Understanding the Effects of Obesity before Pregnancy

April 8, 2015

Understanding the Effects of Obesity before Pregnancy: Planning for your Health before and during pregnancy

Understanding the Effects of Obesity before Pregnancy at an early stage before it happens is very healthy for the delivery of children with healthy weight.

I remember when the maker first created the earth, before man he made available healthy food to help man in developing the land for more production. That assignment of producing more has been done to the disadvantage of human life. All the healthy fresh healthy fruits and vegetables are now being passed through chemicals all in the name of adding value to them. The concept of value addition to our food items today is not working well to humanity. In fact all the processed foods are categorized as unhealthy food. This is not what the maker intended for his creation. With our own hands we have succeeded in creating for us more problems. It is no wonder our obese mothers continue to give birth to obese children or children with high risk of being obese in future. There is always great joy for parents to bring forth healthy children. And because of our actions, we have to make certain adjustment when planning to get pregnant if this joy is to become a reality. We are therefore obligated into understanding the effects of obesity before pregnancy for us to bring forth healthy children.

We are aware that the issue of weight gain is developing in a very high speed to the point that all the world health organizations are getting concern of the emerging trend of weight gain. Recently the world health organization (WHO) listed obesity as one of the serious global health problem in the twenty first century. This confirms the magnitude of the problem at hand and it means that time has come for us to be very aggressive and bring this problem to manageable levels. But before we enter into the discussion, let us bring us up to speed with what we are talking about. Obesity is a health condition in which an accumulation of excessive body fat work to impair health and increase morbidity and mortality.

The most commonly use method of measuring obesity is body mass index (BMI) where an individual will be considered to be overweight if their BMI is between 25 and 30 kg/m²while those with more than 30 kg/m²are considered to be obese. The effects of obesity can be very frustrating not just to the victim, but also to the people close to them. It is therefore very important that we have this problem addressed in good time so that our mothers and unborn children can be safe from all the health complications associated with being overweight or obese.

According to WHO the prevalence of obesity in pregnancy cut across 1.8 to 25.3% with effects of obesity before and during pregnancy constituting a major risk factor for both maternal and fetal complications. While appreciating that children born of obese mothers may become obese in their childhood and develops metabolic syndrome in their adulthood, it is possible to address some of the issues relating to obesity during pregnancy since at this time mothers will be more willing to accept certain changes in their lifestyle like a well-balanced diet and bit of indulgence in physical activities. It will take a lot of commitment for this to be successfully done since many people are not very keen on keeping fit. However with guidance and help from the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury this won’t be a problem. You can schedule for an appointment with her today and your life and that of the unborn child will be safe not just during the pregnancy period but even in their lifetime.

Understanding the Effects of Obesity before Pregnancy: Are you planning to get Pregnant?

Doctor Akoury says that it is very important that women planning to get pregnant in the near future should make effort to maintaining normal body weight to avoid any health complication that may come as a result of being overweight or obese. The benefits of doing this are primarily to save lives because these two conditions (obesity and pregnancy) can cause a woman to have a reduced fertility in all dynamics meaning that when observed in both natural conception and conception achieved by assisted reproduction techniques (ARTs). In many instances when subfertility is observed in obese women, it is always occasioned partially due to the decrease in frequency or complete absence of ovulation.

The dominant cause of an ovulation is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is characterized by central visceral obesity in 40% of the cases. Moreover, in a wider context of metabolic disorders,

Low concentration of serum
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol
High concentration of triglycerides
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol
Increased concentrations of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) tend to co-exist.

All these metabolic derangements increase the risk of developing:

Arterial hypertension
Coronary heart disease and
Thrombosis

In addition, hyperinsulinemia promotes the production of testosterone and Δ4-androstendione from the theca cells in the ovary and results in a condition of hyperandrogenemic anovulation, with a phenotype characterized by hirsutism, obesity, acne, seborrhoea and hair loss.

Understanding the Effects of Obesity before Pregnancy: What to do before pregnancy?

There are certain important things that you need to consider when you’re planning to get pregnant, for instance emphasis needs to be out in normalizing your weight. You should neither be over or underweight because having normal weight is not only good for conception but also for the outcome of the pregnancy. While appreciating that most pregnancies are not planned it is very important that you consult a specialist on how to lose weight during this time. Doctor Dalal Akoury can be of help to you if only you can reach out for her professional assistance. I would like to encourage you to schedule for an appointment with her today and escape from the devastating health conditions arising due to being overweight or obese.

Understanding the Effects of Obesity before Pregnancy: Planning for your Health before and during pregnancy

Economical Imbalance and the fight of Obesity

April 8, 2015

Economical Imbalance and the fight of Obesity: What is derailing the Fight?

Economical Imbalance and the fight of Obesity. The foods that leads to obesity may be appealing and appetizing but their attractiveness only serve to attract diseases

Where I come from there is a wise say that the fingers are never the same. This phrase is used in reference of our diverse economic differences. Much as we are putting effort to have a comfortable life, we will never have it all. Some people will have more than enough and others will have enough while another may not have at all. That is life and it is part of us. This introduction of the wise saying ushers us into our discussion of the economical imbalance and the fight of obesity. If you are wondering how this is a factor, then you are at the right place because by the time we are done, you will be well equipped with all the relevant information you need to know declares doctor Dalal Akoury the MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. We are all aware that the problem of obesity and weight gain is a serious threat to life. This problem is never discriminative as it can affect anyone irrespective of status. Both the rich and the poor are vulnerable and variance is what we want to find out from the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center.

Economical Imbalance and the fight of Obesity: Food security

Talking of food security a lot is being done to ensure that everyone something to eat. However the different economical factor does not allow equality in this. There are those who will have plenty and those who may not have at all. That is why we have the rich and the poor because of the economical line drown between then by virtue of their earnings. It is true that the rich has plenty and can access best quality of food as they may wish. On the other hand, the poor who live from hand to mouth has not heard of the word quality. This is a vocabulary which is non-existent in their dictionary and a luxury they can’t afford. Their unsteady income can only allow them to feed subject to availability. The three triangular meals is not known to them and this impacts negatively on their weight and general well-being.

Economical Imbalance and the fight of Obesity: Limited food budgets and choices

The economical imbalance in the world today is being felt majorly by the poor. While the poor are drawing their budget for food, they are often faced with difficult choices to make. That little must take them through to the next time they get another pay which in many cases is not guaranteed. Situations like this are frustrating to them and the result often leads to indulgence in certain unhealthy behaviors. Due to this constrain, they will opt for much durable elements and processed foods which are rich in fats and energy like sugar, cereals, potatoes and processed meat products. They will definitely see fruits and vegetables as luxuries they can’t afford simply they are perishable and will not last until their next pay duration. The bad news is that such food they go for are never healthy and introduces to high risk of weight gain and being obese.

Their places of residence also act to their disadvantage in the sense that, getting healthy food is not easily accessible. They are literally surrounded with a chain of small food stores stocking very unhealthy stuff like cheap, high fat foods. Further to this they live a very stressful life where due to inabilities to meet certain obligations like footing bills like rent and we all know the consequences of stress.

Economical Imbalance and the fight of Obesity: Limited physical activities

Taking of good health which is the most valuable asset one can ever have. But to the poor this may not be the case since good health is not all about health foods but also being active physically. Their economic situation does not allow them to access the gym facilities for active physical activities. The absent of continuous body exercise is recipe for weight gain and obesity. They cannot afford to organize children’s events outside school making their children to be less active physically. This is evidence because of inflexible work schedule, lack of transportation or unmet needs for child care, poor parents find it hard to support extra activities for their children. Leaving kids in front of the television is often all stressed poor parents can manage. This inability is not helpful as it only help increasing the risk of overweight and obesity.

Economical Imbalance and the fight of Obesity: Food deprivation and overeating

Those who are eating less or skipping meals to stretch food budgets may over-eat when food does become available, resulting in chronic ups and downs in food intake that can contribute to weight gain. Cycles of food restriction or deprivation also can lead to an unhealthy preoccupation with food and metabolic changes that promote fat storage.

The “feast or famine” situation is especially a problem for low-income parents, particularly mothers, who often restrict their food intake and sacrifice their own nutrition in order to protect their children from hunger. Such a coping mechanism puts them at risk for obesity and research shows that parental obesity, especially maternal obesity, is in turn a strong predictor of childhood obesity.

Economical Imbalance and the fight of Obesity: High levels of stress

Low-income families, including children, may face high levels of stress due to the financial and emotional pressures of food insecurity, low-wage work and luck of access to health care, inadequate and long-distance transportation, poor housing, neighborhood violence, and other factors. Research has linked stress to obesity in youth and adults, including (for adults) stress from job-related demands and difficulty paying bills. Stress may lead to weight gain through stress-induced hormonal and metabolic changes as well as unhealthful eating behaviors. Stress, particularly chronic stress, also may trigger anxiety and depression, which are both associated with child and adult obesity.

This is a very painful truth that economical imbalance can be a serious contributor to weight gain and obesity. Like I had said our fingers are not the same and will never be. It means that this problem is likely to recur from one generation to another. However there are things that you can do despite of your economic situation to defeat this problem of obesity. You can schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury a re-known medical doctor specializing on addiction and obesity. She has been in the practice for over two decades and her vast experience will be very beneficial for you if only you can take that step today.

Economical Imbalance and the fight of Obesity: What is derailing the Fight?

Practical Ways of Preventing Heroin Abuse

April 8, 2015

Practical Ways of Preventing Heroin Abuse: The Experts Opinion

Practical Ways of Preventing Heroin Abuse and other drugs in general is by stopping and discouraging relapse

In all treatment procedures the best of them all would be to prevent the problem from occurring. No one can dispute that. It is economical to prevent than to try correcting mistakes accruing from failure to prevent. Heroin is one of the substances that are often abused across the globe due to various factors. Currently heroin is easily accessible to the market at affordable rates further compounding the various prevention campaigns. While it’s practically impossible to prevent people from using drugs, there are a number of things we can all do to avoid drug (heroin) and alcohol abuse. It is because of that in ability that experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury who is also the founder of the facility are making their contribution by creating awareness to the general public of the importance of prevention of substance abuse. You too can be part of this noble exercise by being a good ambassador of change. If you are wondering how you can be part of this then I want to inform you that you are already taking part just by being on this link reading these very informative health information. You can as well share this knowledge up on understanding it with those closest to you and particularly those struggling with drug addiction. By doing that you never know you could be helping someone get out of drugs, however if you are already into drugs then you can schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury today for a one on one professional treatment that will leave you healthier than you are now. In the meantime the following are some of practical ways to help you in preventing further drug abuse:

Effectively deal with peer pressure
Deal with life pressure
Seek help for mental illness
Examine the risk factors
Keep a well-balanced life

The five are just but a very small portion of what you can do to help in the prevention of drug abuse. There are so many things you can do but for now we are going to look at the five briefly as we progress into the discussion. Doctor Dalal Akoury is going to be sharing with us some of the insights of the necessary things that if well-articulated will go a long way in delivering the much needed victory that we are looking for.

Practical Ways of Preventing Heroin Abuse: Effectively deal with peer pressure

Many people who have been into drugs will tell you that they never intended to be drug addicts were it not for the pressure from their peers. While this is a common fact, the effect of drugs and heroin in particular is ruining many families happiness. Studies have established that the major reason why many young people opt for drugs is because either their friends utilize peer pressure or that they got into it to escape from being stressed. The desire to belong (sense of belonging) makes young people to do things which they would not ordinarily do simply because they wouldn’t want to be left out. Doctor Akoury says that peer pressure or not the effects of drugs does not change. Therefore irrespective of how you were introduced into drugs and ended becoming an addict, everyone in this situation whether teens or adults, you need to either find a better group of friends that won’t pressure you into doing harmful things, or you need to find a good way to say no and ensure that your no will always remain to no. and for the teens doctor Akoury advices that they should prepare a good excuse or plan ahead of time, to keep from giving into tempting situations.

Practical Ways of Preventing Heroin Abuse: Deal with life pressure

The trend of life today is such that people are very busy waking up early and sleeping late to meet the demands of life. At the place of work employees are working on very tight deadlines and at the same time having to cope with that unkind boss does not even make things better. In that state of mind many people today feel overworked, stressed and overwhelmed, and often feel like a good break or a reward is deserved. But in the end, drugs only make life more stressful and many of us all too often fail to recognize this in the moment. To prevent using drugs as a reward, it is important that you find other ways to handle stress and unwind. For instance, you could take up exercising, reading good books or volunteer with the needy and create something. Anything positive and relaxing helps take the mind off using drugs to relieve stress.

Practical Ways of Preventing Heroin Abuse: Seek help for mental illness

Mental illness and substance abuse are often correlating and when they both attack life can be very miserable both to the victim and the relatives. It is therefore very possible that those suffering from mental illness are likely to turn to drugs as a way of easing the pain. We must therefore make effort to support where we can to help reduce the suffering and frustration resulting from both conditions. In the meantime it is also very important that even as we offer these support, professional medication should also be administered. Anyone suffering from mental illness like anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder is qualified for professional treatment before such conditions could escalate to substance abuse.

Practical Ways of Preventing Heroin Abuse: Examine the risk factors

In order to examine the risk factors effectively, we must be aware of the biological, environmental and physical risk factors we possess this way we will be able to overcome all the stress and addiction. One of the indicators could be, if there is history of substance abuse in the family, someone living in a social setting that glorifies drug abuse and family life that models drug abuse. This would be clear risk factors. Finally with all this information, seeking for professional help would be very important. Dr. Akoury is one of the most experienced expert in substance abuse and having been in the practice for over two decades helping people recover from their addiction, she made a decision to create a medical center (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) whose main objective is to transform peoples’ lives through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering them into finding their own inner healing power. Her practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. She is one of the best you can schedule an appointment with for further clarifications about all your concerns relating to stress and drug addiction.

Practical Ways of Preventing Heroin Abuse: The Experts Opinion

Overcoming Stress to solve Drug Addiction Problem

April 7, 2015

Overcoming Stress to solve Drug Addiction Problem: Learning healthy ways of coping with stress

Overcoming Stress to solve Drug Addiction Problem can be very devastating if not addressed in good time.

It is true that stress is in evitable in the current lifestyle we are living in however; we can bring stress to manageable levels so that its effects to human life are significantly reduced. Take the endless problem of addiction for example, if this is to be experienced and at the same time the victim is under some stressful situations, the magnitude of the complication may be overwhelming. Addiction on its own is very stressful not just to the victims but also the relatives caring for the addict. Treatment would be very ideal but even once treatment is done, the recovered addict will still have to face the problems that led to their addiction in the first place. This is so because in many instances people get into drugs in an attempt of trying to confuse certain painful emotions, calming themselves after an argument or just to forget that bad day or a problem they are going through. The most painful part of it is that when the effect of the drug is gone and you become sober, that which you were trying to escape from returns in double portions. It is because of this that overcoming stress to solve drug addiction problems become very necessary.

Doctor Dalal Akoury the MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center states that for one to be treated successfully and maintain sobriety for a long time we must individually and collectively resolve these underlying issues of stress and addiction. It is important to note that with the life situations we have today, conditions such as stress, loneliness, frustration, anger, shame, anxiety, and hopelessness will remain in your life even when you’re no longer using drugs to cover them up. Nonetheless, you will be in a healthier position only when you finally address these issues by seeking for help from the experts and professional like those at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center.

Overcoming Stress to solve Drug Addiction Problem: Reliving Stress without drugs

Drug abuse often shoots from ill-advised attempts to manage stress. In fact many people turn to alcohol or other drugs to unwind and relax after a stressful day, or to cover up painful memories and emotions that cause us to feel stressed and out of balance. This is what is commonly done by many people, but it is the wrong approach to stress solution. We have much more healthier ways to keep your stress level in check. Such steps may include exercising, meditating, using sensory strategies to relax, practicing simple breathing exercises, and challenging self-defeating thoughts says doctor Akoury.

Overcoming Stress to solve Drug Addiction Problem: Strategies of reliving stress without drugs

A time has come when we must do what it takes to ensure that we eliminate all the stressors out of our lives if we are to keep healthy. For instance you may feel like doing drugs is the only way to handle unpleasant feelings, that feeling is very common and you are not the only one feeling that way. The truth is doing drugs will only land you into being more stressed. Instead you can learn to get through such difficulties without falling back on your addiction. Different quick stress relief strategies work better for some people than others. The secret is to find the one that works best for you, and helps you calm down when you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed. When you’re confident in your ability to quickly de-stress, facing strong feelings isn’t as intimidating or overwhelming. The following tips can be helpful to you in reducing stress:

Exercise releases endorphins, relieves stress, and promotes emotional well-being. Try running in place, jumping rope, or walking around the block.
Step outside and savor the warm sun and fresh air. Enjoy a beautiful view or landscape.
Yoga and meditation are excellent ways to bust stress and find balance.
Play with your dog or cat, enjoying the relaxing touch of your pet’s fur.
Put on some calming music.
Light a scented candle.
Breathe in the scent of fresh flowers or coffee beans, or savor a scent that reminds you of a favorite vacation, such as sunscreen or a seashell.
Close your eyes and picture a peaceful place, such as a sandy beach. Or think of a fond memory, such as your child’s first steps or time spent with friends.
Make yourself a steaming cup of tea.
Look at favorite family photos.
Give yourself a neck or shoulder massage.
Soak in a hot bath or shower.

Overcoming Stress to solve Drug Addiction Problem: Keep triggers and cravings in check

While getting sober from drugs is an important first step, it’s only the beginning of the recovery process. Once sober, the brain needs time to recover and rebuild connections that have changed while addicted. During this time, drug cravings can be intense. You can support your continued sobriety by making a conscious effort to avoid people, places, and situations that trigger the urge to use drugs like for instance:

Make a break from old drug buddies – be careful when choosing friends after healing from drug abuse. Desist from hanging out with old friends who are still doing drugs. Instead chose to surround yourself with people who support your new life of sobriety and not those who tempt you to slip back into old habits.

Avoid bars and clubs – keep distance from all social places like bars and clubs even if you don’t have a problem with alcohol. Remember that drinking lowers inhibitions and impairs judgment, which can easily lead to relapse. Drugs are often readily available and the temptation to use can be overpowering. Also avoid any other environments and situations that you could easily associate with drug use.

Use caution with prescription drugs – Stay away from prescription drugs with the potential for abuse or use only when necessary and with extreme caution. Drugs with a high abuse potential include painkillers, sleeping pills, and anti-anxiety medication.

Finally keep regular visits to your health provider for periodic assessment. This is very important because it help you know if there is any symptom of other infection that needs to be addressed before they escalate into chronic problems. Experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury are very much available to helping you get the best no matter your situation. All you need to do is to schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury today and you will live to tell the story of great recovery.

Overcoming Stress to solve Drug Addiction Problem: Learning healthy ways of coping with stress

The Efficient way of Overcoming Drug Addiction

April 7, 2015

The Efficient way of Overcoming Drug Addiction: It begins from the mind set up

The Efficient way of Overcoming Drug Addiction include seeking for help, advice and support from the family

In the past few posted articles we have been talking about treatment of drug addiction and particularly heroin. It has become clear that the cost has been steadily on the increase and this to some point has been a hindrance for effective treatment. However in this article, we want to look at the efficient way of overcoming drug addiction not necessarily heroin but in a wider spectrum. The experts have pointed out that when one is struggling with drug addiction, attainment of sobriety may appear to be dwindling to the extent of giving up on hope of ever recovering or meeting your treatment objectives. That is normal and nearly all addicts will have the same feeling but the truth is that addiction recovery is within reach. It may not matter how hopeless your situation may seems to be. Doctor Akoury says that change is possible with the right treatment and support which are tailored to addressing the root cause of your addiction. She says that once you have started, don’t give up even if you’ve tried and failed before. The road to recovery is never a walk on a straight path. There will be good times and bad ones full of bumps, pitfalls, and setbacks. However by examining the problem and thinking about change, you’re already on your way to total recovery if you could adopt the following strategies.

The Efficient way of Overcoming Drug Addiction: Decide to make a change

Just like we had indicated in our previous article that for many people struggling with addiction the biggest and toughest step towards addiction recovery is the very first step of making a decision to change. It’s normal to feel conflicted about giving up your drug of choice, even when you realize it’s causing problems in your life. Change is never easy and committing to sobriety involves changing many things including:

The way you deal with stress
Who you allow in your life
What you do in your free time
How you think about yourself

Certainly all these will trouble your mind, and among the things that will be disturbing would be whether you’re really ready for all that change or if you have what it takes to quit. Take courage if this concerns you because you are not alone everyone goes through the same process. Remember that recovering from addiction is a long process, one that requires time, commitment, motivation, and support. But in all these your willingness to get help is the most important first step. Now having made that step the following tips can motivate your decision into progressing with the recovery program.

The Efficient way of Overcoming Drug Addiction: Thinking about change

It is important for you to keep track of your drug use, including when and how much you use. This will give you a better sense of the role the addiction is playing in your life.
List the merits and the demerits of quitting and not forgetting the costs element and benefits of continuing your drug abuse.
Outline all the things that are important to you, such as your partner, your kids, your career, or your health. With that outline, evaluate how drugs affect them?
Don’t keep it all to yourself, share it over with someone you trust. Enquire from them how they feel about your drug use.
Ask yourself if there’s anything preventing you from changing. What are some of the things that could help you make the change?

The Efficient way of Overcoming Drug Addiction: Explore your treatment options

Once you’ve made the decision to challenge your drug addiction, it’s time to explore your treatment choices. As you consider the treatment options, have the following at the back of your mind:

There’s no magic bullet or single treatment that works for everyone – When considering a program, remember that everyone’s needs are different and unique. Drug addiction treatment should be customized to your unique problems and situation. It therefore implies that you must only go for that program which will serve your recovery needs.

Treatment should address more than just your drug abuse – The effect of addiction is not limited to your health alone. It cuts across your whole life, including relationships, career, health, and psychological well-being. The success of treatment will depend on changing your general lifestyle and facing head on all the reasons which lead you into drugs in the first place. Like for instance it be due to your inability to manage stress, in which case you’ll need to find healthy ways to handle stressful situations.

Commitment and sticking to the objective – Drug addiction treatment is not a quick and easy process. In general, the longer and more intense the drug use, the longer and more intense the treatment you’ll need. But regardless of the treatment program’s length in weeks or months, long-term follow-up care is crucial to recovery.

There are many places to turn for help – Not everybody requires medically supervised detox or an extended stint in rehab. The level of care you need depends on your age, drug use history, and other medical or psychiatric conditions. In addition to doctors and psychologists, many clergy members, social workers, and counselors can also offer addiction treatment services. Even as you seek help for drug addiction, it’s also important to get treatment for any other medical or psychological issues you’re experiencing. Your best chance of recovery is through integrated treatment for both the substance abuse problem and the mental health problem. This means getting combined mental health and addiction treatment from the same treatment provider or team.

Finally the efficient way of overcoming drug addiction is not all about what we have highlighted in this article. There are so many other directions you can take guided by the healthcare provider. At AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury the MD and also the founder of the facility, all that you may need pertaining treatment of heroin abuse or any other drug addiction are readily a available. Up on scheduling for an appointment with doctor Akoury, you will be evaluated individually and professionally taken through personalized treatment procedure that will deal with the root cause of the problem, thereby addressing the problem as it is, leaving you enjoying your lost times and focusing on a more meaningful life ahead.

The Efficient way of Overcoming Drug Addiction: It begins from the mind set up

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