Tag Archives: Brain

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Drug addiction devastating brain disease today

May 30, 2016
Drug addiction devastating brain disease

Drug addiction devastating brain disease which is today raising serious health complications to all human beings

Drug addiction devastating brain disease today: The brain health risks

Talking about drug addiction, one cannot miss to associate the problem with the functions of the brain. Experts across the globe are all in agreement that drug addiction is causing serious health threats starting from the brain down to the other organs of the body. That is why we want to focus our discussion on ‘drug addiction devastating brain disease today” so that we can take the precautions in good time. Remember that this is a health matter and must be addressed professionally by medical doctors. To that effect we are going to be talking to doctor Dalal Akoury MD, President of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center to help us understand the drug addiction devastating brain disease as it is.

From her mare decades of practice doctor Akoury says that the brain of any human being is a symbol of his whole life in totality. From the brain we are able to reason together, think and have all our five senses engaged to positive action. Without the brain proper health all information from the environment both from the outside and the inside cannot be processed. The outside information’s are those that are associated with the sense of sight, touch and smell while those of inside can be considered to be in relation to body temperature, heart rates, digestion and many more. According to the experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, any attack to any of the three parts of the brain can be very costly. Each of the three parts of the brain has specific and important roles to play. Drugs are the biggest enemies of the brain’s health and that is why it is important that we understand this topic drug addiction devastating brain disease today effectively.

Drug addiction devastating brain disease today: The three segments of the brain

Like we have mentioned drug addiction is the biggest enemy of the brain health. Any individual using drugs is at greater risk of having their brain being corrupted. And when this happens, it can interfere with the normal processing of information thereby altering altogether how well the brain works. Doctor Akoury says that for clear understanding of the devastating brain disease, it is important that we appreciate the functions and how drugs affects all the three parts of the brain as follows:

Limbic system

This coordinates all the brain structures responsible for the control of emotions. Like for instance big appetite, pleasures over delicacies. Such good feelings motivates users of drugs to keep using and eventually become addicted.

Brain stem

All the body organs that keep us healthy are coordinated from this point. Brain stem is responsible for all the body functions including breathing, blood flows, digestion besides linking the brain with the spinal cord running down the back moving muscles and limbs even as it communicates with the brain in understanding all that is happening to the body.

Cerebral cortex

This is considered to be the largest part of the brain with four segments:

The lobes – which control specific functions. Some areas process information from our senses, allowing us to see, feel, hear, and taste.

The front part of the cortex, known as the frontal cortex or forebrain, is the thinking center. It powers our ability to think, plan, solve problems, and make decisions.

From that briefing it is clear that the brain is delicate and therefore if you are struggling with substance abuse, then you need help and doctor Akoury is waiting to hear from you and she will be able to help you recover from all your addiction related complications.

Drug addiction devastating brain disease today: The brain health risks

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Substance abuse mental health complications

May 12, 2016
Substance abuse mental health

Substance abuse mental health complications characteristics

Substance abuse mental health complications: Addiction

Drug addiction is never friendly for anyone. When one member of the family is struggling with addiction, the whole family unit suffers. This can become even more complicated when the victim is also struggling with another health problem. And that introduces us to this discussion of substance abuse mental health complications. Doctor Dalal Akoury of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center acknowledges the complexity of the two conditions put together in an individual’s life. She says that having drug addiction problem coupled with mental health issues like depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder is medically known as dual diagnosis and sometimes also referred to as a co-occurring disorder. These are not simple complications to have in life. However if this description suits your situation, then you need not to be scared. Our team of experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are well trained and fully equipped with all the skills to help you regain your life back and live it to the fullest.

Substance abuse mental health complications: The relationship between substance abuse and mental health

There are several links between these two chronic health situations. Like for instance doctor Akoury registers that in both cases, we have very unique symptoms capable of causing harmful alterations to one’s ability to function normally by way of addressing life’s difficulties and even in line with association with other people around you. This can further become complicated especially in the event that the mental health complication is not treated in good time. The consequence of that delay would cause the substance abuse problem to deteriorate further causing more harm to the addict. On the other hand when the use of drugs and alcohol increases, the mental health problems equally increases. It therefore means that to be safe all this conditions must never be allowed in an individual all at the same time.

Treatment must be sought for immediately for comfort and health to be appreciated. As we address that it is important that we are acquainted with the order of occurrence of these two conditions. We are all aware with the prevalence of addiction in our societies there is bound to be more people with mental health problems owing to their interrelationship. Nonetheless, even though substance abuse and mental health disorders are closely linked, ordinarily one does not in any way directly cause the other begging the question which one comes first?

Substance abuse mental health complications: Substance abuse vs. mental health

Substance abuse and mental health are two conditions which are complimenting each other to destroy and kill. Doctor Akoury in her campaign of creating awareness about drug abuse encourages that the public needs to be fully informed about these conditions. The following are some of the points worth nothing about the two conditions.

  • Alcohol or drugs are often used to self-medicate the symptoms of depression or anxiety. Unfortunately, substance abuse causes side effects and in the long run worsens the very symptoms they initially numbed or relieved.
  • Alcohol and drug abuse can make symptoms of a mental health problem worse. Substance abuse may sharply increase symptoms of mental illness or trigger new symptoms.
  • Alcohol and drug abuse also interact with medications such as antidepressants, anti-anxiety pills, and mood stabilizers, making them less effective.
  • Alcohol and drug abuse can increase underlying risk for mental disorders.
  • Mental disorders are caused by a complex interplay of genetics, the environment, and other outside factors. If you are at risk for a mental disorder, drug or alcohol abuse may push you over the edge.

Finally having understood the consequences of the two conditions, it is important that you take precaution to be safe by calling doctor Akoury today for a more professional treatment approach.

Substance abuse mental health complications: Addiction

 

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Withdrawal

Brain structures impairment prompted by addiction

March 26, 2016

Brain structures impairment prompted by addiction: The cerebral cortex

Brain structures

Brain structures impairment caused by drug addiction and misuse of alcohol

It is said that life stop the moment the brain stops functioning. The brain is therefore a very sensitive organ in the body that needs to be natured well for it to operate optimally. As we progress into the discussion, it is important to note that the brain is composed of many different parts otherwise known as regions and structures. Therefore the brain structures and regions main role is that of transmitting effective communications to various parts of the body. The transmission of communication enables the various regions and brain structures to coordinate their activities effectively say’s Doctor Dalal Akoury. Each of these regions and structures are independent and serves different purposes. One of the biggest enemies to these regions and structures is the problem of misuse of alcohol and drug addiction. This condition can alter these regions and structures.

Besides that, addictions can also alter the way brain regions function. And for that reason as we progress into this discussion, we are going to discuss the regions and structures which are affected by the addictive process. It is therefore very important to appreciate that complications of addiction can change the brain structures and their functions in very many ways. And for us to get these facts accurately, we are going to be speaking to the expert from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury to help us in reviewing the brain’s role in some of the commonly observed problems associated with addiction which may include the following: Drug-seeking and cravings, Habit formation, craving, withdrawal effects, and relapse triggers, Impaired decision-making, impulsivity, and compulsivity and Stress control and withdrawal.

Impaired Decision-making, Impulsivity, and Compulsivity

The cerebral cortex is the outer most layer of the brain. The cerebral cortex is further divided into four areas. These four areas are: the frontal lobe (or frontal cortex), parietal lobes (left and right), temporal lobes (left and right), and occipital lobes (left and right). Each area is associated with certain brain functions: One area of the frontal cortex is called the prefrontal cortex. It has a vital role in higher-order functions. These functions include language, spatial learning, conscious thought, judgment, and decision-making. The process of addiction can negatively affect this area and alter its proper functionalities.

 The prefrontal cortex

This enables us to make rational, sound decisions. It also helps us to override impulsive urges. If acted upon, these impulses urges can cause us to act without thinking. This is usually not in our best interest. For instance, suppose I’ve had a bad day at work. I may have an impulsive urge to tell my boss exactly what I think of her. To act on this impulse is not in my best interest. Fortunately, my prefrontal cortex is functioning quite well. I still have my job!

Obviously, this ability to inhibit impulses is very helpful. It enables us to function well in society. It protects us from harm by allowing us to consider the consequences of our actions. However, when the pre-frontal cortex is not functioning correctly, the opposite occurs. Addiction causes changes to the prefrontal cortex. These changes account for two characteristics of addiction: impulsivity and compulsivity.

Impulsivity is the inclination to act upon sudden urges or desires without considering potential consequences. Sometimes people describe impulsivity as living in the present moment without regard to the future. On the other hand, compulsivity is a behavior that an individual feels driven to perform to relieve anxiety. Once a person performs the compulsive behavior, the anxiety goes away and restores comfort. Thus, the presence of these behavioral characteristics in addicted persons indicates that changes to the prefrontal cortex have occurred. Unfortunately, these changes also make the discontinuation of drug use more difficult.

When we talk of addiction changes brain structure and their functions, the message being delivered is that an addiction is a process that coordinates the transition from impulsive to compulsive behavior. Impulsivity occurs during the early stages of addiction. During this phase, people impulsively act on powerful urges to experience the pleasure of their addiction. Anxiety is not associated with the urges during these early stages. Instead, addiction reflects acting on impulsive desire to receive immediate pleasure from the drug or activity. People are not considering the future consequences.

Brain structures impairment prompted by addiction: Shifting progress of addiction

As addiction progresses a shift begins to occur. At this point, the compulsive aspect of addiction takes hold. When this shift occurs, people are no longer pursuing their addiction solely for pleasure. The compulsions compel them to participate in their addiction to relieve anxious, uncomfortable feelings. These may arise at the mere thought of stopping the addiction for any reason. At this later compulsive stage, “pleasure” comes in the form of relief from these anxious, uncomfortable feelings. Thus, despite the negative consequences of addiction, the addictive behavior continues in a compulsive manner.

Another way to describe the pre-frontal cortex is to think of it as a braking system. The pre-frontal cortex acts as the brain’s brakes. It sends out signals to inhibit particular behaviors or actions. When addiction damages this brain area, it limits the brain’s ability to control other behavioral systems as well. Imagine how difficult it would be to operate a car without brakes. At this point, we might say the brain is “high-jacked” by the addiction. The prefrontal cortex also projects to other brain regions associated with addictive problems. These include the reward system; memory and emotion; and stress regulation centers of the brain. Therefore, damage to the prefrontal cortex may further interfere with the functioning of these other brain regions as well.

Although addiction damages the brain’s brakes (pre-frontal cortex) this is not to say there is a complete loss of control. We are not slaves to our biology. We have a tremendous amount of control over our actions. This is true even when impulsive and compulsive forces are operating. This recognition is vitally important if someone wishes to recover from addiction. When a person consciously decides the costs of addiction outweigh its benefits, they become motivated and are able to stop. This allows them to actively counter the effects of addiction on the frontal cortex and other brain regions. Therefore if this description suits your situation, then you are in the right path and calling doctor Akoury today will go a long way in helping you solve all the addiction problems you may be struggling with.

Brain structures impairment prompted by addiction: Cerebral Cortex

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SUDs

Nutritional Intervention For Substance Use Disorder (SUDs)

March 24, 2016

Evidence-based nutritional treatment interventions should be initiated for all patients referred to specialty care treatment of SUDs

SUDsSubstance Use Disorders (SUDs) alternatively called drug addiction has long kept the focus of scientists and other medical practitioners. Once a person has been become an addict, quitting addiction become s are really difficult decision to make. Surprisingly many of the drug addicts for once in their life time do gather the courage and will power to quit substance abuse. Once a decision is undertaken, choosing the right addiction option is really important. These individuals have mostly got only one shot at recovery because there is no guarantee that they will be able to have such high motivation to quit again ever in their life. Unfortunately it has been seen that people have tried quitting but they ended up with a treatment option that wasn’t suitable for their needs. That’s where Evidence based treatments come into play.

The foremost requirement for people in order to make the best choice for addiction treatment is their access to reliable information. Specifically they should be provided with some evidence that how a treatment performs, and how it had helped people having similar symptoms and severity of addiction. They also need to know if the treatment had worked for people who were addicted to one type of substance or multiple drugs. This is exactly what evidence based substance abuse treatment refers to. Every addict is different so are their treatment requirements, in evidence based treatment an addiction specialist tailors a treatment option to make sure that his client gets the best available resources present at their disposal. Despite noteworthy advancement in improving the evidence base for SUDs treatments, only a portion of the spectrum of care for SUDs is validated by the most thorough evidence in the current scientific literature.

Evidence for substance use treatment (SUD) can be divided into different levels which include:

  • Level 1: The evidence that is gained through true experimental design such as clinical trials that includes some randomization.
  • Level 2: This evidence comes from a quasi experimental design that does not include randomization.
  • Level 3: This level indicates those treatments that have been decided on the basis of consensus between most of the professional community.
  • Level 4: Evidence gained through literature reviews and publications.
  • Level 5: The last level of evidence based treatment includes personal experiences by other addicts related to a certain treatment option.

Evidence based treatment is an integrative approach; it does not only rely on medication or only behavioral counseling. This integrates multiple aspects of medication, psychotherapy and even nutrition. It is a great misconception that medication and psychotherapy is enough of a treatment combination for substance use disorders neglecting the fact that how important a role nutrition plays in over all wellbeing of an individual. It is now stressed upon at most forums that evidence-based nutritional treatment interventions should be initiated for all patients referred to specialty care treatment of SUDs. It is important to get a nutritionist on the panel while treating SUDs and the role played by dietician in treating substance abuse is very important but often had been eliminated from the patient’s long term recovery process. Nutrition therapy is a complex procedure as the risks vary considering the substance of choice and some negative overall conditions such as poor support from the family, other co occurring mental disorders and sometimes financial instability.

Proper balanced diet and hydration are tantamount to the substance abuse healing process because they help in restoring physical and mental health and improve the chance of recovery. While a person is suffering from SUDs, their eating habits are usually disturbed, they often eat a lot or too less and even if they eat well enough, their diet lack certain nutrients that are required for proper functionality of human body. Another explanation for lack of these nutrients is that they are depleted from the body due to drug abuse. These macro- and micronutrient deficiencies can directly lead to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and low energy, all of which can force someone who already has a tendency for addiction to start using drugs or alcohol or trigger a relapse.

There are multiple programs and courses that aim at substance abuse prevention and concentrate on nutrition as well because a healthful lifestyle can promote mental health and that too for people who have been involved in substance abuse over a number of years prior to treatment. For those who are fighting substance abuse, diet tends to play the same important role in sustaining recovery while also improving the resulting health conditions and deficiencies.

Nutrition can help an addict in many ways. Substance abuse leads to vitamin and other essential mineral deficiencies that damage physical and mental health, vital organs, nervous system, and also been known to decrease immunity. Drugs and other psychoactive substances have been found to have detrimental and toxic effects on brain’s chemistry; this toxicity could lead to psychiatric problems. Balanced diet having enough carbohydrates can greatly remediate the damage that has been done to the reward and survival pathway of the patient. A stable blood sugar can also help avoid craving and irritability.

There are innumerous other benefits an evidence based nutritional intervention can offer to a substance abuser. It is safe to say that excluding nutrition therapy from treatment options can greatly reduce the treatment efficiency. There are multiple other aspects of this integrative approach that require further discussion. We are proud to announce that we have tried to bring health professionals, psychologists, and other stake holder in this area over one platform through our “Integrative Addiction Conference”. If you are somehow affected by any of the consequences of the above mentioned addictions or you are an expert on evidence based treatments of addiction, we warmly invite you to register with us on the link below and share your valuable views with us thus helping us build an integrative approach towards addiction treatments. The link is as follows: http://integrativeaddictionconference.com/

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Dealing with the minds perception about cocaine addiction

February 7, 2016

Dealing with the minds perception about cocaine addiction: Coping with craving of cocaine (part two)

Dealing with the minds perception about cocaine addiction

In our part one of this series of articles about the cognitive behavioral approach of treating addiction, we had highlighted some of the areas to focus on as listed below and we were able to explore on the first one i.e. understanding craving. You can actually make reference on that as we progress but for the purpose of this article we want to continue from where we left and see how best we can describe craving which is one of the biggest elements when it comes to solving the problem of addiction. Our team of experts from the home of addiction solutions (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury who is also the founder of the facility, we want to explore on the possibilities of dealing with the minds perception about cocaine addiction with a view of finding lasting solutions to the scourge of addiction.

Dealing with the minds perception about cocaine addiction: Describing craving

Having understood what cravings is our next point would be to get the essential sense of the patients’ experience of craving. This can be very broad and may include having the knowledge about the following information.

What is craving like for you? – Doctor Akoury says that cravings or urges as it is commonly known is experienced in many different of ways by different patients. Like for instance an individual could say, the experience is primarily somatic that is to say, a patient would just get a feeling in the stomach or the heart races or just start smelling the element being craved for. For others, craving is experienced more cognitively; like for example one would say that “I need it now” or “I can’t get it out of my head” or “It calls on me.” Or it may be experienced effectively; for example, “I get nervous” or “I’m bored.” Depending on your individual experience, it is important that when seeking for help, you let your therapist know your experience with craving, this way they will be able to get to the roots of the problem and offer solutions effectively.

Are you bothered by craving? – There is tremendous variability in the level and intensity of craving reported by patients. For some, achieving and maintaining control over craving will be a principal treatment goal and take several weeks to achieve. Other patients deny they experience any craving. Gentle exploration with patients who deny any craving especially those who continue to use cocaine often reveals that they misinterpret a variety of experiences or simply ignore craving when it occurs until they suddenly find themselves using. Other, abstinent patients, who deny they experience any craving often, when asked, admit to intense fears about relapsing.

How long does craving last for you? – In this journey doctor Akoury says that to make the point about the duration and nature of craving, it is often very important for professionals to point out to their patients that they have rarely let themselves experience an episode of craving without giving in to it.

How do you try to cope with it? – Getting a sense of the coping strategies used by patients will help the therapist identify their characteristic coping styles and select appropriate coping strategies.

Dealing with the minds perception about cocaine addiction: Identifying triggers

The next point to focus on would be the identification of the triggers to the substance of abuse. It is important that therapists should work very closely with their patients to develop a comprehensive list of their own triggers. Some patients become overwhelmed when asked to identify cues. From experience doctor Akoury says that when handling addicts, you will notice that someone may even associate breathing with cocaine use. Again, it may be most helpful therefore to concentrate on identifying the craving and cues that have been most problematic to the patient in recent weeks. This should commence immediately during the therapy session and this should include self-monitoring of craving so that patients can begin to identify new and more subtle cues as they arise.

Dealing with the minds perception about cocaine addiction: Avoiding cues

When considering the avoidance of cues it is always advisable that you keep in mind the general strategy of “recognize, avoid, and cope.” These strategies are particularly applicable to craving for all substances and not necessarily cocaine. Doctor Akoury says that real experts would first identify the patients’ most problematic cues then make an exploration of the degree to which some of those could be avoided. This will come with certain sacrifices including breaking ties or reducing contact with individuals who use or supply you with cocaine, getting rid of paraphernalia, staying out of bars or other places where cocaine is used, or no longer carrying money, as in the following example:

Finally in dealing with the minds perception about cocaine addiction one needs not to let any stone unturned. I am saying this because we are all aware that cocaine is an illegal substance but other substances like alcohol which are legal can form a perfect avenue for the consumption of cocaine without being noticed. Besides that the ability to pay for the substance is another point of consideration. When the financial strength allows users to access cocaine could easily form a solution in an alcoholic drink. Therefore experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center recommends that for any meaningful treatment to be realized, therapists and other professionals in the line of substance abuse must spend considerable time exploring the relationship between alcohol and cocaine with patients who use them together to such an extent that alcohol becomes a powerful cocaine cue. Specific strategies to reduce, or preferably, stop alcohol use should be explored. We appreciate that doing this may not be easy for many people and that is why doctor Akoury will be readily available on call for you to schedule for an appointment so that any pending or unclear issues relating to addiction can be attended to professionally.

Dealing with the minds perception about cocaine addiction: Coping with craving of cocaine (part two)

 

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