Category Archives: Alcohol recovery

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Relapse triggers role in addiction development

April 4, 2017
Relapse triggers role

Relapse triggers role in addiction development can be stopped if you take action now

Relapse triggers role in addiction development: Cue anticipation and emotional memory

If we want to defeat addictive habits and formation objectively, we must be well conversant with relapse triggers role in addiction development. This a clear factor in addiction says doctor Dalal Akoury MD President and founder of AWAREmed health and wellness resource center. Having said that what is cue? And what is a there role in the development of addiction? Cue anticipation refers to environmental cues that can initiate or elevate craving that often leads to relapse. Because of these functions, they (cues) are often called relapse triggers meaning that, a successful recovery plan will include a strategy for coping with cues (relapse triggers).

Relapse triggers role in addiction development: Environmental cues

These environmental cues (relapse triggers) can be anything that is associated with the addiction. It could be a certain time of day, a place, a person, or an activity. For instance, suppose a man is addicted to pornography use and because of that he usually gets online after his wife goes to bed to satisfy his addiction. The mere act of his wife getting ready to go to bed serves as a cue that prompts powerful cravings. Later, even his own anticipation of his wife going to bed will serve as a powerful cue. The amygdala’s role in emotional memory is responsible for these cues taking root. The brain forms an association between pleasant memories of drug use or addictive activities and the cues. The more a person repeats this cycle, the more it strengthens the emotional memory circuits associated with these cues (cue anticipation). Eventually, this leads to a complete preoccupation with the addiction.

Finally, so far our discussion has been focusing on the role of the amygdala and positive emotional memories. Nonetheless, the brain may also form an association between unpleasant emotions and a memory thereby forming a “bad” memory. For your information, these negative emotional memories play an important role in withdrawal. The negative emotional memory of anxiety becomes associated with the physical signs of withdrawal. And as withdrawal begins, the symptoms trigger an unpleasant emotional memory. This increases the negative experience of withdrawal.

Withdrawal avoidance (via returning to the addiction) often becomes the cornerstone of the addiction in the later stages. Thus, in the earlier stages of addiction, the pleasurable experience of the drug motivates a repetition of that behavior. In the later stages, relief of withdrawal symptoms (physical and/or emotional discomfort) achieves pleasure. This pleasurable relief from withdrawal symptoms continues to motivate the repetition of that behavior. I strongly believe that this is a very interesting topic that needs further consultation with the experts. What we have discussed here may not be conclusive and therefore you may want to schedule an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury for more health insight about addiction and the brain.

Relapse triggers role in addiction development: Cue anticipation and emotional memory

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alcohol problem

Purification goals in addiction recovery

April 4, 2017
Purification goals

Purification goals in addiction recovery is the second step in the recovery process also known as detoxification

Purification goals in addiction recovery: The second treatment step

The major purification goals in addiction recovery also known as detoxification are primary in removing any physical dependency of the drugs an individual has been using before. This is essential because, after the assessment phase of treatment previously discussed in this link, the next procedure is often the most physically demanding. This is so because it is at this point that your body needs to go through a detoxification process reiterates doctor Dalal Akoury MD President and founder of AWAREmed health and wellness resource center. It is important to take note that the process of purification/detoxification can vary depending on the drug you are detoxing from and how severe your usage has been.

Besides, it is important to note that depending on the outcome of the assessment process, our team of experts will upon analyzing and evaluating your assessment feedback may decide whether or not to recommend inpatient detox or detoxing at home. That is to say that if you are suffering from a severe addiction, you are likely to get a recommendation to go through a residential detox which is entirely for your own good. However, in certain cases, you may be prescribed for additional medication in order to help you come down off of your drug. Again, these decisions are made by the medical professionals within your recovery team.

Purification goals in addiction recovery: Withdrawal symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms can vary from one drug to another. However, because many drugs target the same neurological processes and influence the production of the same brain chemicals, withdrawal symptoms are often similar. Withdrawal symptoms are never guaranteed to carry the same severity as another persons’ that’s in recovery, as the severity of these symptoms is dependent upon a number of things including:

  • The drug(s) abused
  • The length of the addiction
  • The amount of the substance ingested during each use
  • Family history
  • Mental health condition

While withdrawal symptoms can differ depending on the above criteria, they also occur in different forms – emotional and physical. While emotional symptoms are bound to transpire no matter the abused drug, physical symptoms tend to be more selective towards those that abuse alcohol and opiates. Take note that common withdrawal symptoms can range from depression, irritability, insomnia, sweating, and an array of other symptoms.

Purification goals in addiction recovery: The key to success in detoxification

Finally, the main key to success in this treatment phase is simply grit. Getting through withdrawal without relapsing is physically demanding and difficult work. You will be tempted to give in and give up. You might feel that the pain isn’t worth it, and that going back to your addiction is the best answer. This is often a point where one can easily loose on all the efforts that have been made. Doctor Akoury advice that patients’ needs to keep in mind that any experience of extreme withdrawal symptoms are only temporary and patients need not lose focus because in no time the experience will be long gone and you will be back on your feet again ready to overcome your addiction ghost.

Purification goals in addiction recovery: The second treatment step

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addiction

Dopamine impact in substance abuse

April 4, 2017
Dopamine impact

The distinction between substance abuse and addiction is often very confusing, nonetheless knowing the distinction marks the beginning of proper healing from the scourge of addiction

Dopamine impact in substance abuse: The brain reward center

Drug seeking and craving to the brain is very interesting more so when considering how the brain functions. It is true that the brain has evolved over time in a way that ensures human survival. And in fact, our brain’s reward system is part of that survival system. In many instances, we often experience an urgent need for food whenever we are starving and generally have a powerful desire for sex too. All these happens because of the dopamine impact. And according to doctor Dalal Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, the brain’s reward system rewards food and sex because they ensure our survival. Unfortunately, drugs of abuse operate within these reward systems which leads people to experience an urgent need or powerful desire for drugs or addictive activities.

The brain’s reward system has ensured our survival. You may not have known but food, water, and sex are some of the elements that activate the reward system. Therefore when the brain’s reward center is activated, it releases dopamine. Dopamine then creates a pleasing, enjoyable sensation which then motivates us into repeating these behaviors which are necessary for our survival. The reason why this is happening is because dopamine has rewarded us with a pleasurable feeling. Doctor Akoury recommends that from an evolutionary standpoint of view, it is very helpful to have a reward system that works. Like for instance, imagine that there is very little food and you’re wandering around looking for food. When you finally find something to eat, this triggers your reward system. This pleasing feeling (dopamine “reward”) will associate with whatever behavior that led you to that food. This causes you to want to repeat that behavior.

Moreover, the reward system is closely tied to emotional and subjective memories. If you were successful and found food in a particular place for instance, in the future you will want to look for food in the same location. This reward system increases the likelihood that you will be successful in finding food there the next time. This is because your brain chemicals are rewarding you with a pleasing sensation. It also helps you to remember how and where this pleasant feeling occurred.

Dopamine impact in substance abuse: The negatives of reward sensations

It will come to you as a surprise that the element that motives your survival is, unfortunately, the very same reward system that ensures your survival also rewards drug use. Doctor Akoury says that all addictive substances and activities will trigger the release of dopamine which rewards us with a pleasant sensation thereby succeeding in motivating us to continuously indulge in these harmful behaviors. It is nowadays common knowledge that peoples with addiction problems will do all it takes to get their drug of choice and in the same way, they continue with their addiction despite the harm it causes to themselves or their loved ones.

It is therefore very important to note that all these characteristic of addictive behaviors arise from the brain’s pleasure and rewards centers. Therefore seeking for lasting solutions becomes a must to do for all victims. This may not be a very popular thing owing to the addictiveness of some of these drugs, but nonetheless, it is the best option if you want to have a healthy life that is free from all sorts of addiction. You can schedule an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury for the commencement of your journey to recovery.

Dopamine impact in substance abuse: The brain reward center

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stem cells

Diabetes disease treatment using stem cells

April 4, 2017
Diabetes disease treatment

Diabetes disease treatment using stem cells a great idea for all age groups

Diabetes disease treatment using stem cells: The usefulness of stem cells

Various research has been established that most of the people struggling with diabetes illness have used drugs before. That is to say, substance abuse increases the risk of contracting this disease in many ways. Because of this, we all have a duty to ensure that diabetes and all other drugs addiction related complications are addressed effectively. That is why in this article, doctor Dalal Akoury MD, President and founder of AWAREMED Health and Wellness Resource Center is going to help us understand how diabetes disease treatment can be achieved using stem cells.

If you are struggling with this, you may want to visit us at the facility, and doctor Akoury will offer to you new advanced, patented fetal stem cell transplant-based method for diabetes mellitus which has actually been proved effective in the treatment of both types 1 and 2 diabetes as well as the prevention of diabetes-related complications, which usually affect the eyes, arteries, kidneys and so on. When considering this kind of treatment, it is important to note that alongside the traditional treatment of type 1 diabetes, stem cells are also very important:

  • Restoring the patient’s own β-cells and improving their functional capacity
  • Preventing the destruction of β-cells that are functional at the time of the treatment
  • Preventing diabetes-related complications affecting eyes, kidneys, peripheral nerves, and so on
  • Improving insulin-dependent tissue condition.
  • Ending the auto-aggression of cell-mediated immunity factors against β-cells

Diabetes disease treatment using stem cells: In type 2 treatment, fetal stem cells can help:

  • Restore peripheral tissue sensitivity to insulin;
  • Reduce the dose of hypoglycemic medications.
  • Reduce atherogenic hyperinsulinemia;
  • Improve the condition of arterial walls, which is vital for the prevention of atherosclerosis and complications arising from it;
  • Decrease the production of glucose and pathologic lipids by liver cells;

Diabetes disease treatment using stem cells: Treatment for children

Fetal stem cell therapy is one of the most effective treatments for type 1 diabetes mellitus in children and the only one that can slow down or temporarily terminate autoimmune aggression against pancreatic beta cells.  If treatment is started within 6-8 weeks after onset, it is possible to prolong “honeymoon” period, sometimes for a long period of time. Nonetheless, it is worth noting that in children, fetal stem cell therapy is likely to results in:

  • Prevention of serious diabetes-related complication
  • Prevention of blood sugar fluctuations (no hyper- and hypoglycemia that might cause complications at later stages)
  • Preservation of beta cell production by the pancreas (if treatment is started early after onset)
  • Immune boosting
  • Easier and better diabetes management
  • Better overall health and general development

Finally, doctor Akoury is advising that for better delivery of good result using stem cell therapy, it is worth noting that this therapy is most effective at the early stages of diabetes. That is to say, if you or anyone you know is struggling with this condition, you need not wait until it is too late. The time for treatment is now, taking note that the main criterion for positive effects with diabetes is the long-term management of the disease and the inhibition or prevention of complications.

Diabetes disease treatment using stem cells: The usefulness of stem cells

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motor neuron cells

Brain unique functions and addiction

April 4, 2017
Brain unique functions

Brain unique functions and addiction have no relations and must not be compromised

Brain unique functions and addiction: Neurons and brain communication pathways

The study of some of the elements that cause health problems in our life can be very interesting. Understanding the brain unique functions and how it can be altered by addiction to various substances is very important. The brain communication pathways become the biggest victims whenever there is an attack resulting from drug abuse. The brain’s electro-chemical communication system is a communication system that sends information through a vast network of interconnecting neurons. Through this, the brain begins to develop a preferred or standard conduit of sending signals between neurons (neural pathways). Experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury MD President and founder of the facility can now confirm that in the past it was believed that the brain’s neural pathways will be completely formed by the time we reached adulthood.

Brain unique functions and addiction: Neurons adaptation to changing environments

Progressively the scientific findings have established that this is a continuous process and in fact, the human brain continues to create new neurons and form neural pathways throughout our entire lifespan. That is why neurons are seen as dynamic cells that are constantly adapting to changing circumstances. It, therefore, means that if an injury or damages happen to an individual’s brain (such as a stroke or injury) the neurons will make new communication route around the damaged area. Scientifically doctor Akoury reiterates that this ability of recreation of neurons is known as neuronal plasticity.

Brain unique functions and addiction: Neuronal plasticity

Doctor Akoury reiterates that neuroplasticity is responsible for the regulation of our learning processes which enables us to adapt to our surroundings conveniently. To better understand neuroplasticity let us consider using this illustration. The brain forms neural pathways in a way that is similar to the formation of a demarcated hiking pathway. The more we travel a path, the faster, easier, and more familiar that path becomes. As the routine continues it becomes more visible, smoother, and easier to travel on. And with time this becomes a preferred route for many. This is also how neural pathways are formed. With time the brain forms familiar neural pathways which then become habitual routes. And in the event that the familiar route is blocked the brain responds swiftly by forming a new route around the blockage.

From the illustration, suppose you walk through the bush each day to visit a friend. You use the same trail each time and one day as you travel along your familiar path, you discover a huge tree has fallen over. It’s blocking your passage. You will need to forge a new path to go around the tree. At first, this new path will be narrow, difficult, and slow. It might even be uncomfortable. However, with time, it will become a well-worn, comfortable path. It will be just as easy as the original path. This can be affected by the use of drugs in many ways and to avoid that, it is only logical that you schedule an appointment with doctor Akoury to help you in keeping your brain unique functions uninterrupted for continuity.

Brain unique functions and addiction: Neurons and brain communication pathways

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