Category Archives: Integrative Addiction Treatment for Physicians

cocaine-addiction

Understanding crack cocaine effects

Understanding crack cocaine

Understanding crack cocaine effects is important as it helps you have the facts about the dangers attached

Understanding crack cocaine effects: Physical and mental effects

The dangers of substance abuse is one that we can’t ignore any longer. Lives are being lost daily and families are breaking up. Economic business engagement is not left out either among those suffering. If nothing isn’t done in time, we may not have tomorrow. Because of that, we spoke to doctor Dalal Akoury MD President and founder of AWAREmed health and wellness resource center to help us in the understanding crack cocaine in our societies today. Having been in this discipline for over two decades, doctor Akoury is highly knowledgeable and will be of great help to you should you find time to share with her your concerns. As you’re considering that, we have both short and long term of how crack cocaine affects our lives.

Understanding crack cocaine effects: Short-term effects

Because it is smoked, the short-term effects of crack cocaine are more immediate and more intense than that of powdered cocaine as discussed below:

  • Loss of appetite
  • Tactile hallucination that creates the illusion of bugs burrowing under the skin
  • Panic and psychosis
  • Intense drug craving
  • Increased rate of breathing
  • Increased heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature
  • Disturbed sleep patterns
  • Depression
  • Convulsions, seizures and sudden death from high doses (even one time)
  • Contracted blood vessels
  • Anxiety and paranoia

Understanding crack cocaine effects: Long-term effects

  • Permanent damage to blood vessels of ear and brain, high blood pressure, leading to heart attacks, strokes and death
  • Liver, kidney and lung damage
  • Severe chest pains
  • Respiratory failure
  • Infectious diseases and abscesses if injected
  • Malnutrition, weight loss
  • Severe tooth decay
  • Sexual problems, reproductive damage, and infertility
  • Disorientation, apathy, confused exhaustion
  • Irritability and mood disturbances
  • Delirium or psychosis
  • Severe depression
  • Tolerance and addiction

Understanding crack cocaine effects: Effects on the young children

It is so painful that very innocent babies in their mother’s wombs become victims of cocaine. When pregnant women use cocaine in whichever form the mother and the unborn child will all be in danger. This may increase the risk of losing the pregnancy especially in the early stages of the pregnancy. The consequences of cocaine use by pregnant women may result in the unborn baby suffers a stroke, heart attack or have permanent brain damage.

Finally, all the medicines we use are drugs whose objective is to correct something about the way your body is working with a view of trying to making it work better. These drugs are sometimes necessary but all the same, they are still drugs: they act as stimulants or sedatives, and too much can kill you. So if you do not use medicines as they are supposed to be used, they can be as dangerous as illegal drugs. Therefore you must ensure that you are always seeking guidance from the experts to avoid doing wrong things. At AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care you will get all the information and guidance you need and you will also be attended to by a team of experts who will focus on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE.

Understanding crack cocaine effects: Physical and mental effects

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Fighting opioid addiction

Skin picking and illicit drugs effects

Skin picking

Skin picking and illicit drugs effects on your beauty can cause serious health complications too

Skin picking and illicit drugs effects: Heroin withdrawal

Withdrawing from heroin, a highly addictive opiate is an intensely uncomfortable experience. Restlessness, nervousness, severe cravings and goose bumps can trigger the urge to self-mutilate. Users in withdrawal often say that they feel like they’re crawling out of their skin. In this state, skin picking may provide a momentary sense of release. Heroin withdrawal affects the skin in several important ways. Goosebumps, along with chills, shivering and cold sweats, occur as the brain adjusts to the absence of this powerful opioid. These bumps are caused by tiny muscles that tighten at the base of the fine hairs that cover the skin. For the user in withdrawal, compulsively rubbing or tugging at the skin may counteract the sensations of cold and restlessness.

Skin picking and self-mutilation can also help the user cope with opiate cravings. The sensations of pleasure or pain are a temporary distraction from the desire to use heroin. Ritualistic picking can provide an outlet for the intense anxiety, nervous tension, and restlessness that characterize withdrawal. But skin picking provides only a temporary relief from the symptoms of opiate withdrawal. Once physical withdrawal symptoms begin, they can last for several days. The best way to avoid withdrawal symptoms like goose bumps, sweats, and muscle pain is to enter a medically supervised detox program like AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury MD. At a detox center, you can receive the physical and moral support you need to minimize the symptoms of withdrawal and avoid a relapse.

Skin picking and illicit drugs effects: Treatment for skin disorders

This is one such treatment which needs a lot of expertise that is why doctor Akoury carries out an assessment on all her patients to evaluate their psychological soundness before taking any treatment action. It must be noted that this substance is very addictive and a comprehensive psychiatric assessment is very vital. Under normal cases an initial, personalized assessment should cover the following areas:

  • What triggers the behavior?
  • What does the individual get from the behavior?
  • Does the individual have co-occurring mental health problems, like anxiety or depression?
  • Does the individual have an alcohol or drug problem?
  • Does the person have a family history of mental illness?
  • Has the person tried any medications or therapies in the past?

Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have not approved any medications specifically for the treatment of BFRBs, several drugs have been used successfully to control the impulse to pick or scratch the skin. The following are some of the medications which can be essentially helpful:

  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and escitalopram (Lexapro), have been approved for the treatment of depression and/or obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (Elavil) and imipramine (Elavil)
  • Opioid antagonists, such as naltrexone (ReVia), are used to reduce the pleasurable effects of alcohol and certain narcotics
  • Neuroleptic medications, such as olanzapine (Zyprexa) and risperidone (Risperdal), are used to treat repetitive, compulsive behaviors

Along with these medications, behavioral modification therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can help reduce the urge to self-mutilate. These therapies have also proven to be valuable in the treatment of drug addiction. You can benefit from all these by scheduling an appointment with doctor Akoury now.

Skin picking and illicit drugs effects: Heroin withdrawal

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Leaky Gut definition

Healthy digestive system for wellness

Healthy digestive system

Healthy digestive system for wellness for good gut health is very important

Healthy digestive system for wellness: Never ignore communications from your Gut

Digestive disorders can cause so much uneasiness, though we often shy off from taking about our healthy digestive system, like bloating, constipation, abdominal cramping and the like, many are suffering in silence. It will interest you to note that currently about 60-70 million people in the US alone are affected by digestive diseases. Because of this, we cannot continue pretending that all is well. And that explains why doctor Dalal Akoury MD President and founder of AWAREmed health and wellness resource center together with her team of experts are helping people across the globe by transforming each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power. Remember that doctor Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. And as we continue the discussion, of you have any problem with your digestive system, you can call her today on telephone number 843 213 1480 for the commencement of your treatment.

Good gut health is important to the general and best functioning of all your body systems. It is also true that many conventional doctors have treated the symptoms without looking for what is really the cause. This has resulted in a cycle of symptoms which keep recurring despite regular treatment. And talking about gut health, it is worth noting that besides your digestive system, it also affects other parts of the body systems. The following are some of the symptoms that can be experienced due to arising digestive issues:

  • Anxiety or depression
  • Bloating, belching, and flatulence after meals
  • Chronic intestinal infections
  • Fatigue
  • Indigestion, diarrhea or constipation
  • Iron deficiency
  • Painful joints
  • Skin irritations like post-adolescent acne or rosacea
  • Weak or cracked fingernails

Some of the biggest contributors to digestive disorders, including leaky gut syndrome, are stress, toxin overload, poor diet and an imbalance of bacteria. It may not be easy to shift some of these factors, but it is possible, and we can help. Let’s look at some small steps you can take to get your digestive system back on track.

  • Stress reduction
  • Eliminating toxins from your system
  • Eating real food
  • Seeking for probiotic support
  • Looking at the underlying causes and

By considering using other supplements

You might find that taking digestive enzymes with foods calms your symptoms by aiding your system in the breakdown and absorption of nutrients. Extra omega 3 fat supplements can help calm inflammation. You might need a supplement like glutamine, quercetin, and zinc, all of which help heal the gut. Finally, it might seem overwhelming to examine what is really going on in your gut. But because digestive health is tied to so many other conditions, if you don’t address what’s going on there, you can’t truly feel your best. And for you to get the best, you may want to consider scheduling an appointment with doctor Akoury now to help you out professionally.

Healthy digestive system for wellness: Never ignore communications from your Gut

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Stress hormones response pathways

Stress hormones response

Stress hormones response pathways tailored at addressing the real problem

Stress hormones response pathways: Food addiction pathways

When individuals are confronted with stressful situations, specific hormones are produced, which help the body to cope with the situation. One of the body’s stress hormones response pathways is known as the limbic-hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (LHPA) axis. It generates a series of brain hormones that eventually leading to production of cortisol by the adrenal gland. Cortisol helps to make available more sugar to the brain and other parts of the body to help cope with the stressful event. Experts at AWAREmed health and wellness resource center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury MD reiterates that the individuals who are under chronic stress have an overactive LHPA axis.

Hyperactivity of this axis has been reported in individuals who are obese as well as alcoholics, drug users, smokers and victims of early abuse or trauma. Elevated cortisol levels on an ongoing basis are not only harmful to health, but also harmful to mood. It can cause depression. It also affects mood by interfering with the actions of one of the brain’s major messengers, serotonin. Serotonin defects cause depression and anxiety. Many alcoholics, smokers, drug addicts and obese individuals suffer from depression and anxiety. Nicotine, alcohol and certain drugs increase serotonin activities and temporarily improve mood. These addictions are a means of self-medication.

Stress hormones response pathways: Food as “Medication”

Carbohydrates also raise serotonin levels and enhance mood temporarily. Studies have established that the majority of individuals who are obese crave carbohydrates. Low serotonin and stress induced activation of the LHPA axis are also known to increase the risk for substance abuse and food addiction through another feel good pathway, the dopamine reward system. The pleasure derived from substances such as alcohol, nicotine and certain drugs are, in part, due to the stimulation of dopamine. Eating foods high in sugar, fat or even the smell or taste of an individual’s favorite food activates the dopamine reward system, producing pleasure and satisfaction. Frequent use of addictive substances, such as nicotine, alcohol and food, reduces the pleasurable effects of the dopamine reward system so that more and more of the substance is required to derive satisfaction.

Recent studies found that obesity can be associated with defects in dopaminergic responses to the smell and taste of food. It may be possible that some obese individuals may eat more and more food to increase dopamine activities and improve mood. Abstinence from the abused substance helps to reverse or improve many neurochemical defects associated with addictions. Bariatric surgery, by reducing the amount of food intake, and enhancing mood through weight loss, is effective in improving neurochemical defects contributing to the addictive behavior. However, such improvements can be short-lived. Food cravings as well as depression may reoccur over time, along with weight regain. The behaviors responsible for initiating the cascade of events leading to such defects are not resolved by the surgery. Low self-worth and poor stress coping skills must be addressed for these issues to resolve. Therefore, if this description suits your situation, you can schedule an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today for the commencement of your recovery program.

Stress hormones response pathways: Food addiction pathways

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Taming food addiction

Food addiction pathways and obesity

Food addiction pathways

Food addiction pathways and obesity are avenues of gaining unhealthy body weight

Food addiction pathways and obesity: The connection of food and weight gain

Addiction is dependence on a substance that the affected individual feels powerless to stop. Millions around the world have addictions problems, and food addiction is among one of the most common. Doctor Dalal Akoury MD is addiction veteran and founder of AWAREmed health and wellness resource center agrees with the research findings that nearly 80% of gastric bypass pre-surgical patients suffer from food addiction. Several research experts across the globe, have established that the behavioral biochemical causes and effects underlying food addiction pathways are nearly identical to those of other self-destructive addictions. Food is a basic need, but when we turn to food as a solace to coping with our low feelings of self-worth then there is a problem as we are going to find out following.

Food addiction pathways and obesity: Turning to food to cope with feelings of low self-worth

One of the most common behavioral characteristic of individuals suffering from self-destructive addictions is harboring the feeling of not being good enough. Feelings of low self-worth, may cause a poor self-image, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, the need to over achieve and an intense and chronic fear of failure. Professionals studying addictions believe that society contributes to the development of addictions by establishing unreasonable or unreachable criteria for worthiness. The “addict” not only have negative feelings regarding self but has also failed to develop appropriate stress coping. Instead of confronting life stressors directly or finding healthier ways to manage emotions such as through exercise, journaling, relaxation, spiritual care, therapy etc., the “addict” seeks to avoid unpleasant feelings by eating, drinking alcohol, smoking, using drugs, gambling and various other ways of escaping from reality.

One collaborative study found that more than 90% of pre-surgical morbidly obese patients use avoidance stress coping behavior to handle emotions, seeking comfort from negative feelings and stressful situations through the use and sometimes the abuse of food. There are strong associations between avoidance coping behavior, food addiction and lack of control over eating. Most food addicts feel that they have no control over their addiction in spite of having complete knowledge of its negative social and health consequences. They recognize the adverse effects the addiction has on friends, family, and self, but feel powerless over such behavior. This generates feelings of guilt and remorse thereby worsening the addictions and setting in motion a vicious cycle of avoidance and abuse.

Finally, doctor Akoury reiterates that, any negative feelings toward self, remorse, guilt and inappropriate stress coping behavior may cause neurochemical changes within the brain that adversely influence mood and cause a physical dependency for the addictive substance. These neurochemical defects occur in the limbic system of the brain, the area of the brain that controls mood and basic functions such as eating. And that explains the passionate reason that made doctor Akoury to create this medical facility to primarily help each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power. Besides, Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. You can reach her on telephone number 843 213 1480 for further professional guidance.

Food addiction pathways and obesity: The connection of food and weight gain

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