Neurotransmitters

April 25, 2014

Neurotransmitters-General Psychology

the first neurotransmitter was discovered in early 1920s several others have since been discovered

Neurotransmitters are the chemicals which allow the transmission of signals from one neuron to the next across synapses. They are also found at the axon endings of motor neurons, where they stimulate the muscle fibers. Normally they together with their close relatives are produced by some glands such as the pituitary and the adrenal glands. For a couple of articles in the coming days I will dwell much about NAD being a neurotransmitter and it other functions. I would therefore want to kindly have you on board as we dig into this interesting topic, stay tuned and let us learn together, but for the purpose of article, I want us to byway of introduction review some of the most significant neurotransmitters we have as a basis of understanding ware we are heading to.

Neurotransmitters-Acetylcholine

This is one of the first neurotransmitter to be discovered in early ninety’s. In 1921 it was isolated by a Nobel laurite German biologist called Otto Loewi for his work. Some of its functions are;

It is responsible for much of the stimulation of muscles, including the muscles of the gastro-intestinal system.
It is also found in sensory neurons and in the autonomic nervous system, and has a part in scheduling REM (dream) sleep.

The plant poisons curare and hemlock cause paralysis by blocking the acetylcholine receptor sites of muscle cells. The well-known poison botulin works by preventing the vesicles in the axon ending from releasing acetylcholine, causing paralysis. The botulin derivative botox is used by many people to temporarily eliminate wrinkles. On a more serious note, there is a link between acetylcholine and Alzheimer’s disease: There is something on the order of a 90% loss of acetylcholine in the brains of people suffering from Alzheimer’s, which is a major cause of senility.

Neurotransmitters–Norepinephrine

This was discovered by a Swedish biologist named Ulf von Euler in 1946 by then it was called Noradrenalin. Ulf also won a Nobel Prize.

Norepinephrine is strongly associated with bringing our nervous systems into “high alert.”
It is prevalent in the sympathetic nervous system, and it increases our heart rate and our blood pressure.
Our adrenal glands release it into the blood stream, along with its close relative epinephrine (aka adrenalin).
It is also important for forming memories.

Neurotransmitters-Dopamine

It is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, meaning that when it finds its way to its receptor sites, it blocks the tendency of that neuron to fire. It was discovered in 1950s by another Swede called Arvi Carlsson. Dopamine is strongly associated with reward mechanisms in the brain. Drugs like cocaine, opium, heroin, and alcohol increase the levels of dopamine, as doe’s nicotine. If it feels good, dopamine neurons are probably involved!

The severe mental illness schizophrenia has been shown to involve excessive amounts of dopamine in the frontal lobes, and drugs that block dopamine are used to help schizophrenics.
On the other hand, too little dopamine in the motor areas of the brain are responsible for Parkinson’s disease, which involves uncontrollable muscle tremors.
It was Arvid Carlsson mentioned above who figured out that the precursor to dopamine (called L-dopa) could elevate some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s. This would latter in 2000 see him being awarded the Nobel Prize.
Recently, it has been noted that low dopamine may related not only to the unsociability of schizophrenics, but also to social anxiety.
On the other hand, dopamine has been found to have relatively little to do with the pleasures of eating.

Neurotransmitters-GABA

Eugene Roberts and J. Awapara jointly discovered GABA (gamma amino-butyric acid) in 1950, which is also usually an inhibitory neurotransmitter.

GABA acts like a brake to the excitatory neurotransmitters that lead to anxiety.
People with too little GABA tend to suffer from anxiety disorders, and drugs like Valium work by enhancing the effects of GABA.
Lots of other drugs influence GABA receptors, including alcohol and barbiturates.
Luck of GABA in certain parts of the brain, results in epilepsy.

Neurotransmitters–Glutamate

It is an excitatory relative of GABA which is the most common neurotransmitter in the central nervous system as much as half of all neurons in the brain and is especially important in regards to memory. Curiously, glutamate is actually toxic to neurons, and anything in excess will kill them. Sometimes brain damage or a stroke will lead to an excess and end with many more brain cells dying than from the original trauma. ALS also known as Lou Gehrig disease comes as a result of excessive glutamate production. Many researchers believe it may be responsible for quite a variety of diseases of the nervous system, and are now looking for ways to minimize its effects

It was discovered 1907 by Kikunae Ikeda of Tokay Imperial Univ. while looking for the flavor common to things like cheese, meat, and mushrooms. He was able to extract an acid from seaweed glutamate. He went on to invent the well known seasoning MSG monosodium glutamate. It took decades for Peter Usherwood to identify glutamate as a neurotransmitter (in locusts) in 1994.

Neurotransmitters–Serotonin

Serotonin is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that has been found to be intimately involved in emotion and mood. For instance:

Too little serotonin has been shown to lead to depression, problems with anger control, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and suicide.
Too little also leads to an increased appetite for carbohydrates (starchy foods) and trouble sleeping, which are also associated with depression and other emotional disorders.
It has also been tied to migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, and fibromyalgia.

Neurotransmitters-Endorphin

In 1973, Solomon Snyder and Candace Pert of Johns Hopkins discovered endorphin. Endorphin is short for “endogenous morphine.” It is structurally very similar to the opioids (opium, morphine, heroin, etc.) and has similar functions: Inhibitory, it is involved in pain reduction and pleasure, and the opioid drugs work by attaching to endorphin’s receptor sites. It is also the neurotransmitter that allows bears and other animals to hibernate. Consider: Heroin slows heart-rate, respiration, and metabolism in general – exactly what you would need to hibernate. Of course, sometimes heroin slows it all down to nothing: Permanent hibernation.

Having got the background of these neurotransmitters I want to seek your indulgence to stay on the link to continue getting the optimum benefits from doctor Dalal Akoury who is the founder and MD of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. She is a professional training physicians globally to offer the best to patients. In her facility she take keen interest and focus on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE while administering treatment to her patients.

Neurotransmitters-Psychology of neurotransmitters

Alternative Approaches to end Alcohol Abuse

April 24, 2014

Alternative Approaches to end Alcohol Abuse-The HPA Axis

researches have been done and conclusions made. One of the Research fund that the “home” of alcoholism (alcohol) resides in the HPA (hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal) axis of the neuroendocrine system …

Alternative Approaches to end Alcohol Abuse-The Home of Alcoholism in the Body and Mind

Consumption of alcohol is a problem which has kept the global society thinking. There are two different schools of thoughts depending on the interest represented. The interest of health and that of generating revenue, for the purpose of this article we will focus on the interest of health and the possible solutions. Several researches have been done and conclusions made. One of the finds was that that the “home” of alcoholism resides in the HPA (hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal) axis of the neuroendocrine system, to this effect scientists have developed extremely sophisticated tests which monitor the performance of this axis under various conditions by measuring:

Dopamine
Serotonin, GABA
Glutamate
Epinephrine (adrenaline)
Norepinephrine (noradrenalin)
Cortisol
DHEA

These are the six big neurotransmitters and two key hormones which define either the health of the neuroendocrine system or its state and depth of illness. To better understand the root of this phenomenon we will go into it a little more detail regarding genetic addictive biochemistry and active addiction and how they affect the HPA axis.

Alternative Approaches to end Alcohol Abuse-The hypothalamus

The endocrine system is the network of glands in the body comprised of the hypothalamus, pituitary, pineal, adrenals, thyroid, parathyroid and the sex glands; ovaries and testes. These glands secrete hormones throughout the body to each and every organ via the blood which are received by their complimentary receptors. Hormones are “messengers” which carry messages coded by our DNA with the intention of keeping an organ regulated and healthy, essentially functioning as it should. A hormone’s message will stimulate, suppress or maintain functional cell or tissue activity of the organ it is received by.

The hypothalamus is the center piece of the endocrine system and is located in the middle of the base of the brain. The purpose of hypothalamus’ is to establish and maintain homeostasis; balance within the body. It regulates all the functions of the autonomic system of breathing, heart rate, etc… but also hunger, thirst, sexual drive, sleep urination and metabolism which includes blood sugar control.

Although technically hypothalamus is part of the endocrine system it is really central to both the endocrine and nervous system; in fact, it is in the hypothalamus that these two extremely complex systems of the body intersect. As the Master Accountant, the hypothalamus performs checks and balances and responds to chemical messages of deficient or excess by sending various hormones and neurotransmitters to “adjust” to the requirements of your internal and/or external environments to maintain status quo. The hypothalamus is able to do this because it houses receptor sites for both hormones from the endocrine system and neurotransmitters from the nervous system and it utilizes the information it receives from those sites to do its job of not only controlling the entire endocrine system, including having a profound influence on the liver, heart and kidneys, but establishing healthy brain chemistry and nervous system performance by correcting neurotransmitter imbalances by either slowing production of what is in excess, ingesting or degrading them faster, or in cases of deficiency, producing and releasing them as required.

Alternative Approaches to end Alcohol Abuse-Addictive biochemistry

The door to addictive biochemistry opens when either the hypothalamus or one of the organs which serve the hypothalamus in accomplishing this job is injured, or if the nutrients required are not available. In any one of these conditions the entire system will fall off the “point zero” (homeostasis) that the HPA system tries to maintain, and the door for addictive biochemistry is opened. It is a well-known fact that addictive biochemistry and full out alcoholism are associated with over expression of the sympathetic nervous system; low serotonin, GABA, dopamine, endorphins and enkephalins and it is in the hypothalamus where the delicate job of balancing this network of hormones and neurotransmitters to achieve physical and mental health is supposed to be done whether it be directly from the hypothalamus or via the pituitary and adrenals under the control of the hypothalamus.

Alternative Approaches to end Alcohol Abuse-The difference between addictive biochemistry and alcoholism

The only difference between addictive biochemistry and full out alcoholism is that addictive biochemistry becomes aggravated, meaning that the deficient condition within the hypothalamus, pituitary or adrenals is made more profound by the damaging effects of alcohol toxicity and the medicating effects which, while drinking, overexpress serotonin, endorphins and dopamine which magnifies the negative impact of an already up-regulated brain chemistry. The symptoms the problem drinker experiences intensify in direct relationship to the diminishing health of the neuroendocrine system which further encourages the person to drink more thus causing even more damage. This cycle progressively intensifies until intervention which discontinues and heals the damage is required to stop it.

The pituitary gland is located below the hypothalamus and is directly connected to it via nerve and circulatory pathways. The hypothalamus regulates the function of the pituitary gland which in turn controls hormonal secretions of all other glands; however, specific to alcoholism we are concerned with the function of the adrenals and the secretion of cortisol which is under control of ACTH (adrenocorticotrophin) secreted by the pituitary, and epinephrine and norepinephrine which is also released by the adrenals due to a rise in CRH and/or signals from the sympathetic nervous system. In the case of cortisol release, when the hypothalamus registers low blood sugar it will send CRH (corticotrophin releasing hormone) to the pituitary which then releases ACTH which will cause cortisol to be secreted from the adrenals. This chain of events will also cause the release of epinephrine and to a lesser degree norepinephrine. Prolonged increased levels of epinephrine will block insulin receptors which lead to insulin resistance and lowered serotonin, endorphin, enkephalin and GABA levels which impairs HPA functions and increases compulsive/addictive behavior.

The adrenals sit on top of the kidneys and are directly controlled by the pituitary gland. The adrenals are comprised of two sections; one is the medulla which is the inner core and the second is the adrenal cortex which is the outer layer. The medulla relates to the sympathetic nervous system and produces the catecholamine’s epinephrine and norepinephrine. The adrenal cortex produces sex hormones, aldosterone, and what we’re most concerned with cortisol.

The adrenals receive chemical messengers (hormones) from the pituitary and signal from the sympathetic nervous system which determines how much of its hormones it will release. However, if they are injured, diseased or fatigued they will not be able to keep up with the demands from the hypothalamus to maintain homeostasis and mild to severe mental disorders will surface as symptoms of compromised adrenal health.

Although it is hard to imagine because they are docked on our kidneys, adrenal health is fundamental to our mental health. Proper levels of cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine are crucial to our mental well-being so concentrated focus needs to be applied to their health when healing addictive biochemistry and alcoholism. As you consider breaking way from addictive biochemistry and alcoholism, you need the help of an expert to take you through the healing process. Doctor Dalal Akoury is an expert who has the experience of over two decades and has been helping many get their life back globally by emphasizing on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE.

Alternative Approaches to end Alcohol Abuse-The HPA Axis

Alcoholism

April 22, 2014

Alcoholism-What you didn’t know

If you don’t take quick action about your alcohol consumption alcoholism will chain you down

It is an addiction to the consumption of alcoholic beverages or the mental illness and compulsive behavior resulting from alcohol dependency. It intrudes into a person’s life with very negligible or no notice at all because normally consumers of this substance majorly take it for pleasure and then in its own will graduates to other unintended levels. Therefore it’s not always easy to see when your drinking has crossed the line from moderate or social use to problem drinking. But you can be rest assured that if you consume alcohol to cope with difficulties or to avoid feeling bad, you’re in potentially dangerous territory. Alcoholism and alcohol abuse can sneak up on you, so it’s important to be aware of the warning signs and take steps to cut back if you recognize them. Understanding the problem is the first step to overcoming it and this is going to be our focus point in this article.

Understanding alcoholism and alcohol abuse

Alcoholism and alcohol abuse are due to many interconnected factors, including genetics, how you were raised, your social environment, and your emotional health. Some racial groups, such as American Indians and Native Alaskans, are more at risk than others of developing alcohol addiction. People who have a family history of alcoholism or who associate closely with heavy drinkers are more likely to develop drinking problems. Finally, those who suffer from a mental health problem such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder are also particularly at risk, because alcohol may be used to self-medicate.

How then do you get to know if you have a drinking problem? Most of the drinking problem indicators come from the consumers themselves? The following are some of the observations you may be interested in

Feel guilty or ashamed about your drinking.
Lie to others or hide your drinking habits.
Have friends or family members who are worried about your drinking.
Need to drink in order to relax or feel better.
“Black out” or forget what you did while you were drinking.
Regularly drink more than you intended to.

Since drinking is so common in many cultures and the effects vary so widely from person to person, it’s not always easy to figure out where the line is between social drinking and problem drinking. The bottom line is how alcohol affects you. If your drinking is causing problems in your life, you have a drinking problem.

Signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse

Alcohol production is a big industry the world over and so many brewers will not openly tell you the truth about the contents and ingredients in their product 100%. Many at times they will only tell you what is good for your ears and add to their profit. I will tell you decisively some of the obvious symptoms you probably have been ignoring so that you can take care of yourself. They include:

Repeated neglect of your responsibilities at home, work, or school because of your drinking. For example, performing poorly at work, flunking classes, neglecting your kids, or skipping out on commitments because you’re hung over.
Using alcohol in situations where it’s physically dangerous, such as drinking and driving, operating machinery while intoxicated, or mixing alcohol with prescription medication against doctor’s orders.
Experiencing repeated legal problems on account of your drinking. For example, getting arrested for driving under the influence or for drunk and disorderly conduct.
Continuing to drink even though your alcohol use is causing problems in your relationships. Getting drunk with your buddies, for example, even though you know your wife will be very upset, or fighting with your family because they dislike how you act when you drink.
Drinking as a way to relax or de-stress. Many drinking problems start when people use alcohol to self-soothe and relieve stress. Getting drunk after every stressful day, for example, or reaching for a bottle every time you have an argument with your spouse or boss.

The path from alcohol abuse to alcoholism

It should be noted that not all alcohol abusers become full-blown alcoholics, but it is a big risk factor. Sometimes alcoholism develops suddenly in response to a stressful change, such as a breakup, retirement, or another loss. Other times, it gradually creeps up on you as your tolerance to alcohol increases. If you’re a binge drinker or you drink every day, the risks of developing alcoholism are greater.

Signs and symptoms of alcoholism

Alcoholism is the most severe form of problem drinking. It involves all the symptoms of alcohol abuse, but it also involves another element: physical dependence on alcohol. If you rely on alcohol to function or feel physically compelled to drink, you’re an alcoholic.

Tolerance

You need to ask yourself these questions.

Do you have to drink a lot more than you used to in order to get buzzed or to feel relaxed?
Can you drink more than other people without getting drunk?

If the answer to this question is yes then they are signs of tolerance, which can be an early warning sign of alcoholism. Tolerance means that, over time, you need more and more alcohol to feel the same effects.

Withdrawal

Do you need a drink to steady the shakes in the morning? Drinking to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms is a sign of alcoholism and a huge red flag. When you drink heavily, your body gets used to the alcohol and experiences withdrawal symptoms if it’s taken away. These include:

Anxiety
Trembling
Sweating
Nausea and vomiting
Insomnia
Depression
Irritability
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Headache

In severe cases, withdrawal from alcohol can also involve hallucinations, confusion, seizures, fever, and agitation. These symptoms can be dangerous, so talk to your doctor if you are a heavy drinker and want to quit.

Other signs and symptoms of alcoholism (alcohol dependence)

You’ve lost control over your drinking. You often drink more alcohol than you wanted to, for longer than you intended, or despite telling yourself you wouldn’t.
You want to quit drinking, but you can’t. You have a persistent desire to cut down or stop your alcohol use, but your efforts to quit have been unsuccessful.
You have given up other activities because of alcohol. You’re spending less time on activities that used to be important to you (hanging out with family and friends, going to the gym, pursuing your hobbies) because of your alcohol use.
Alcohol takes up a great deal of your energy and focus. You spend a lot of time drinking, thinking about it, or recovering from its effects. You have few if any interests or social involvements that don’t revolve around drinking.
You drink even though you know it’s causing problems. For example, you recognize that your alcohol use is damaging your marriage, making your depression worse, or causing health problems, but you continue to drink anyway.

If the description above suits you, then you need see and be handled by the touch of an expert, and that is where AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care comes in. Doctor Dalal Akoury the founder of this facility is an expert who focuses on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE. You are only a clique away to full recovery with doctor Akoury.

Alcoholism-What you didn’t know

NAD and Acetaldehyde and Alcoholism

April 21, 2014

NAD and Acetaldehyde and Alcoholism-Routes of Alcohol Ingestion

The attractive bottles of alcohol are only inviting you poor health and alcoholism

The only normal route of ingesting alcohol is drinking it–but this is not the only route possible. Other more exotic routes are used on occasion. Alcohol can be inhaled, absorbed through the skin, injected, or given as an enema. Let us take a look at each of these methods:

Inhalation: AWOL (Alcohol without Liquid) is an alcohol inhalation device that has been released in the US and the UK. AWOL’s manufacturers claim that when alcohol is vaporized and inhaled it can lead to intoxication as much as 10 times as quickly as drinking and allows one to sober up with no hangover in an equally rapid time frame. Doctors are still debating the safety of AWOL. At least 22 states in the US have banned AWOL.

Injection: Some scientific researchers give alcohol injections to research subjects when they wish to bypass the stomach. It was the comparison of the effects of injected alcohol with orally ingested alcohol which led scientists to conclude that women have less alcohol dehydrogenase in their stomachs than men do. Self-administration of alcohol by injection is extremely dangerous and should never be attempted. The risk of death by alcohol poisoning is extremely high.

Alcohol enema: This is another rather dangerous and sometimes deadly form of alcohol administration. If the internet is to be believed then alcohol enemas are not uncommon at sex parties. A beer enema might be safe enough. However the simple fact is that alcohol is absorbed very rapidly through the large intestine and the rectum and there are no enzymes here to break it down. Thus the same dose of alcohol given by enema will produce a much higher BAC than if one drinks it. There was a famous case of death by sherry enema in Texas where the wife was acquitted of murder charges. And a vodka enema is silent but deadly for sure.

Transdermal: Alcohol can also be absorbed through the skin although this is quite a slow and impractical method of ingesting it.

NAD and Acetaldehyde and Alcoholism-Why Alcohol Has a Steady State Metabolism Rather Than a Half Life

When a drug like valium is broken down by the human body the resultant metabolites are harmless. It is for this reason that drugs like valium are broken down as quickly as the body can process them–and hence they have a half life. The half life of valium is 35 hours on the average. This means that if you take a 10 mg dose of valium, then 35 hours later half of it will have been metabolized and only 5 mg will remain. In another 35 hours half of this will be metabolized and only 2.5 mg will remain and so on. When we plot the metabolism of valium on a graph we get an exponential curve–in other words–drugs which have a half life have an exponential rate of decay. Chemists refer to this as a First Order Reaction.

Alcohol, on the other hand, shows a steady state metabolism not an exponential metabolism. The body of the average human metabolizes around 13 ml of alcohol per hour regardless. When we plot the metabolism of alcohol on a graph we get a straight line–in other words the rate of decay of alcohol is linear. Chemists refer to this as a Zero Order Reaction. The reason why alcohol has a steady state metabolism rather than a half-life metabolism is because the primary decay product of alcohol metabolism–acetaldehyde–is poisonous. The body must eliminate the acetaldehyde produced by the breakdown of alcohol before any more alcohol can be processed in order to avoid acetaldehyde poisoning. This slows down the rate of alcohol metabolism to a Zero Order Reaction rather than a First Order Reaction.

NAD and Acetaldehyde and Alcoholism-Why do humans have a way to break down alcohol

Practically every animal from the fruit fly to the elephant has a way to break down ethyl alcohol because ethyl alcohol is found everywhere in nature. Every time you eat a piece of fresh fruit, drink a glass of fresh orange juice, or have a slice of freshly baked bread then chances are that you are getting trace amounts of alcohol along with it. It is not uncommon to see intoxicated birds which have eaten fermented fruit. Monkeys are known to seek out fermented fruit for the intoxicating effect and Indian elephants have been known to break into breweries or wineries to drink up what is stored there.

Not only are we constantly ingesting alcohol along with the food we eat, our own bodies produce alcohol as a part of the digestive process. Our digestive tracts contain millions of micro-organisms which are necessary for us to properly digest our food. Among these micro-organisms are yeasts which produce alcohol from sugars within our own bodies.

With alcohol so omnipresent in nature it is necessary that animals have a way to break alcohol down, otherwise it would just accumulate in the body and no animal could function properly because the animals would always be constantly intoxicated.

Other alcohols such as methyl alcohol (wood alcohol) and isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) do not normally occur in nature. This is why we do not have a mechanism to break them down and why they are poisonous.

NAD and Acetaldehyde and Alcoholism-Poisonous Alcohols

The difference between wood alcohol–also known as methyl alcohol or methanol–and ethanol is that wood alcohol has one less carbon and two less hydrogen atoms. The chemical formula for ethanol is C2H6O whereas the formula for methanol is CH4O. Alcohol dehydrogenase converts methanol into formaldehyde (CH2O) and aldehyde dehydrogenase turns this formaldehyde into a formic acid radical (CH2O-). Both formaldehyde and formic acid are highly poisonous and quickly dead to blindness and death.

Another highly poisonous alcohol is ethylene glycol (C2H6O2) which is used in antifreeze. A metabolite of ethylene glycol is the highly poisonous oxalic acid.

Rubbing alcohol (C3H8O)–also known as isopropyl alcohol–is more poisonous than ethanol but not as poisonous as methanol. Some chronic alcoholics turn to drinking rubbing alcohol when ethanol is unavailable–and some even come to prefer it.

NAD and Acetaldehyde and Alcoholism-Alcohol and Blood Sugar

Although alcohol may cause a slight rise in blood sugar levels when initially ingested–the overall effect of alcohol is to cause a drop in blood sugar. The more you drink the more the blood sugar drops. Eating before, during or after drinking can help to alleviate this blood sugar drop somewhat. Drinks with lots of carbs like beer or mixed drinks with sugary mixers can lead to blood sugar spikes preceding the blood sugar drop.

Because of alcohol’s effect on blood sugar people with diabetes are recommended to have no more than one or two standard drinks per day and to avoid drinks high in carbs. Untreated diabetes can lead to severe consequences including blindness, amputation of limbs affected by gangrene and even death–so diabetics are recommended to be especially cautious about their alcohol intake.

NAD and Acetaldehyde and Alcoholism-Routes of Alcohol Ingestion

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) deficiency

April 19, 2014

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) deficiency-Key issues Introduced

NAD Stimulates production of dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenaline, thereby improving moods

I want to introduce this discussion with an illustration “proper functionality of your car”. For your car to serve you well, it will need to be fueled, well lubricated and mechanically checked from time to time. When these are not done you will not get the best from your car and instead it may become disastrous to you. NAD is like these elements the car need to function well. Your body will not function well without NAD and so what is this great element that the body needs so much and how does it function in the body? Keep reading and find out.

NAD stands for Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, which is the chemical term for a molecule that reacts with oxygen in the mitochondria in every cell of your body in order to create energy so you can function properly and move, breathe, pump blood, digest food, think, and generally, live your life. The absence of this essential cellular fuel is now recognized as a key feature of chronic fatigue, apathy, depression, anxiety, alcohol and drug addiction, weak immune system (infections and cancer), muscle pain and weakness, headaches, memory disturbance, sleep problems, focus and concentration defects and other chronic diseases. NAD deficiency may be an unrecognized epidemic of cellular disease.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) deficiency-Functions and Benefits of NAD

Nevertheless friends, we may not understand the importance of NAD in our body until we identify its key roles in the body. To help us get the facts right let us look at some of the functions of NAD in the body which include:

Increases energy in brain cells
Stimulates production of dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenaline, thereby improving moods
Increases energy in heart cells
Protects and repairs DNA, reducing DNA mutations which contribute to atherosclerosis, cancer, immunodeficiency, rheumatoid arthritis, and much more
Lowers cholesterol
Lowers blood pressure
Strengthens the immune system
Stimulates nitric oxide production, thereby improving blood flow in the body

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) deficiency-Effects of NAD to the affected and infected people

Medical research has shown that NAD therapy has positive effect to several medical conditions. The following are some of the medical conditions that improve greatly as a result of this therapy:

Chronic fatigue
Depression
Anxiety
Alcohol and drug addiction
Sleep disturbance
Memory loss (forgetfulness)
Attention deficit
Diabetes
Muscle pain and weakness
Joint pain and stiffness
Headaches
Fevers, sore throats and swollen lymph glands
Parkinson’s disease
Cancer

Research has also shown that NAD does not only benefits persons with medical condition but can also provide the following benefits to healthy people:

Increased physical energy
Improved mental performance
Improved response to short term sleep deprivation
Reduce the effects of jet lag
Enhance libido
Anti-aging

Since NAD is so fundamental to good health, how is it that we can become deficient in this powerful molecule? First of all, the vitamins, minerals, complex carbohydrates, proteins and fats come from our diet and provide the building blocks to citric acid cycle energy production. If either of the nutritional factors is low, energy production is weakened. Since oxygen is just as important as hydrogen in cellular energetics, lack of exercise and shallow breathing due to stress are common factors that can reduce the amount of oxygen at the cell level. And finally the enzymes that catalyze the citric acid cycle are often inhibited or destroyed by chemical or physical toxins that create oxidative, or free radical, damage.

Free radical damage comes from cigarette smoke, drugs, radio waves from cell phones and Wi-Fi, and the myriad chemicals found in all humans at this time on earth, including phalates, parabens, pesticides, styrene, benzene, toluene, and thousands more. For example, medical scientists now widely believe that Alzheimer’s dementia and Parkinson’s disease share the common feature of nerve cell degeneration due to impairment of the ATP producing enzymes with the citric acid cycle and mitochondria.

Genetic NAD deficiency may be present at birth and appear in children as poor sleeping, behavioral problems, hyperactivity, impaired concentration, academic stress and underachievement. Some people have been tired and depressed for as long as they can remember. For these people there is a greater tendency to try drugs and alcohol in order to improve energy and mood, and simply feel better, but the risk for addiction is high.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) deficiency-Genetics and addiction

A word of caution is necessary as we discuss genetics and addiction, or, any other disease. Inherited variations in genes do not invariably lead to disease. Lifestyle and mind style factors often override, so to speak, a genetic tendency. Basically the DNA is the hardware in the computer and the epigenome is the software, which is influenced by our lifestyle and the choices we make in our lives. The epigenome responds to our thoughts, emotions, beliefs and overall stress levels, as well as our diet, exercise levels and other features of our daily lives. Basically, the genes put the bullet in the gun, but it is our lifestyle and mind style that pulls the trigger.

NAD deficiency

There may be a genetic polymorphism that reduces a gene coding for a mitochondrial protein which regulates NAD production. Since mitochondrial DNA is all received from the mother through the egg (no mitochondria are found in sperm) we can look to the maternal side for clues to energy production in the family history.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) deficiency-Dopamine D2 receptor impairment

Since the primary neurotransmitter of the reward pathway is dopamine, genes for dopamine synthesis, degradation, receptors, and transporters are indicators for further consideration. Also, serotonin, norepinephrine, GABA, opioid, and cannabinoid neurons all modify dopamine metabolism and dopamine neurons. Therefore, defects in various combinations of the genes for these neurotransmitters may result in a Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS).

Finally I will not be doing you any form of justice if I don’t let you know of experts you can make further enquiries from. Matters of health are not just about reading and understanding what you have read from books, internet or articles like this one. Every one of us will need a professional touch for effectiveness and that is ware doctor Dalal Akoury comes in. she is an expert in chronic problems, addiction and obesity. A visit at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care will be all you need to regain your life completely.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) deficiency-Key issues Introduced

Category Archives: Men’s Health