use had taken place, blocked all drug access for a month, and let the rats go through withdrawal. At the end of the month, the rats were returned to their old cages but still received no access to cocaine. Compared to rats with normal rates of neurogenesis which also went through the same process, the neurogenesis-impaired rats showed more prominent signs of drug craving and a desire to continue drug use as often the case in relapse.

Finally, Drug abuse, addiction and independence are problems that people grapple with every day. These problems need to be treated effectively through integrative medicine. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) is an expert at this. Call her on (843) 213-1480 for help.

The Hippocampus Is Central To Many Aspects of Addictive Process

 

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Stem Cell for Neurodegenerative Disorders

Stem Cell for Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders

Stem cellThe field of stem cell biology is mushrooming with many investigations centered on a multitude of prospective applications in regenerative medicine including Stem cell therapy for neurodegenerative disorders. Recent advances in stem cell research have highlighted the role played by such cells and their environment; the stem cell niche in tissue renewal and homeostasis. The control and regulation of stem cells and their niche are remaining challenges for cell therapy and regenerative medicine on several tissues and organs. These recent advances are important for both, the basic knowledge of stem cell regulation, and their practical applications into clinical medicine to aid in effective treatment of certain diseases that have maimed the human population worldwide for all the past years. researchers having found how important the stem cells are in controlling diseases are still working to find out other clinical applications of the stem cell therapy so as to avail better alternative to treatment of these diseases. The researchers are discussing on the need for a deeper understanding of the identity of this stem cells and its microenvironment in order to improve the effectiveness of any cell therapy for regenerative medicine.

The greatest area at which the researchers have done lots of work and held many discussions is whether the stem cell therapy can be effective in regenerative therapy by replacing and repairing damaged cells and tissues by diseases. with the latest on this subject, it can be believed that this is a challenge that is already won as researchers have now certified that the stem cell therapy helps in replacing and repairing the damaged cells therefore a clever way of fighting diseases in a less risky manner since there are few (if any) side effects that are associated with the stem cell therapy.

The stem cell therapy as used in regenerative medicine

The stem cells have been noted for their unique features. The stem cells unlike other cells are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods. They are unspecialized and they can give rise to specialized cell types. Stem cells are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods. Unlike muscle cells, blood cells, or nerve cells which do not normally replicate themselves, stem cells may replicate many times, or proliferate. A starting population of stem cells that proliferates for many months in the laboratory can yield millions of cells. If the resulting cells continue to be unspecialized, like the parent stem cells, the cells are said to be capable of long-term self-renewal. Due to these distinct scientists are involved in many investigations centered on a multitude of prospective applications of the stem cell therapy in regenerative medicine including Stem cell therapy for neurodegenerative disorders.

Stem cell therapy basically refers to the use of the stem cell to treat certain conditions. Stem cell therapy has become a vital part of regenerative medicine. Regenerative medicine is an emerging branch of medicine with the goal of restoring organ and tissue function for patients with serious injuries or chronic disease in which the body’s own responses are not sufficient enough to restore functional tissue. A growing crisis in organ transplantation and an aging population have driven a search for new and alternative therapies. In regenerative medicine the stem cells can be used to create living and functional tissues to regenerate and repair tissue and organs in the body that are damaged due to age, disease and congenital defects. Stem cells have the power to go to these damaged areas and regenerate new cells and tissues by performing a repair and a renewal process, restoring functionality. The use of the stem cells in the regenerative medicine will help in treating diseases that result in degeneration of cells and tissues.

Stem CellThe stem cell therapy involves transplanting healthy stem cells into the parts of the body that are adversely affected by diseases. These stem cells will then replace the damaged cells and give rise to millions of healthy cells hence hastening the process of recovery. The stem cell therapy is so far the best treatment in this century for neurodegenerative disorders.

Some of the diseases that can be treated by the stem cell therapy

In conclusion

With the breakthrough in this of study we will expect that treatment of diseases will be more convenient, effective and even affordable. This new intervention in the regenerative medicine is light at the end of the tunnel to patients suffering from neurodegenerative disorders. It is a treatment that tackles diseases at their roots and it also has no side effects. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Center is an experienced doctor in the use of integrative medicine in healing diseases. Call her on (843) 213-1480 for help.

Stem Cell for Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders

 

 

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College Students Participating In Study-Abroad Programs Drink Twice More

American College Students Participating In Study-Abroad Programs Drink Twice As Much As They Did Before Going Abroad

College Students Students get a sense of freedom in universities and other higher learning institutions especially after spending most of their time learning close to their homes where parents will monitor everything they do. The fact that college students are considered old enough to make decisions on their own has only made students prone to problem drinking and use of other drugs. Students studying abroad meet people with different values that they trade and embrace, they will exploit the freedom they have in all manner of ways, they will engage in any pleasurable activity as the sense of camaraderie creeps in their mind. They do most of the things together and most decisions are made in groups. Those who left their homes when they were not taking alcohol fall victims in quest of belonging. They will do anything that will improve their cohesion and bonding even if it means breaking some barriers that one was bred with such as abstinence from alcohol and other drugs.

Colleges have been known as havens for drinking and merrymaking where students involve in all sorts of activities that may give pleasure however according to a new research it is evident that students who travel abroad to study will drink twice as much as they were drinking before travelling to study abroad. The study a broad campus has been given a perception that they are moments that you need to enjoy your liberties and have fun as opposed to studying in local campuses that seem more of a cage for many students.

In a study that was published in Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, a study that surveyed 177 students from the University of Washington about their drinking habits before, during and after their terms in an educational exchange program. Students studied overseas for 3-to-5-month stints, and during that time reported consuming an average of eight drinks per week, double the amount they drank while at home.

This study revealed that where students studied impacted their drinking behavior. Students who went to Europe, New Zealand and Australia drank the most, this is probably of the massive amounts of alcohol hat is generally consumed on social circles in these countries. Those who went to the Middle East or other places where drinking was not as widespread drank less. As known supply of alcohol in Middle East is not as much as in Europe, New Zealand and Australia. Even the culture of those living in the middle east discourages alcohol and other drugs use therefore students who go to the middle east to study lose that opportunity of drinking as much and as frequent as they would have done when in Europe and other countries where the laws that regulate alcohol use is not as strict.

Apart from the place where students studied, another factor that influenced the drinking habits of students was legal age. According to a report published by The Los Angeles Times reports, Students under 21 drank less than their older peers before traveling, but once abroad they increased their drinking more. The students increased their rate of drinking by about 170%. They also drank more when they returned compared with before their trip abroad, and those numbers had no association with turning 21. It should be noted that in some countries the legal drinking age is under 21. So when students travel to a country where for example the legal drinking age is 18 he will begin drinking taking liberty with the loophole that has been created by traveling to study abroad.

The study also found out that students who had got into the habit of heavy drinking while on study abroad programs continued drinking heavily even when they got back home in the United States. However the other students who had not embraced heavy drinking when abroad returned to their normal drinking habits when they got back into the United States.

College drinking

Some of the reasons that led to the students drinking more than they did while at home may include; the students who went to study in Europe met a culture where wines are served with meals and that increased their alcohol consumption. Another reason is that study abroad programs are regarded by many students as outings and outings are synonymous to merrymaking where alcohol must feature to add spice into the experience.

How can these students be helped?

The students that have become heavy drinkers even after coming back to the United States should be helped so that they refrain from excessive consumption of the alcohol. However as known they will find it rather hard to quit this habit on their own and therefore input of professionals is needed to help them through a detoxification program that will restore the neuro endocrine functions and help them quit drinking the natural way. Dr. Dalal Akoury has been using NER and intravenous amino acid therapy to help addicts.  Intravenous amino acids and the NER are natural approaches to treating addicts that have so far bore juicy fruits. They are affordable, effective and are free from withdrawal symptoms that many people suffer after going through addiction treatment with pharmaceutical medicines. We at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are committed to availing help to addicts and offering them a place to call home. We advocate for natural healing to all kinds of addiction. These students who are struggling with addiction should just call on Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for help.

American College Students Participating In Study-Abroad Programs Drink Twice As Much As They Did Before Going Abroad

 

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Workaholism-An Addiction Or A Quality To Be Appreciated?

Is Workaholism An Addiction Or A Quality To Be Appreciated?

workaholismNo company would be willing to employ a lazy bone, someone who will not take his work seriously, takes the least time at work and yields too little, very social but not very committed to the staff goals and objectives. Such a person has no place in the employment world. Every company would be willing to employ people who are committed to the company goals and can go an extra mile like working overtime when need be for the benefit of the company, somebody whose work helps the company to achieve great milestones and increases the output of the company. However we need to know where the boundary lies as there are people who will spend all their time in the workplace ignoring the other facets of life, they are engraved in the jobs they do so much that they become synonymous to their offices, they spend most of their lifetime working and they seem not know when to stop working and attend to their other facets of life- the workaholics.

What is Workaholism?

This refers to compulsiveness about working; a person who is subject to workaholism is referred to a workaholic. He cares more for work than any other thing to him he will work even if what he is doing is unnecessary, life without work means no sense to him. Workaholism is something that has not been addressed well and so many people who are suffering from this situation may be blinded by mere congratulations that they receive by bosses who might be aware these people’s relationship with work is abnormal. In fact the workaholics are exploited at the expense of their own social lives, they suffer broken families and some do not even marry as they are always at work and do not even attend social events where they could meet their potential spouses. Workaholics can only be good employees but are very poor in parenting and so are mostly involved in family feuds. Workaholism involves excessive time spent working, preoccupation with work to the exclusion of other life facets, loss of control over the parameters of one’s work and disenchantment with work, and negative social, emotional, and health consequences. The etiology of workaholism is not clear but may pertain to persons with compulsive personality traits, who are driven to work harder than that demanded from work contexts, and who have learned to place work as a main means of gratification compared to other lifestyle alternatives. As they spend most of their time occupied with work seeking gratification through work they may become affected health wise and so there is need for workaholics to professional help.

Is it an Addiction or a Quality to be appreciated?

Work addiction unlike other addictive life practices like sex, drug use and even gambling is little understood. There is scarcity of literature on the issue of work addiction and therefore a gap for those seeking to know more about workaholism. The subject of workaholism or addiction to work has been debated and still is being debated as to whether it is a quality to be appreciated or a serious problem that needs professional help. While many employers have viewed workaholics as a productive people workaholism has been linked to some issues both socially and as a family. In one study it was found that workaholics burden their children with roles as they are mostly away working and cannot accomplish most of their responsibilities, their children therefore begin their parental roles much younger and when they are still incapable to handle such stuff. Some of the problems that are associated with work addiction include the following.

Frustration and agitation

Just like any other person chained to other addictive behaviors a person who is addicted to work will suffer when they are forced to stop working even for just a day. They will be agitated and frustrated as work has become their only source of measuring success. It is therefore clear that workaholism is just another addiction that should be addressed just as much as drug addiction and other addictive behaviors like gambling. The fact that there is no law that workaholics break by overworking has only made matters worse for families of these people.

Low energy levels

Workaholics suffer  low energy levels as they always have work that never stops spilling over to other aspects of their lives, workaholics can stop doing other healthy practices like exercise and good nutrition just to continue working and can lead to other health issues like obesity and even increased risk to other diseases some symptoms that have been seen in workaholic include; sleep disorders, weight gain , role conflicts with fellow workers , taking sick-leave , high blood pressure, anxiety and depression and physical pain that may be caused by strain in the body muscles. These people lack control of their work and are overcommitted therefore leading to emotional exhaustion.

Workaholism

Conflict both at work and home

Workaholics are not very social people. They do not value relationships and hence spend most of their time away from their families therefore they create a gap that they ought to fill as parents- spending time with those who depend on them. This often results in conflict that may even cause a breakup between a man and his wife. Needless to mention children of workaholics grow up craving for parental love as most of the time their workaholic parent will be away from them. At work their over commitment nature will always create a gap between him and other employees as he is always in a hurry trying to accomplish a lot therefore will not have time for lunch break charts and grapevine engagements that work well in creating a bonded work family.

Finally, the topic of work addiction has attracted lots of debate but still there is little literature on this issue but from the negative aspects associated with it, it is clear that it is not really profitable to a worker. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center is committed to availing help to addicts by availing some of the most integrative approaches to healing an addict chained to any behavior. Call on Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for help.

Is Workaholism An Addiction Or A Quality To Be Appreciated?

 

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