Category Archives: Alcohol recovery

Career and drugs

Complementary treatment for drug abuse and mental health

September 12, 2016
Complementary treatment

Complementary treatment for drug abuse and mental health. Attaining addictions breakthrough professionally begins with the role of mental health in successful detox

Complementary treatment for drug abuse and mental health: Stay connected

We have already looked at some of the complimentary treatment for drug abuse previously, but for the benefit of your health, we want to explore more in this line to equip you with all the relevant health information as follows:

Get therapy or stay involved in a support group – Your chances of staying sober improve if you are participating in a social support group like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous or if you are getting therapy.

Follow doctor’s orders – Once you are sober and you feel better, you might think you no longer need medication or treatment. But arbitrarily stopping medication or treatment is a common reason for relapse in people with co-occurring disorders. Always talk with your doctor before making any changes to your medication or treatment routine.

Complementary treatment for drug abuse and mental health: Make healthy lifestyle changes

Practice relaxation techniques – When practiced regularly, relaxation techniques such as mindfulness meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and deep breathing can reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression, and increase feelings of relaxation and emotional well-being.

Healthy eating habits – Start the day right with breakfast, and continue with frequent small meals throughout the day. Going too long without eating leads to low blood sugar, which can make you feel more stressed or anxious.

Exercise regularly – Exercise is a natural way to bust stress, relieve anxiety, and improve your mood and outlook. To achieve the maximum benefit, aim for at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise on most days.

Get enough sleep – People often ignore sleeping because of the pressures of work and economic hardship however lack of sleep can exacerbate stress, anxiety, and depression it is therefore prudent that you sleep for 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep a night.

Complementary treatment for drug abuse and mental health: Helping a loved one with a substance abuse and mental health problem

Helping a loved one with both a substance abuse and a mental health problem can be a roller coaster. Resistance to treatment is common and the road to recovery can be long. The best way to help someone is to accept what you can and cannot do. You cannot force someone to remain sober, nor can you make someone take their medication or keep appointments. What you can do is make positive choices for yourself, encourage your loved one to get help, and offer your support while making sure you doesn’t lose yourself in the process. You could take either of the following in helping your loved ones:

Seek support – Dealing with a loved one’s dual diagnosis of mental illness and substance abuse can be painful and isolating. Make sure you’re getting the emotional support you need to cope. Talk to someone you trust about what you’re going through. It can also help to get your own therapy or join a support group yourself.

Set boundaries – Be realistic about the amount of care you’re able to provide without feeling overwhelmed and resentful. Set limits on disruptive behaviors, and stick to them. Letting the co-occurring disorders take over your life isn’t healthy for you or your loved one.

Educate yourself – Learn all you can about your loved one’s mental health problem, as well as substance abuse treatment and recovery. The more you understand what your loved one is going through, the better able you’ll be to support recovery.

Be patient – This is very important because recovering from a dual diagnosis doesn’t happen overnight. It is an ongoing process that can take some times may be months or years, and relapse is common. Ongoing support for both you and your loved one is crucial as you work toward recovery. All these are just some guidelines to help you offer better support to your loved ones. And even as follow these guidelines it is still very important that you seek for the services of the experts in this discipline. You can reach doctor Akoury on phone today to schedule for an appointment with her and she will be of great help to you and your loved ones as well.

Complementary treatment for drug abuse and mental health

 

 

 

 

 

 

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cocaine-addiction1

Withdrawal syndromes and coping strategies

September 9, 2016
Withdrawal syndromes

Withdrawal syndromes and coping strategies. AWAREmed addiction treatment programs will help you get sober again much faster

Withdrawal syndromes and coping strategies: Bad health effects of heroin

Heroin withdrawal syndrome effects and coping strategies are some of the most disturbing fears most addicts sight as reasons of their unwillingness to enroll for treatment in various health facilities for timely recovery process. With this attitude treatment becomes very difficult because one has to begin by first addressing the issues of denial. Making such patients come to terms with their health situation is often very difficult. Some of the pertinent questions we should be asking ourselves now that we are aware that heroin withdrawal syndromes and coping strategies are the problems may include the following: what are the actual effects of these heroin withdrawal symptoms – and how do they impact the long-term health and well-being of the individual patients?

As an institution (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of Doctor Dalal Akoury’s care) we are on top of things and our objective is to kick out all manner of addictions from our societies. That is why we only post worthy health articles tailored at helping our clients/patients get the much needed health solutions. Therefore in this article, we have particularly designed it to convey health information in the simplest language to help in shedding some light on the impact of heroin withdrawal syndrome and also to help those who are going through the process en route to their recovery whether you are directly or indirectly affected.

Withdrawal from heroin can cause some discomfort

There are a number of uncomfortable side effects that accompany heroin withdrawal. These symptoms are not all that life threatening as is always the general rule, but all the same they are the leading reason why individuals relapse or add urgency to their search for that “next fix.” Some of the uncomfortable heroin withdrawal symptoms include:

  • Anxiety
  • Chills
  • Fever
  • Restlessness
  • Sleeplessness
  • Sweating
  • Twitching

Withdrawal can also cause emotional issues

Besides the known physical discomfort that goes hand in hand with heroin withdrawal, doctor Akoury says that there are a number of mental health issues that the individual may experience as well, such may include the following:

Relapse

Finally doctor Akoury agrees that, the most serious effect of heroin withdrawal syndrome is relapse. Because individual addicts are not able to live with the discomfort of withdrawal they often go back to their old habits. To escape from this discomforting experience in many instances they will turn to the only thing they know best that can provide relief which is more heroin even though they are struggling to stop their addiction to the drug itself. This is the reason why most if not all heroin rehab programs insist that the individuals must first complete the heroin detox process before they can be allowed to moving on into the main population of the facility. The risk of relapse is therefore inevitable in most cases. However when it happens, it will not be a sign of failure, you can always pick up the pieces and get back to the recovery process and defeat the problem. You may want to call doctor Akoury for further guidelines over this whole issues of withdrawal syndrome and coping strategies for a much better performance on your part.

Withdrawal syndromes and coping strategies: Bad health effects of heroin

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cocaine-addiction-5069_01

Cocaine abuse ruins human health

September 9, 2016
Cocaine abuse ruins human health

Cocaine abuse ruins human health and all the body organs

Cocaine abuse ruins human health: Chest pain

If you are still wallowing in the wilderness of ignorance, then this article cones to you at the best time of acknowledging how cocaine abuse ruins human health in very many ways. In fact this substance affects the whole body and its most sensitive organs too. With the help of doctor Dalal Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, we are going to be touching on the various organs that are directly affected by cocaine abuse as follows.

One of the most common reasons for requiring emergency treatment is the enormous tightening of blood vessels, in the coronary arteries and the rest of the body. Cocaine deprives the heart of its normal blood supply, increasing the risk of a heart attack or a heart rhythm disturbance which might cause the user to drop dead suddenly. The shape of the pattern on the electrocardiogram (heart trace) can look worrying to the doctor, especially as it can change from minute to minute. But in most cases it settles down and no major harm results.

Cocaine abuse ruins human health: The heart, blood pressure/vessels

Consistent use of cocaine causes massive stresses and strains on the blood vessels in the coronary arteries and the rest of the body. This leads to a build- up of cholesterol in the walls of arteries, especially the coronary arteries. With cocaine use your blood vessels can be 30 years older than your age which can lead to unexpected heart attack.

Cocaine releases massive amounts of noradrenaline from the nerve endings, which causes blood vessels right through the body to narrow. This leads to a major surge in blood pressure. To the onlooker, the user looks pale and staring, but there may be no other outward signs of the enormous rise in blood pressure. This may still cause a heart attack. The heart aorta is very vulnerable to cocaine abuse. A surge in blood pressure following cocaine use forces the blood between the inner and outer casings of the aorta and each time the heart pumps this false passage becomes longer and more liable to block off a branch vessel or to burst, with possibility of fatal results.

Brain and the nose

Regular cocaine use can lead to a bulging weakness in the wall of a branch point of the arteries in the brain. This is often called a berry aneurysm. Eventually this aneurysm bursts, and blood pouring out of the leak is known as a subarachnoid hemorrhage. If not corrected, it can cause major damage to the brain. This damage can be permanent leading to difficulties in thought, speech, sight and movement. Cocaine powder is ‘snorted’ into the nostrils, and although it is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, the drug also causes the blood vessels in the lining of the nose passages to shrink. Shortly after use, the blood vessels widen again, and the red, runny stuffed-up nose of the recent user can be a telltale sign.

Cocaine abuse ruins human health: Skin

During treatment, some people may experience some unfriendly crawling feelings beneath the skin as they are withdrawing from cocaine. They may describe cocaine bugs as biting, creeping, burning or itching, and may scratch their skin until it bleeds. Although this sensation can be treated to some extent by tranquillizer type drugs, in most cases the user has to wait until it settles down and goes away of its own accord.

Finally cocaine is not any drug you would want to flow in your system. It is highly addictive and life threatening. If you are struggling with this drug, you may have noticed that from this article, very vital organs of the body are all affected by this drug. Your health cannot be compared with anything. You must make a U turn to redeem your life back. Doctor Dalal Akoury will help in every step of the way. All you need to do is to schedule for an appointment with her today.

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Career and drugs

Heroin assignment in the brain

September 9, 2016
Heroin assignment

Heroin assignment in the brain are never good for human health in general

Heroin assignment in the brain: Facts about heroin addiction

When you ask me this question how does heroin work in the brain? I will respond to help you not get confused as to whether heroin is good for your health or otherwise. You cannot gamble with your life and most importantly your health. For your information, this I the most valuable asset one can ever possess in life. When experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center say that your health is your health, it is not a gimmick. It is a confirmed fact and you can attest to it even as a layman. Heroin as a drug has nothing to offer in the protection to this most valuable yet priceless asset called health. And just to erase the confusion from your mind if any, doctor Dalal Akoury the MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center explains that, under normal circumstance the heroin assignment in the brain generally human body is to naturally produce its own opiate-like substances and uses them as neurotransmitters.

As we progress into the discussion about heroin assignment in the brain, let me make emphasis that in a different way, I have not just singled out heroin but substances like opiate. Meaning that some of the substances am alluding to may include endorphins, enkephalins and dynorphin and collectively they are commonly known as endogenous opioids. Endogenous opioids modulate our reactions to painful stimuli and this is where many go wrong and are attempting to associate heroin with proper functionality of the brain. That aside these endogenous also regulate vital functions such as hunger and thirst and are involved in mood control, immune response, and other processes.

Heroin assignment in the brain: Exogenous substances

And now as to the reason why opiates like heroin and morphine are affecting us so powerfully is that, these exogenous substances bind to the same receptors as our endogenous opioids. There are three kinds of receptors widely distributed throughout the brain including the mu, delta, and kappa receptors.
These receptors through the second messengers, influences the likelihood that ion channels will open, which in certain cases reduces the excitability of neurons. This reduced excitability is the likely source of the euphoric effect of opiates and appears to be mediated by the mu and delta receptors.

This euphoric effect also appears to involve another mechanism in which the GABA-inhibitory interneurons of the ventral tegmental area come into play. By attaching to their mu receptors, exogenous opioids reduce the amount of GABA released. Remember that under normal circumstances, GABA reduces the amount of dopamine released in the nucleus accumbens. By inhibiting this inhibitor, the opiates ultimately increase the amount of dopamine produced and the amount of pleasure felt. Besides that doctor Akoury says that the chronic consumption of opiates inhibits the production of cAMP. However this inhibition will be offset in the long run by other cAMP production mechanisms. When no opiates are available, this increased cAMP production capacity comes to the fore and results in neural hyperactivity and the sensation of craving the drug. And with craving you can easily continue in the addiction life. Doctor Dalal Akoury MD, wants to help you defeat all these and set you free from all manner of addiction. You can call her today to schedule for that important appointment.

Heroin assignment in the brain: Facts about heroin addiction

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Addicted brain

Brain vulnerability to heroin infections

September 9, 2016
Brain vulnerability

Brain vulnerability to heroin infections is real and getting brain health efficiency for addiction treatment begins with establishing a healthy brain communication network flows

Brain vulnerability to heroin infections: Different avenues through which heroin attacks

The brain vulnerability to heroin infection is one great concern that many people are yearning to understand. And for sure most people have realize that addictive drugs affect the body, but they always fail to realize that the effects of heroin on the brain can be very devastating. According to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center this will all starts when the heroin users takes their first dose of heroin. This will put the roller coaster in motion and sets them up for long term addiction to heroin. Remember that the initial rush of euphoria is produced by a flood of powerful opiates being sent to the brain eventually becomes the new bar for feeling good. Over time, the brain comes to demand the same level of extra opiates in order to pass that communication to the body that everything is fine. Without the extra boost of opiates, the brain shifts into panic mode, and alerts the body that more opiates are needed in order to feel normal.

Brain vulnerability to heroin infections: Heroin addiction alterations to the brain

It is very sad that we all want to live well yet we often don’t do what will make us live the life we desire. The brain being one of the pillar organs of good health is left exposed yet we claim to know that when the brain is healthy the whole body is too. Because of heroin abuse figurative changes has occur to the brain over time. This is one of the most profound effects heroin has on the brain, because it is essentially permanent if the heroin addict has abused the drug for several years. Doctor Akoury further explains that a normal person has a certain level of dopamine produced on a regular basis that is trickled out to their brain so that they can simply feel normal as they go about their business. For example, after and during vigorous exercise, the body is slowly releasing small bits of this natural dopamine to the brain, so that the person can feel better in spite of their hard work which is also a basic, biological survival mechanism.

Brain vulnerability to heroin infections: Dangers of heroin to the brain

When an addict starts using heroin every single day, such person’s brain is basically saying that “hey just a minute here, and then the body communicates that it is being constantly flooded with extra opiates and dopamine, so there is no need for it to produce any more naturally by itself as it should normally. I am getting all that I need and more.” Over time, if the heroin addict continues doing heroin for years, they are simply training their own body to stop all natural dopamine production. Because heroin addiction is so dangerous and has so many risks involved with long term use, most heroin addicts never make it to this end stage where their body has ceased making natural dopamine. In such cases, drug maintenance therapy with synthetic opiate is recommended. Finally this phenomenon should demonstrate the power heroin use can have which is why to need to seek for help from the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center.

Brain vulnerability to heroin infections: Different avenues through which heroin attacks

 

 

 

 

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