Obesity and Masculinity difference

September 9, 2014

Obesity and Masculinity difference – The common Denominator?

Obesity and Masculinity difference denotes the effects of obesity in both gender. the bottom line is that both share a lot in common

Have you seen well or heavily built men lifting heavy metals, stones or punching sand bags in your environs? Who would you compare them in relation to obesity and weight gain? What about heavy ladies some of whom are even struggling to stand on their two feet are they obese? I want to explain a few things concerning obesity and weight gain to help us understand the clear difference between obesity and masculinity or just obesity and gender difference. Many people think that there is a dramatic difference in how obesity affects both genders. The reality is, we have more in common than not with a few distinguished differences. For instance both genders are equally getting emotional and struggle with their physical look. Their self-esteem and social status are affected in equal measure.

Going by the introductory remarks there is a clear difference between the heavily built men for sure they are not obese since their body fats is constantly being worked on in their session of lifting their heavy objects the opposite is true about the ladies who accumulate lots of fats with very little being burn as cholesterol. Therefore the latter will be obese or overweight depending on their BMI as detailed below:

ü BMI of 25 to 29.9 means you are considered overweight

ü BMI of 30 to 39.9 means you are considered obese

ü BMI of 40 or above means you are considered severely obese

Eating Habits and Gender

Feeding habit is something that is of clear concern when it comes to the behavior of both genders. According to a study conducted by Foodborne Disease Active Surveillance Network (Food Net) it was established that men are heavy consumers of red meat especially when roasted and certain poultry meet while women were likely to feed on fruits and vegetables. In both cases the different gender found comfort in food with each approaching this aspect of food differently. In other studies it has been established that men are likely to be heavy eaters at the celebration events particularly feeding on higher protein food stuff whereas women will take foods to cope with negative experiences and choose higher calorie sweet snack foods such as chocolate or ice cream.

The stereotype of the man going out for a big steak dinner to celebrate a promotion at work and the woman drowning her sorrows for the lost relationship in a half gallon of ice cream actually have scientific merit. What am I trying to explain here, I am not just saying that men do not also deal with negative emotions with food as women do, but that times of celebration are also times of risk for poor eating decisions. It is in these celebratory activities ware men seem to be more unique and choose to feed themselves in discriminatively to crown the event. In so doing they lose track of their diet and gain more pounds. The part where men get lost is that coping occurs not just with negative emotions, but with even the positive ones. We often think about our bad decisions and negative coping, but men are more apt to throw caution to the wind in the efforts of celebration.

Weight Gain and Gender

These differences may well play into how men and women deal with weight gain. There has been a distinct appeal to low carbohydrate approaches to men as they get to keep some of their favorite celebratory foods and are not resigned to salads and raw vegetables. Whereas women may be more likely to struggle with such approaches; or the recommended “protein first” approach to the post-operative diet plans.

Men differ greatly in how they deal with their vanity. Don’t fool yourself – even the manliest of men can be vain. Whether it is coloring our gray or replacing our missing hairs, we want our youthful masculine appearance. Weight issues are no exception.

Men long for the six pack abs and gun show arms which will elude most of us. Some of us struggled with weight issues early in our childhood. The early experience left us scared of ridicule and social exclusion. Others mourn the loss of their physical abilities and looks with the addition of weight later in life.

Male Weight Issues

I have been leading aftercare support groups as part of my work. When starting my work there, we developed a men’s-only group, as men were often the minority in the existing support groups. It appeared as though the men wanted such a venue as they felt that there were significant differences in their experiences from women who had undergone gastric weight-loss surgeries.

The reality was that their experiences were not as different, but the issues that they wanted to work through were often not appropriate for the coed setting. It seems the weight kept the men from feeling as sexual and that many had given up on themselves. Their comfort in being out of any relationship or taking their relationship for granted had caught up with them.

Yes, I am letting the secret out that men are often more motivated to stay healthy to attract the opposite sex, but irony rears its ugly head. With increased weight comes decreased sex drive, not to mention decreased attractiveness.

Reduced sex drive is a prominent theme of the men’s groups; with this comes isolation. Later with their weight-loss well underway they are equally surprised by the return of sex drive and the confusion now how to handle this. With fragile self-esteem damaged by weight and years of social isolation, this sex drive is often an unwelcome surprise.

Finally men struggle emotionally, socially and physically with obesity just as women do, but there may be subtle differences in how that weight evolves and how they deal with the need to reduce the weight. Celebration, isolation, sexuality and self-esteem all can be obstacles as well as incentives to men in their weight-loss efforts. A better insight into the individual’s reasons for eating and the consequences of their weight will lead to better weight-loss efforts and increased self-esteem. Looking at the struggle both gender go through, I want to offer a solution which will be long lasting. If you are struggling with weight gain or obesity gender is of no importance what you need is to get help and a visit to AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury will be the starting point. At this facility you will be cared for professionally and Doctor Dalal Akoury will focus only on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE and you will live your life to the fullest.

Obesity and Masculinity difference – The common Denominator?

Excess Weight, Obesity and Health

September 8, 2014

Excess Weight, Obesity and Health – The Naked Truth about Obesity

Excess Weight, Obesity and Health. Your weight should not be reason for you to be uncomfortable. Help is available today

There are many ways in which a person’s health is directly related to one’s body weight and because of this relationship it is very important that we are well conversant with our individual weight less we be caught unaware with certain life complications. Measurement of weight is commonly done using the body mass index (BMI). This is a measure of whether you’ve a healthy weight for your height. You can use the BMI healthy weight calculator to work out your score for instance for most adults:

BMI of 25 to 29.9 means you are considered overweight
BMI of 30 to 39.9 means you are considered obese
BMI of 40 or above means you are considered severely obese

Nonetheless it must be noted that BMI is not used to definitively diagnose obesity since muscular individuals often have a high BMI, without necessarily having excess fat but that notwithstanding for most people it is a useful indication of whether they may be overweight. Therefore a better measure of excess fat is waist circumference which can be used as an additional measure in people who are overweight (with a BMI of 25 to 29.9) or moderately obese (with a BMI of 30 to 34.9).

Why then do people gain weight? Is it because of depression? There are very many reasons why people gain weight, however while evaluating the findings of some 15 studies, it was established that obese people have up to 55% higher risk of developing depression over a period of time as compared to those with normal weight. What does this communicates to us? Let us consider some of the reasons that may make obesity to increase risk of depression in an individual’s life:

Both conditions appear to stem (at least in part) from alterations in brain chemistry and function in response to stress.
Psychological factors are also plausible. For instance in most cultures, being slender equals beautiful, and being overweight can lower self-esteem, a known trigger for depression.
Odd eating patterns and eating disorders, as well as the physical discomfort of being obese, are known to foster depression.

The study also established that depressed people have a higher risk of becoming obese by about 58%. The following are some of the reasons why depression may lead to obesity:

High levels of stress hormone cortisol (common in people with depression) may change substances in fat cells which contributes to fat accumulation, especially in the belly, more likely, according to one theory.
Depressed people often feel too blue to eat properly and exercise regularly, making them more prone to gain weight.
Some medications used to treat depression cause weight gain.

Weight, stroke and heart disease

Excessive weight is associated with so many health conditions including high blood pressure and unhealthy levels of cholesterol and other fats in the blood, tend to occur together. These can lead to simultaneous health problems like heart disease and stroke with high blood pressure being about six times more common in people who are obese than in those who are lean. According to a study done in 2007 in Archives of Internal Medicine examined the connection between weight and heart disease by pooling results from some 21 different studies involving more than 300,000 people it was established that:

Being overweight increased the risk of heart disease by 32%
Obesity increased the risk by 81%

Although the adverse effects of overweight on blood pressure and cholesterol levels could account for 45% of the increased heart disease risk it was concluded that even modest amounts of excess weight can increase the odds of heart disease independent of those well-known risks. Compared with people of normal weight, overweight people face a 22% higher risk of stroke. For those who are obese, the increased risk rises to 64%, according to a 2010 report in the journal Stroke, which pooled results from 25 studies involving more than two million people.

Weight and diabetes

Overweight and obesity are very much associated with diabetes and experts have nicknamed the two as “diabesity” to describe the phenomenon. It is frustratingly worrying that about 90% of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese. A high blood sugar level and the hallmark of diabetes, is one of the features of metabolic syndrome. If this is not treated or is poorly controlled, diabetes can lead to life threatening complications like kidney failure, blindness, and foot or leg amputations.

Weight and cancer

Experts are debating as to the proper ranking of obesity as one of the causes of cancer deaths and some have ranked obesity second after cigarette smoking. According to the American Cancer Society study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the study followed more than 900,000 people for 16 years and it was evident that there was a link between excess body weight and many different cancers and some of the findings included:

Looking at people aged 50 and above it was established that overweight and obesity may account for 14% and 20% of all cancer deaths in men and women respectively.
In both men and women, higher BMIs was associated with a higher risk of dying from cancer of the esophagus, colon and rectum, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, or kidney.
Excess weight also increased the risk of dying from stomach or prostate cancer in men.
In women deaths from cancer of the breast, uterus, cervix, or ovary were elevated in women with higher BMIs.

Weight and lifespan

Finally because excess weight plays a role in so many common and deadly diseases, overweight and obesity can significantly reduce your lifespan. With experts ranking obesity second after cigarette smoking as the leading cause of cancers deaths your life is likely to be reduced if this condition is not addressed in good time. To address this problem it will be very important that you call on doctor Akoury who is an expert in this discipline and has been in practice for well over two decades now. Doctor Akoury founded AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center a facility in which she administers timely treatment to all people suffering from all kinds of weight related complications.

AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center is not just any health facility but one with great difference. Doctor Dalal Akoury heads a team of well experience experts ready to receive you and evaluate your individual conditions and put you into recovery program that will ensure reviving your health back using the most natural means. Under Doctor Akoury’s care absolute focus will be on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE this way you will have your life back and enjoy it to the fullest.

Excess Weight, Obesity and Health – The Naked Truth about Obesity

Catecholamine Fatigue Is Worse Than Adrenal Fatigue

September 7, 2014

Beware! Catecholamine Fatigue Is Worse Than Adrenal Fatigue

What is catecholamine?

These are hormones which are made by adrenal glands. These hormones are released by the adrenal glands found on top of the kidneys and go into the blood streams when a person becomes under physical or emotional stress. Catecholamine is found in the main three forms; dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine (also called adrenalin).

What is the role of Catecholamine?

The role of Catecholamine can be understood by looking at the functions of the various components which form them. These compounds are dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine (also called adrenalin). Catecholamine especially dopamine and the norepinephrine are the principal neurotransmitters which mediates various activities or functions of the central nervous system.

The main function of catecholamine therefore is the regulation of functioning of the central nervous system. It sends signals which help the body to prepare to respond to stress or fright and adequately prepare the body to fight it.

How does catecholamine work?

When catecholamine gets into the body system via blood streams, it works by increasing the rates at which you heart beats, the blood pressure, breathing rate, the strength of your muscles, and also the mental strength. To ensure enough supply of blood to the main organs of the body (such as brain, kidneys, liver, lungs, heart etc.), it regulates the amount of blood going to the skin and intestines. This ensures that the main body organs are sufficiently supplied with blood.

What are the effects of catecholamine deficiency?

Just as we discussed earlier, catecholamine is a very important hormone. It is one of the two main neurotransmitters whereby the other is serotonin. Deficiency in catecholamine has been known for years to cause variety of diseases. The following are some of the diseases/ illnesses associated with deficiency in catecholamine:-

Depression or being moody – one of the effects of lowness in catecholamine which is known to be very common, is depression. This is one of the factors which make the catecholamine fatigue by far worse than that of adrenals. When a person who is addicted of a given substance and is also diagnosed with catecholamine fatigue, the problem becomes even more complicated to address. Before a successful addiction recovery program is undertaken, the problem of catecholamine fatigue needs to be first address. This is because it causes depression which makes it impossible for recovery from addiction to occur. The reason behind this difficulty is that for success in the addiction recovery to occur, your mind must be in good working condition. Depression in itself is a disease, and when adjoined with addiction it may make the recovery from addiction chances next to impossible.
A feel of anxiety – when a person is a victim of catecholamine fatigue or deficiency, the levels of excitement may be high. This is because the catecholamine is a component of neurotransmitter, which is the hormone responsible for regulation the brain’s reward system. This deficiency leaves the system un-regulated, and thus the levels of excitement may remain high, especially when initially triggered high. In this respect, catecholamine which supposed to regulate the levels of this excitement is low, and thus the levels of excitement remain high.
Insomnia may also occur – a state of sleep disorder is also very likely to occur. The principle behind it is that all the metabolic functions in our bodies are controlled from our minds and neurotransmitter plays the main role in this control. When there is a deficiency in catecholamine, it becomes very difficult for the brain to regulate the metabolic rates, which would facilitate sleep through activities such as regulation of the rate at which the heart beats.
Other common problems may include: – panic attacks, obesity, bulimia, anorexia, migraines, ADD/ADHD, Fibromyalgia just to mention a few.

What are the possible causes of depletion in catecholamine in the body?

There are several factors which have been attributed with causing depletion in catecholamine in our bodies. Some of these factors are:-

Simulants use – researches have shown that among the causers of depletion in catecholamine from our bodies is the use of stimulants. When one uses these stimulating substances, they lower the effectiveness of neurotransmitter and thereby creating resistance to the neurotransmitter.
Nutritional triggers – catecholamine (neurotransmitters) are made from proteins, and thus to ensure that they remain at a high level, we must take foods rich in proteins. When we take foods which are low in proteins for quite a long time. There is a likelihood of development of catecholamine deficiency. For a person who is an addict of a given food which is low in protein, catecholamine deficiency is a possibility.
Some medications especially SSRI, deplete catecholamine – research has shown that, administration of some SSRI medications can deplete serotonin receptors by 40 – 60%.
Stress – it has also been argued that stress can also contribute to the decline in the levels of catecholamine.

Why must catecholamine fatigue be addressed before addiction recovery program is embraced?

Catecholamine fatigue is more serious than the adrenal fatigue, although closely related. This is because unlike with adrenal fatigue, catecholamine fatigue is usually accompanied by depression and thus not unless it is addressed first, it becomes very difficult for the addiction recovery program to be successful.

Can catecholamine levels be restored?

Repletion of catecholamine is very easy. You just need to understand where it is synthesized from. Catecholamine and serotonin comes from the same source, which are the amino acids, vitamins and the minerals which are common in the foods we eat. These minerals are the ones which are converted into neurotransmitter, which catecholamine forms part. Therefore, to get your catecholamine restored into your body, you just need to eat much of the foods rich in these nutrients. Such foods may include: – bananas, pineapples, eggplants, red plum, tomatoes, walnuts, just to mention a few.

Alternatively, you can get these nutrients as supplements or seek advice from doctor for the administration of drugs rich in the nutrients.

From this discussion, we can clearly see the need for addressing catecholamine deficiency before we address the addiction recovery. Are you now thinking about where you can get help out of addiction or catecholamine fatigue? Your solution is here; call or visit us at Awaremed Resource And Wellness Center.

Beware! Catecholamine Fatigue Is Worse Than Adrenal Fatigue

Tackling Alcohol Dependency And Alcohol Withdrawal

September 7, 2014

How To Treat Alcohol Dependency And Avoid Seizure From Alcohol Withdrawal

Alcohol dependence is also known as alcoholism and it occurs when one drinks too much, too often and for a long period of time. On the other hand, alcohol withdrawal occurs when you stop drinking or drink less while still having alcohol dependence. The exact cause of dependence is not known but there are possible causes and conditions which may increase chances of dependence and they include age, family history, genetics, sex and other ailments. Alcoholism is a problem that affects health, relationships and also one’s career.one of the ways to tackle alcoholism is to seek therapy. This involves talking to a professional healthcare specialist who will examine the issues that led to one’s drinking and suggest ways that will help one to quit. This is an opportunity to scrutinize negative beliefs, habits and behavior and replacing them with new and positive ones. The counsellor can also help the patient to outline specific goals and treatment strategies to help him or her quit alcohol.

The second step involves visiting a doctor to advice on the medications to take that can curb cravings or cause undesired feelings and reactions when one drinks. Some of the medications include antabuse, revia ,campral and vivitrol. Although the medications do not guarantee that one will stop drinking, they are an effective part in the treatment plan that involves counselling and support groups.an alcoholic can also try natural therapies to complement the addiction treatment. Facilities such as the university of Maryland medical center suggests the use of kudzu. Kudzu may reduce the cravings for alcohol. Kudzu is a plant that is characterized by climbing, coiling and trailing vines.

Furthermore, homeopathic remedies are often used to treat alcohol addiction and symptoms of withdrawal.

Acupuncture might also help get rid of cravings and alleviate side effects of withdrawal.it is used as a supportive measure and not as an isolated means of treatment.one can also join a support group such as the alcoholics anonymous or any other where one is surrounded by people going through the same problem. These groups help an alcoholic feel a sense of togetherness in the struggle. Recovering alcoholics can also provide each other with tips and advice on how to tackle the problem.

An alcoholic should also find ways and means to manage stress and other negative emotions which are dangerous triggers that can lead one back to alcoholism. Regular exercise, yoga and meditation have also been proven to be helpful in tackling alcohol dependency.one should also create time for hobbies and other interests.

In-patient rehabilitation facilities that offer more intense treatment are also effective.one may also need detoxification before starting treatment especially if one is physically addicted to alcohol in that, when he or she stops drinking, he experiences withdrawal symptoms. Detox helps one get ready for treatment even though it does not help with mental, social and behavior changes that an alcoholic has to make to stay sober. Detox depends on the severity of the symptoms.

Seizures are a possibility for those who want to quit alcohol. Seizures are caused by alcohol withdrawal for someone who drinks heavily then suddenly quits. So, if one believes he has a problem, he should ask for help because getting sober alone is risky and dangerous.

Going to a rehabilitation center is also an option to avoid seizures because a detox can be provided. Detox programs involve professionals who monitor the alcoholics and keep an eye on seizures and other withdrawal symptoms. This is a way to safely stay sober. Detoxification lasts for seven days.an alcoholic should also not be embarrassed about his situation. When one is an addict, preventing seizures is vital.

Eating well and drinking lots of water also prevents alcoholic seizures. Alcohol causes dehydration and promotes poor eating habits. The body needs energy and this comes from healthy food and water which prevent seizures in a recovering alcoholic.

Alcohol dependence Medications can also help in preventing seizures before they start. Benzodiazepines are the recommended drugs for people undergoing withdrawal of alcohol. They inhibit nerve cell excitability which deals with the overstimulation resulting from the brain as a result of alcohol effects. Examples include halazepam and lorazepam. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can begin from as early as two hours after the last drink and can persist for up to weeks. The effects range from shaking to delirium tremens. Clinical management of alcohol withdrawal is to minimize the severity of symptoms and facilitate an entry into a treatment program.

Vitamins are also used in treating alcoholics. Intravenous administration of thiamine is usually done before starting any carbohydrate containing fluids or food. Vitamins that are essential in alcohol withdrawal are thiamine and folic acid. Anti convulsants such as topiramate carbamezapine are also effective in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal. Clonidine may be used with benzodiazepines to help other symptoms. Antipsychotics such as haloperidol are sometimes used to control psychosis and agitative behavior. Intravenous injection of ethanol could be used though there is little evidence to support its use.

General care for alcoholics is also vital. Abnormal fluid levels, electrolyte levels and nutrition should be corrected. Fluids should be injected intravenously in patients with severe withdrawal symptoms due to excessive loss through hypothermia, sweating and even vomiting. However, fluids should not be administered to patients with less withdrawal symptoms to prevent them being overhydrated. Medication can either be administered using a fixed schedule or symptom-triggered regimens. Symptom triggered regimens have been shown to result in the administration of less total medication and requires a shorter duration of treatment.

Treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome is supposed to be followed by treatment for alcoholic dependence.

Whether you need help on balancing adrenals or you are an addict who is looking for a natural way of gradually recovering from an addiction, Awaremed Resource And Wellness Center is your perfect solution. You are free to call us, for more go to www.awaremednetwork.com

How To Treat Alcohol Dependency And Avoid Seizure From Alcohol Withdrawal

Preparing the Brain and Mind For Safe Addiction Treatment

September 6, 2014

How To Ease The Brain, Calm The Mind Of An Addict To Initiate And Implement Safe Addiction Treatment

Getting the brain to alpha, gamma or delta wave before initiating addiction treatment to prepare the chaotic brain for safe addiction treatment

Recovery is in different steps, starting from the point where one decides to put down the drink or the drugs.it also involves living an honest, responsible and accountable life that is free of drugs and alcohol. Activities such as sex addictions and gambling can also harm a person. Drugs also alter the structure and functioning of the brain.

Addiction Treatment

Addiction is a complex disorder and each drug has different physical effects although they have one effect in common which is altering the brain’s functions. Taking recreational drugs causes a surge in the levels of dopamine in the brain which trigger feelings of pleasure. The brain remembers the feelings and wants them repeatedly. When one becomes addicted, the substance of addiction takes the same role as other behaviors that enable us to survive such as eating and drinking.

These changes in the brain affect one’s ability to think clearly, make sound judgments, control behavior and also affect the ability of one to feel normal without drugs. So, for one to be treated and hit the road to recovery, he should be put in a good frame of mind for results to be positive. The first step to recovery is acceptance. Recognizing that one has a problem is a key step to recovery.

A well planned intervention is designed to be of benefit to the addict, as well as his family. Interventions by professionals are controlled, organized and very effective. Preparing for a drug intervention involves bringing together close family members and friends that the person’s addiction has had an impact on. The meeting should be beforehand so as to plan on the best approach and to determine what is to be said.to help the addict, family members and friends should be positive in their tone. They should be loving and not attack the addict with words.

Action should then be taken immediately because any kind of delay can give the addict a chance to back out or have a change of mind.

Brain waves of addicts may be abnormal to some extent, and these abnormal brain waves may be the reason they got addicted in the first place. Therapists claim that they can use neurofeedback technique to help normalize brainwaves. Through participation in therapy, the addicts can retrain their brains to behave normally and by doing so reduce their compulsion to drug use.an example is a study which revealed that cocaine addicts were able to change their brain wave activity by using the neurofeedback technique. After the therapy, they showed a lesser craving for the drug, even when they were showed pictures of cocaine. But before the therapy, the pictures could have triggered their cravings.

Neurofeedback is a form of brain training and it takes one a lot of time to get used to.it involves the addict looking at a screen and being instructed by a therapist. When the user pulls his or her brainwaves into a proper alignment, the screen might show colors or music might be played. But as soon as the patient spins out of control, no feedback is given from the screen. After a while, the person can learn how to think in a way that he is more likely to be rewarded.

The good thing about neurofeedback is that it does not use drugs or needles and there are no tests involved in it. However, using neurofeedback takes long for one to see results, meaning that a lot of sessions are involved.

Addiction Treatment

Changes in brain function due to drug use can also have many behavioral effects, like the inability to control the urge to use drugs. This can be corrected by use of motivational enhancement therapy. This is a counselling approach whose aim is to initiate behavioral changes.it employs strategies aimed at evoking rapid and internally motivated change. This therapy starts by the therapist providing feedback to the initial assessment and simulating discussion about personal substance use and eliciting self-motivational statements. Motivational interviewing principles act to strengthen motivation and build a plan for reform. Therapists suggest ways of coping and adapting for risky situations and in the following sessions, the therapist monitors change as well as reviewing cessation strategies that have been put in place and continues to encourage commitment to sustained abstinence from drugs. Addicts sometimes bring their partners to the therapy. Research has shown that the effects of this therapy depends on the type of drug the patients used and the aim of the intervention. Doctors use this therapy successfully with alcoholics to improve their treatment engagement and reductions in problem drinking. Adults who are hooked on bhang make progress in recovery when using motivational enhancement therapies in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy. Patients using other drugs like heroin, cocaine, nicotine and for those who tend to use multiple drugs show mixed outcomes when undergoing motivational enhancement therapies. This therapy is more effective by engaging drug users in treatment than for producing changes in drug use.

How To Ease The Brain, Calm The Mind Of An Addict To Initiate And Implement Safe Addiction Treatment

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