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What is Sex Addiction?

May 20, 2015

Is Sex Addiction A Disease Or A Symptom?

Sex AddictionSex addicts are among the addicts who will suffer for a longer time before they are known to be suffering from the disease. This can be attributed to the traditional model of addiction that had it that addiction is a choice and not a disease. The society has placed high standards of morality that to find a sex addict stating publicly or even sharing the issue with those dependent to them is very rare and this may only make them suffer longer and may fail to get help for their condition. The earlier models of addiction escalated the chances of addicts getting stigmatized and sex addicts can be the ones who will be subjected to the most degrading treatments if they were to come out declaring that they need help in a society where sexual issues are known to blankets alone. So is sex addiction a disease or a symptom? This is a really mind boggling question as some experts I’ve shared this question will tell you. It is like asking which came first; the egg or the chicken? So to simplify things lets broaden our view and look at addiction generally before we confine it back to the topic.

Is addiction a disease?

Well, According to American Society of Addiction Medicine, addiction is a disease and not a symptom. They define addiction as a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Addiction of any kind affects the flow of signals within the nervous system. It alters neurotransmission and interactions within reward structures of the brain, including the nucleus accumbens, anterior cingulate cortex, basal forebrain and amygdala. When these areas of the brain are affected, the addictive behavior begins to replace the healthy behaviors, this is the neurobiology of addiction, and it doesn’t matter whether its alcohol, gambling or sex addiction; once the neurotransmission is inhibited then the addictive behaviors becomes a part of a person and a chain not easily broken.

Hippocampal and cortical circuit’s interactions are also altered by addiction, the brain reward structures are also altered by any addiction irrespective of what type of addiction it is. When the reward structures are affected, the memory of earlier exposures to rewards like sex, pornography and the like will lead to biological and behavioral response to external signals, in turn triggering craving and engagement in addictive behaviors.

As much as the neurochemistry of reward plays a role in addiction, there is more to neurobiology of addiction beyond the reward system. The frontal cortex of the brain and underlying white matter connections between the frontal cortex and circuits of reward, altered judgment, motivation and memory are fundamental in the manifestations of altered impulse control and the dysfunctional pursuit of rewards seen in addiction.

Sex addiction isn’t just a symptom

As have been explained above, all addictions can pass for diseases as they are primarily involved in wrecking the nervous system, causing chemical imbalances and alters the functions of crucial brain sections that are concerned with issues of reward.

From previous researches, it has been shown that sex addiction affects three regions in particular that are important in the reward mechanism; the ventral striatum, dorsal anterior cingulate and amygdala. These pars of the brain are more active in people with compulsive sexual behaviors; in research it has been shown that they are more active in sex addicts than in the healthy brains. This is an indication that that sex addiction is a chronic disease that affects the brain chemistry. These parts are equally active in those addicted to drugs and other substances, if drug addiction is a disease, and we have seen that both sex addiction and drug addictions affect the brain in similar manner then why can sex addiction be termed a symptom?

Sex addiction has its causes and symptoms

Sex addiction is characterized by an intense craving for sexual activity and an inability to control these desires for sex despite the risk that they may be exposed to. This inability to control the desire is not the only problem but the behavior changes that comes with sex addiction is a real reason to worry. Very many relationships have been broken because of sex addiction; it has also led to the patients contacting venereal diseases as result of their untamed sexual exploration with different partners.

Some of causes of sex addiction

People addicted to sex get a sense of euphoria from it that seems to go beyond that reported by most people. The sexual experience is not about intimacy. Addicts use sexual activity to seek pleasure, avoid unpleasant feelings or respond to outside stressors, such as work difficulties or interpersonal problems. This is not unlike how an alcoholic uses alcohol. In both instances, any reward gained from the experience soon gives way to guilt, remorse and promises to change.

Sex AddictionMost of the people who are addicted to sex came from broken families and maybe have been sexually abused in their lives. In a study it was found that 82 percent of sex addicts who participated in the study were sexually abused early in their lives. Other sex addicts have got here because of uncaring and distant parents who in most cases were substance abusers.

Despite the controversy of whether sex addiction is a disease or a symptom, it is a real menace that you should not accept to be silent with if you are affected. The journey towards recovery begins by accepting that you are affected and need help. At AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center we know of the nightmares sex addicts go through; the very reasons why we are devoted to availing help to sex addicts. Call on Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) and get the burden off your shoulder.

Is Sex Addiction A Disease Or A Symptom?

 

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The Sex Differences and Addiction

May 19, 2015

Women Are More Susceptible To Addiction than Men

DifferencesIn the past drug addiction was not a discussion for women; it has long been known that men are more likely to suffer from drug related consequences than women, while this is true; Men are more prone to become addicted to substances than women. This is why most research studies have been focused on men. In comparison the pace at which women develop dependence and addiction to drugs is quicker than in men. They also get to suffer the negative effects of drugs and other addictions earlier and more severely than men. They show the effects of drugs earlier in their physical conditions, medical conditions and social effects as compared to men. Several studies have also shown that women find it more difficult to quit using their drugs of abuse or quit their addictive behaviors and may relapse easily as compared to men.

There has been a cause for alarm in the rate and pace at which women fall into addiction. It has been documented that women may begin using drugs later than men and may use it less frequently but when they begin using the drugs they take less duration for the addiction to peak than in men. They become dependent on the drug of abuse sooner than men and the side effects of using the drugs set in them earlier in the addiction cycle than in men.

The number of women battling addiction is on the rise

This risk of addiction that has been shown in women has soon changed the trend in research, today researchers are more concerned about women, and they are enrolled in good numbers in research studies as opposed to earlier time when all research studies were all about men. with this change in trend there is hope that more will be unearthed about the differences gender play in addiction and hopefully this will lay ground for giving treatments that will best suit each gender especially women who are now on the rise in issues of addiction.

According to a literature review on Gender similarities and differences: the prevalence and course of alcohol- and other substance-related disorders by Zilberman M, Tavares H, el-Guebaly N in 2003; the number of women abusing alcohol are fewer than men. But the rate at which young women are getting intoxicated on alcohol regularly is on the rise and the consequences of alcohol consumption are more severe on women than in men. it has been established that women become more rapidly addicted to alcohol than men do and brain chemistry become altered in women faster than in men. Generally the effects of drugs and alcohol use weigh down on women earlier and more adversely than in men.

some of the biologically factors that have been identified as likely cause of the differences in the way women are affected by drugs include the fact that women generally weigh less than men since their bodies are made of more fats and less water, fat retains alcohol while water does the opposite; diluting it. So their biological make-up favors alcohol and puts them at risk. Another factor is that they have low amounts of enzymes that help in breaking down the alcohol once consumed so whenever they consume alcohol, they will remain with high amounts of alcohol in their bloodstreams than men. This enzyme is known as alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH).

Women and addiction to illicit drugs

Like mentioned earlier, in the past decades researchers prioritized men in their researchers and so there is still need for more literature relating women to drug addictions. Currently, there is clarity in the ways that women and men react differently to alcohol; however there is haze on how women respond to drugs like cocaine, meth as they are abused equally by the genders. However, for cocaine research has shown that women begin using the drug earlier than men; they develop dependence more quickly and have higher chances of relapse after treatment. This difference is attributed to the fluctuations in the hormonal levels that take place during menstruation which intensifies cravings for drugs. This can be blamed on the effects of estrogen on dopamine systems.

DifferencesIn the use of opioid the differences in effects has been drawn from men and women users. Research has shown that women are more likely to become addicted to prescription drugs like OxyContin, Vicodin, morphine and methadone since they suffer more to chronic pain. This in return places them at a higher risk of becoming addicted to the opioids than men. However in relation to the pace at which they become dependent there is more that still needs to be done to clearly show the difference.

In conclusion, the physiological and psychological sex differences in response to drugs of abuse are well documented and this is mostly attributed to hormonal interactions between dopamine and estrogen, however there is yet to be an explanation of how the interactions between these two hormones relate to the use of drugs of abuse and their effects in the dopamine systems.

The rate at which women are becoming addicted to drugs is a call for concern. We at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are committed to giving help to those battling with addictions. Just in case you are affected, feel free to call on Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) for help

Women Are More Susceptible To Addiction than Men

 

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The dangers of Excess Weight on Your Health

May 18, 2015

The dangers of Excess Weight on Your Health: Weight, heart disease, and stroke

The dangers of Excess Weight on Your Health

The dangers of Excess Weight on Your Health. Be very mindful of what you eat they may be the highway to chronic health complications

While addressing the topic of effects of excess weight on your health in the previous article, we mention depression as one of the know effect or consequence that come with excess weight and in this section we want to further on that discussion by looking at more effects and the dangers of excess weight on your health. It is true that most common problems seen in people who carry excess weight, such as high blood pressure and unhealthy levels of cholesterol and other fats in the blood, tend to occur together. Both can lead to concurrent health problems namely, heart disease and stroke.

Doctor Dalal Akoury says that high blood pressure is estimated to be about six times more common in people who are obese than in those who are lean. This has also been confirmed by various institutions and according to the American Heart Association, an individual with about 22 pounds in excess of weight will boosts systolic blood pressure which is the first number in a reading by an average of 3 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and diastolic blood pressure representing the second number by an average of 2.3 mm Hg, which translates to about 24% increase in stroke risk. And further still and according to another study conducted in 2007 in archives of internal medicine, they examined the connection between weight and heart disease by assembling results from an evaluation of some 21 different studies involving more than 300,000 people. The findings established that being overweight boosted the risk of heart disease by some 32% while obesity increased by 81%

One very important point to take home here according to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center is that even though the adverse effects of overweight on blood pressure and cholesterol levels could account for 45% of the increased heart disease risk, the society should know that losing weight is very effective in correcting this condition. And as a matter of fact even modest amounts of excess weight can increase the odds of heart disease independent of those well-known risks. It therefore means that losing weight even just a minimal weight loss will have a great impact on your health.

The dangers of Excess Weight on Your Health: Weight and diabetes

Overweight and obesity are so closely linked to diabetes to the point that experts have today introduced an adjective or a noun whichever way you look at it to the term “diabesity” to describe the phenomenon. About 90% of people with type 2 diabetes which is the most common form of the disease are either overweight or obese. The incidence of diabetes rose dramatically by nearly 65% in just one decade (from 1996 to 2006).

A high blood sugar level, the hallmark of diabetes, is one of the features of metabolic syndrome. If untreated or poorly controlled, diabetes can lead to a number of grave health problems, including kidney failure, blindness, and foot or leg amputations. Diabetes is currently the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. This is not something you want to gamble with. Your life and that of your family are the most valuable assets that you can spend on to the last dollar. We do not want you to spend all your life savings in settling medical bills. That is why doctor Dalal Akoury founded this health facility (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) to help you get better at very minimal cost. Talk to us if you are struggling with any weight related health conditions and we will fix that problem for you very professionally and with a lot of confidence. You may schedule for that appointment today with doctor Akoury for commencement of treatment.

The dangers of Excess Weight on Your Health: Do you have metabolic syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that occur together, also increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. One of the key features is abdominal obesity. If you have that problem, you’re more likely to have the other characteristics. If you have any of the three or more of these traits, then chances are that you are having or developing a metabolic syndrome:

  • Big waist – A waist circumference more than 35 inches in women or 40 inches in men.
  • High triglycerides – A fasting blood triglyceride level of 150 milligrams/deciliter (mg/dL) or higher.
  • Low HDL – A HDL (“good”) cholesterol of less than 40 mg/dL in men or less than 50 mg/dL in women.
  • High blood pressure – A systolic blood pressure (the top number of a reading) of 130 mm Hg or higher, or diastolic (the lower number) of 85 mm Hg or higher.
  • High blood sugar – A fasting blood sugar level of 100 mg/dL or higher.

The dangers of Excess Weight on Your Health: Weight and cancer

Some experts believe that obesity ranks as the second leading cause of cancer death, after cigarette smoking. According to a study by the American Cancer Society published in The New England Journal of Medicine followed more than 900,000 people for 16 years. From this study it was established that there is a significant link between excess body weight and many different cancers. Some of the findings included the following:

  • Among people ages 50 and older, overweight and obesity may account for 14% of all cancer deaths in men and 20% of all cancer deaths in women.
  • In both men and women, higher BMIs were associated with a higher risk of dying from cancer of the esophagus, colon and rectum, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, or kidney.
  • In men, excess weight also increased the risk of dying from stomach or prostate cancer.
  • In women, deaths from cancer of the breast, uterus, cervix, or ovary were elevated in women with higher BMIs.

We all have a duty to bring to manageable levels this problem of obesity, overweight and all that which is associated with them. The formation of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center is on but one way of going about this issue. A lot more can be done and it all begins with you and me. Time has come when we need to forgo some of the comforts we have for the sake of our health. Take for example the use of elevators instead of taking the stair case, it is something we can do and the result will be very positive on our health. We will be discussing more as we progress with the discussion, but in the mean time I can only advice you to talk to the experts by scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today tor real time treatment.

The dangers of Excess Weight on Your Health: Weight, heart disease, and stroke

 

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Effects of Excess Weight on Your Health

May 18, 2015

Effects of Excess Weight on Your Health: The health Complications associated with Obesity

Effects of Excess Weight on Your Health

Effects of Excess Weight on Your Health are realistically dangerous, you can help reduce these by feeding well and healthily.

It is no secret that any human being must live within some reasonable quantity of body weight. The term reasonable is very important to us in this discussion, because we are going to be for casing on the effects of excess weight on your health. When the body weight exceeds or is under what is considered to be normal then there is a problem. This is what doctor Dalal Akoury and her team of experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are going to help us come to terms with. But just before we get into the discussion, doctor Akoury is one of the most proactive professionals in medicine and has been in practice now for more than two decades making her to be one of the most experienced in her area of specialization. Seen how the prevalence of obesity and overweight was eating into the societies wellbeing, she made a very bold decision of forming this health facility to contribute in the national and international fight against obesity and overweight. This makes her to be very qualified to attend to both your individual and group weight related complications. Therefore as we progress into the discussion, you can schedule for an appointment with her at any time of the day and she will be of great help to you and your loved ones.

And now back to the discussion, doctor Akoury says that if you are harboring some extra pounds, you stand a greater risk of contracting some health problems. These health conditions can be very chronic depending on the intensity of your weight levels. Some of the health conditions we are referring to may include the nation’s leading causes of death like various kinds of heart diseases, cancer diseases stroke and diabetes. Besides these there are also some less common ailment like the gout and gallstone. The presences of these health conditions will certainly make you understand the effects of excess weight on your health. And even as you come to terms with that, one may choose to look at the health complications in a different dimension, like the very strong link between overweight and depression. Doctor Akoury explains that this will cause mood disorder which can translate to a profound negative impact on an individual’s daily life.

According the findings of a Harvard study that combined data from more than 50,000 men (participants in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study) and more than 120,000 women (from the Nurses’ Health Study) revealed some sobering statistics about weight and health. During the study the participants provided their height and weight alongside the details of their diet, daily routines and medical histories. Using these facts the experts followed very closely the participating volunteers for a whole decade. The findings showed that there were some occurrences of illnesses and compared those developments with each subject’s body mass index (BMI)—an estimate of an individual’s relative body fat calculated from his or her height and weight. The findings then revealed that obesity increased the risk of diabetes 20 times and substantially boosted the risk of developing high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and gallstones. Among people who were overweight or obese, there was a direct relationship between BMI and risk: from the study it was then concluded that the higher the BMI, the higher the likelihood of disease.

Effects of Excess Weight on Your Health: Weight and depression

A few weeks ago a client asked me a very important question which I want to share with you so that we can get some medical tips out of it. The question was under normal circumstances do people gain weight because they’re depressed, or do they become depressed because they’re overweight? This is not very clear however looking at the review of some 15 studies done previously, it was established that both scenarios bears some degree of truth. In fact according to findings of the study, published in 2010 in the Archives of General Psychiatry, it was established that obese people have about 55% higher risk of developing depression over time compared with people of normal weight. Doctor Akoury shares with us some of the possible reasons why obesity may increase risk of depression:

  • Both conditions that is obesity and depression demonstrate a stem (at least in part) from alterations in brain chemistry and function in response to stress.
  • Psychological factors are also plausible. In our culture, thin 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.

Besides that, the studies also found that majority of all depressed people have an estimation of about 58% risk of becoming obese. The following are some of the reasons why it is believed that depression is closely associated with obesity:

  • Elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol (common in people with depression) may alter substances in fat cells that make fat accumulation, especially in the belly, more likely, according to one theory.
  • People who feel depressed 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.

Finally the effects of excess weight on your health is not something you can take lightly, and as a matter of fact, being overweight is very dangerous just as has been mentioned before. It would have been better if preventive measures are taken to keep us free from all the health complications that come with being obese or overweight. Nonetheless doctor Dalal Akoury establishment (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) is one such facility where you can get all the professional help you needs to be free from the dangers of obesity. Therefore if you or any one you know is struggling with weight related problems, then this is your opportunity to help and be counted as an ambassador of change. Schedule for that appointment with the experts today and begin your journey of full recovery and enjoyment of life thereafter.

Effects of Excess Weight on Your Health: The health Complications associated with Obesity

 

 

 

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Some of the known Risks of Obesity

May 17, 2015

Some of the known Risks of Obesity: Exposing the Dangers of Obesity

Some of the known Risks of Obesity

Some of the known Risks of Obesity can be avoided if only we can change some of our habits and lifestyle.

At the mention of the word obesity we often think of the chronic nature of the diseases that comes with it. This problem has been with us for decades and it is not about to end anytime soon. Like I have said some of the known risks of obesity can be very chronic and the sooner we address them the better for us and our next generations to come. This problem is very dangerous and does not discriminate on whom to attack and at what time. Children are equally vulnerable and the problem becomes even more complicated when you get to know the complications that come with it which may include: heart diseases (cardiovascular diseases), type 2 diabetes, hypertension, certain cancers, and sleep apnea or sleep-disordered breathing. The risks of obesity and more so the cardiovascular diseases (CVD) have been discussed in different forums and also documented in obese children cardiovascular diseases (CVD), it is also associated with reduced life expectancy.

A very important fact to note is that a variety of adaptations or alterations in cardiac structure and function do happen in the individual as adipose tissue accrues in excess volume. Therefore the general observation is that, overweight or obesity predisposes or is associated with numerous cardiac complications such as coronary heart disease, heart failure, and sudden death through its impact on the cardiovascular system. Having seen the over view of being overweight, we can observed that there is reasonable cause to worry that adult obesity is indeed associated with a wide range of health problems, and for the purpose of this article I will be making some brief highlight torching on some of the health conditions inclined with obesity to help you make your own self-evaluation and take the most appropriate action timely.

As we get the discussion on, it is important that upon realizing that you are overweight or obese, immediate medical attention is not just an option but a must. This must be done professionally with the experts and not just from your own imagination. Therefore I would recommend that if you or anyone you know is suffering from any of these health complications related to weight problem then you need to schedule your appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury for proper treatment. Doctor Akoury is the founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, a facility in which she is offering her exclusive NER Recovery Treatment to other physicians and health care professionals through training, clinical apprenticeships, webinars and seminars. Therefore you or any qualified professional can now be a part of this truly successful and fast health recovery treatment solution whose primary objective is to reinstate your health for comfort and full enjoyment thereafter. Now let us consider some of the health complication associated with overweight.

Some of the known Risks of Obesity: Circulatory system

  • Raised BMI increases the risk of hypertension (high blood pressure), which is itself a risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke and can contribute to other conditions such as renal failure.
  • The risk of coronary heart disease (including heart attacks and heart failure) and stroke are both substantially increased.
  • Risks of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are also increased.

Respiratory problems

  • Overweight and obese people are at increased risk of sleep apnoea (interruptions to breathing while asleep) and other respiratory problems such as asthma.

Musculoskeletal system

  • Raised body weight puts strain on the body’s joints, especially the knees, increasing the risk of osteoarthritis (degeneration of cartilage and underlying bone within a joint).
  • There is also an increased risk of low back pain.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

  • Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) refers to a range of conditions resulting from the accumulation of fat in cells inside the liver. It is one of the commonest forms of liver disease in most communities. If left untreated, it may progress to severe forms such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis and cirrhosis. It has also been linked to liver cancer.
  • Obesity is an important risk factor for the condition: over 66% of overweight people and over 90% of obese individuals are at risk of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). As levels of obesity have risen, so has the prevalence of NAFLD.

Cancers

  • The risk of several cancers is higher in obese people, including endometrial, breast and colon cancers.

Some of the known Risks of Obesity: Reproductive and urological problems

  • Obesity is associated with greater risk of stress incontinence in women.
  • Obese women are at greater risk of menstrual abnormalities, polycystic ovarian syndrome and infertility.
  • Obese men are at higher risk of erectile dysfunction.
  • Maternal obesity is associated with health risks for both the mother and the child during and after pregnancy.

Gastrointestinal disease

Obesity is also associated with:

  • Increased risk of gastro-esophageal reflux
  • Increased risk of gall stones

Some of the known Risks of Obesity: Psychological and social problems

  • Overweight and obese people may suffer from stress, low self-esteem, social disadvantage, depression and reduced libido.
Some of the known Risks of Obesity: Metabolic and endocrine systems
  • The risk of Type 2 diabetes is substantially raised: it has been estimated that excess body fat underlies almost two-thirds of cases of diabetes in men and three quarters of cases in women. Diabetes currently affects nearly 200 million people worldwide and International Diabetes Federation predicts that this will increase to over 330 million by 2025, with a massive burden in developing countries. Worldwide, the number of people with diabetes has tripled since 1985.
  • There is a greater risk of dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides), which also contributes to the risk of circulatory disease by speeding up atherosclerosis (fatty changes to the linings of the arteries).
  • Metabolic syndrome is a combination of disorders including high blood glucose, high blood pressure and high cholesterol and triglyderide levels. It is more common in obese individuals and is associated with significant risks of coronary heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.

Finally dear reader, these are not just risks but very dangerous, being obese can introduce one or a collection of these and even more complications and when this happens, your life will be unbearable. That is why calling doctor Akoury of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center is very vital for you and your loved ones. Like I had said before doctor Akoury is very experienced not just in matters concerning weight but also on addiction which is very much inclined to obesity. Her services will be a full package to help you free yourself from all the strings attached to obesity and by extension protecting yourself from being a victim of all these health complications. Therefore associate your health only with the experts and call doctor Akoury today.

Some of the known Risks of Obesity: Exposing the Dangers of Obesity

 

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