Diseases which are associated with obesity

February 4, 2015

Diseases which are associated with Obesity: They are Chronic in nature

Diseases which are associated with obesity can be very chronic and prevention should be the best medicine for them

When we mention the conditions associated with weight gain people often think of being lazy or just being less concern with the good healthy nutrition. What many are not aware of is that there are several diseases which are associated with obesity and weight gain. In a series of different articles we are going to be discussing some of these chronic health conditions which we can easily put to control if we get the right information. To help us understand the clear picture or the magnitude of the conditions, we are going to be talking to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care. Therefore doctor Akoury is going to be responding to some of the concerns that we want to bring to you with a view of changing lives for the better. The following are just but a few of the diseases which are associated with obesity:

Diabetes mellitus
Hypertension
Dyslipidaemia
Heart disease
Cerebrovascular disease
Respiratory disease
Cancer
Gynaecological and obstetric complications
Surgical and anaesthetic complications
Chronic kidney disease

Diseases which are associated with obesity: Diabetes mellitus

This one such health conditions that is strongly associated with overweight and being obese. The most frustrating point with this condition is that is very difficult to treat and once affected, it can only be managed. Obesity is linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus and this cut across both genders and irrespective of where you’re coming from. And in fact the relationship between obesity and diabetes is such intertwined that the connection has been nick named ‘diabesity’. The flow from obesity to diabetes is due to a progressive defect in insulin emission together with a steady rise in insulin resistance. The fact that insulin resistance and improper emission of insulin are happening very prematurely in obese individuals is worsening towards diabetes. An increase in overall fatness, preferentially of visceral as well as ectopic fat depots, is specifically associated with insulin resistance. The accumulation of intramyocellular lipids may be due to reduced lipid oxidation capacity. Therefore the ability to lose weight is related to the capacity to oxidize fat. Thus, a relative defect in fat oxidation capacity is responsible for energy economy and hampered weight loss.

Diseases which are associated with obesity: Hypertension

The relationship between obesity and hypertension has been investigated in a large number of cross-sectional population studies and a smaller number of prospective, observational studies. The results indicate that in most populations, blood pressure increases linearly with increasing relative body weight or body mass index. The relationship is present across all subgroups, although the magnitude of the association appears greater in whites than blacks and greater in younger than older persons. It is estimated that as much as one-third of all hypertension may be attributable to obesity in populations where hypertension and obesity are widely prevalent. Evidence from prospective studies and clinical trials suggests that hypertension in obese patients increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and that drug treatment of hypertension reduces the risk.

However, it is uncertain whether the risks associated with hypertension and the benefits of treatment are as great in obese hypertensives as they are in lean hypertensives. The effects of weight reduction on blood pressure have been investigated in a small number of randomized, controlled trials involving a total of about 600 participants. Overall, the results of the trials indicate that weight reduction lowers blood pressure over intervals of up to one year. The magnitude of the blood pressure response appears to be directly proportional to the amount of weight loss achieved. However, the latter is inversely related to the length of follow-up. Adequate maintenance of weight loss remains a major problem for the much-needed, long-term trials of the effects of weight reduction on blood pressure and the cardiovascular complications of hypertension.

Diseases which are associated with obesity: Heart disease

Obesity is reaching epidemic levels in most parts of the world but the greatest concern is the trail of destruction this condition is leaving on the complications of the heart. How does this happen? Doctor Akoury explains:

Diseases which are associated with obesity: Obesity Leads to Blockage in the Arteries

Let us start by explaining what insulin is, this is a hormone that helps the body metabolize blood sugar, or glucose. When one is obese the insulin resistance goes up causing the body to be less effective in digesting glucose. The result of this is high blood sugar which facilitates the formation of pre-diabetes or diabetes. As we had said above, this is a serious risk factor for heart disease. And due to the ineffectiveness of insulin operations in the liver, triglycerides (fats) increases in the blood causing the bad cholesterol, or LDL to go up and good cholesterol or HDL to come down.

Remember that cholesterol is a chemical which is very vital to a number of functions in the body. However, too much level of cholesterol in the body can be harmful. LDL transport cholesterol from the liver and intestines to various parts of the body. During this transportation process, if there we have excess cholesterol the excess will build up in the walls of arteries throughout the body, including those in the heart and brain. HDL takes cholesterol from the walls of the arteries and carries it back to the liver and intestines where it can be excreted. When there is too little HDL to carry away the excess LDL, it leads to atherosclerosis, which is hardening and narrowing of the arteries. This is a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke. Just to further on the relationship between obesity and heart diseases, obesity is also associated with increased risks of:

Coronary artery disease
Heart failure
Atrial fibrillation

Diseases which are associated with obesity: Coronary artery disease

Various studies have shown that an increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in the overweight is real and realistic. This is because while studying some 300 000 adults for 7 years, it was established that about 9% increase in ischaemic-heart disease events for each unit change in BMI.46 moreover, obesity was associated with both fatty streaks and raised atherosclerotic lesions in the right coronary and left anterior descending coronary arteries specifically in young men. Nonetheless as for those individuals with pre-existing heart conditions the link between obesity and cardiovascular mortality is not very strong.

Diseases which are associated with obesity: Heart failure

Doctor Akoury explains that the relationship between obesity and heart failure is complex. According to the Framingham Study where some 6000 individuals with no heart failure records in the past but of age 55 were followed keenly for some14 years. Up on concluding the study, it was established that, the risk of developing heart failure was two-fold higher in obese individuals, in comparison with subjects with a normal body-mass index. On multivariate analysis adjusting for risk factors including hypertension, coronary artery disease and left ventricular hypertrophy, there was an excess risk of 5% in men and 7% in women for each 1 point increase in BMI. It was estimated that 11% of the cases of heart failure in men and 14% in women could be attributed to obesity alone. These complications can be very chronic and the sooner you tackle them the better. To help you get lasting solutions of all these, you will need to call doctor Akoury for an appointment to commence treatment.

Diseases which are associated with obesity – They are Chronic in nature

Memory Loss Causes and Natural Treatment

January 27, 2015

Memory Loss causes and Natural treatment

We all experience forgetfulness at one time in our lives. That moment when you find that you don’t remember a conversation you had with someone you just met. When you can’t figure out the name of a person you just talked to minutes ago. This in some cases is normal memory loss that is temporary. Most of this is caused by something major happening in our lives, for example when you are undergoing mental stress or have too much on your plate to handle. This can make you forget simple things happening around you.

On the other hand, aging plays a role in our forgetfulness. It is absolutely normal to forget some things along the way as we become old. This is normal aging process which comes with a package of forgetfulness.

The Memory Loss Question

However, you have to be careful. When this memory loss is not as a result of aging, then there is a problem. In this case you could be experiencing abnormal memory loss also referred to as amnesia. Amnesia is an abnormal memory loss that manifests itself in a person. It is characterized by an abnormal ability to recall events that happened in the past which you would normally remember. This poses a lot of problems to not only the victim but also the people close to him or her.

Depending on what is causing the amnesia it could occur gradually or you may just wake up one morning and find that you are not remembering anything that happened in your past. Some memory loss may just be temporary but in some cases it may affect someone for the rest of their life. Amnesia can be limited to inability to recall past events or even those that happened recently or a manifestation of both.

Memory Loss

Aging brings with it some degree of forgetfulness as we have seen. This memory loss may result into difficulties in learning or retaining new knowledge. However, aging is not necessarily a cause of abnormal memory loss. In this case you will find that the victim has other factors causing the memory loss to be extreme like a disease.

This gives us three types of amnesia that people may experience in their lives. Transient global amnesia is a type of memory loss that results in the loss of all memory both from recent or past events. It’s like your entire memory is scrapped off. This kind of memory loss however is very rare and if it happens it is temporary and through medication a person is able to recover.

Anterograde amnesia on the other hand comes about after a person has experienced a trauma of some kind. It is characterized with inability to remember recent events that happened after a trauma but the distant past events remain unaltered. Retrograde amnesia on the other hand is characterized by inability to remember events that may have occurred before a trauma. However, your ability to remember events afterwards is not affected in any way.

There are several factors which may cause memory loss like alcohol and drug abuse, depression, nutrition, medication, trauma, infections or psychological stress.

Aging and Hormonal Imbalances

Hormones are very important in the normal body functioning. However as we grow older some processes in our bodies begin to slow down. As we age hormone production decreases creating an environment of hormonal imbalances. Studies show that this decline in hormones is responsible for certain conditions that are as a result of the aging process. Such conditions include cardio vascular infections, degenerative illnesses, memory loss as well as hair and muscle loss.

The endocrine system becomes ineffective with aging. The system which is responsible for secretion of all hormones becomes inefficient and hormones are not produced as they normally would. This ends up throwing hormones way off balance. Such hormones include insulin, sex hormones like testosterone among others.

Most anti-aging doctors recommend hormone replacement therapy to overcome these aging effects. The therapy involves replacing the hormones with artificial ones which are of similar molecular properties.

Memory Loss

Nutrition

You have heard that what you eat translates into your general health. This is the case with memory loss. It may be caused by the wrong diet and lack of exercise. Some foods inhibit the functioning of brain cells resulting in amnesia.

Alcohol

Prolonged alcohol and drug abuse results in amnesia. It works by damaging the cells in your brain leading to gradual memory loss. You find that your ability to learn or retain new information is impaired. You are also not able to recall recent and past events.

Depression

This is another causative factor of amnesia. Depression will naturally results in throwing your hormones off balance. When hormones are not balanced conditions such as memory loss and impaired concentration levels occur.

Natural Remedies for Memory Loss

Avoid stress: stressful situations will only result in depression which is a bridge to memory loss. Always try living on the positive side of life and avoid in as much as possible anything negative.

Diet: eating the right diet that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants works to prevent memory loss. These can be found in foods like vegetables, fruits, dark chocolate, tea, flaxseed, cold-water fish and walnuts.

Mind exercise: strive to keep your brain active in all ways. Things like mind games, crossword puzzles and reading all work to exercise the brain and keeps it active and strong.

Avoid alcohol: alcohol end ups damaging your brain cells inhibiting the functioning of neurotransmitters.

Avoid stress: depression is dangerous to your health. It ends up throwing your hormones off balance which results in memory loss. Avoid situations that are likely to stress you.

To find out more about this topic visit www.awaremednetwork.com today. For any questions you may have about this topic or any other health topic, Dr. Akoury will be more than happy to offer the assistance you require. She has many years of medical experience which has seen her help many patients recover from conditions like memory loss.

Memory Loss Causes and Natural Treatment

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Alcohol Abuse Increases Risk of Cancer

January 20, 2015

How Does Alcohol Increase The Risk Of Cancer?

Risk of cancer Alcohol drinking is a common practice. To some people they do it when seeking pleasure but to others it has become an addiction that they can’t live without. The pleasure seekers ay only take alcohol once in a week, possibly on weekends but to those already addicted to the rum they can’t go a day without it. Most people however engage in alcohol drinking as a way to bond with friends and give them that sense of belonging. Whatever the reason you take alcohol for it is important that you be aware of the risks associated with drinking alcohol. Apart from alcohol addiction that every person never wants to be chained to, there are other serious risks associated with alcohol drinking. One of these risks that are associated with alcohol drinking is that it increases the risk of cancer.

Cancer is currently one of the most dreaded diseases worldwide. It is a disease that is not only expensive to treat but is synonymous to pain. The chronic pain that is associated with cancer in itself a risk to addiction to opiates that are normally used to quell the pain. even today doctors are still working to avail other better options of treating cancer so as to avoid its debilitating effects on its victims but still it pays a great deal to stay out of all the factors that may increase your risks of cancer debilitating you. having learnt of the current unbreakable link between alcohol to increased risk of cancer the best thing to do for any alcohol addicted fellow is to seek medical heap especially through an integrative doctor to help him quit alcohol and wholly heal him from the effects of alcohol before it pave way for cancer to creep in. with this said I think it is better we get the specifics of this link so that you may judge for yourself if quitting alcohol is worth it. Here are some possible explanations for how alcohol can increase risk of cancer.

Acetaldehyde is a carcinogen

When taken, alcohol is converted into a toxic chemical called acetaldehyde in our bodies. Acetaldehyde can cause cancer by damaging DNA and stopping our cells from repairing this damage. The International Agency for Research on Cancer have classified acetaldehyde formed as a result of drinking alcohol as being a cause of cancer, along with alcohol itself. It also causes liver cells to grow faster than normal. These regenerating cells are more likely to pick up changes in their genes that could lead to cancer.

Typically, ethanol is broken down mainly by the liver, but lots of other cell types can do this as well. Some of the bacteria that live in our mouths and the linings of our guts are also able to convert ethanol into acetaldehyde. The reactive nature of acetaldehyde is such that it can form DNA adducts of which, the most well-known and extensively studied, is N2-ethyl-2′-deoxyguanosine (N2-ethyl-dG). Studies done on rats that were put on a drinking water with 10% (v/v) alcohol proves that indeed acetaldehyde is harmful and causes cancer.

Alcohol increases estrogen levels

Estrogen dominance causes cancer. It is because of estrogen dominance in obese women that exposes them to breast cancer. Several past studies have proved this. Alcohol increases risk of cancer by increasing the levels of estrogen in a person. Despite its very essential purposes as a hormone estrogen has a dark side too this can be made worse by alcohol consumption-risk of cancer.

Alcohol damages liver cells

Alcohol consumption damages the liver cells leading to a disease known as liver cirrhosis. This even increases your risk of developing liver cancer. Apart from this, it also makes it easier for the tissues of the mouth and throat to absorb the cancer-causing chemicals in tobacco. This explains why people who drink and smoke multiply the damage they receive and have especially high risks of cancer. Alcohol also impairs the body’s ability to break down and absorb a variety of nutrients that may be associated with cancer risk, leading to lack of these essential Vitamins: vitamin A; nutrients in the vitamin B family such as Thiamine and folate; vitamin C; vitamin D; vitamin E; and carotenoids. Lack of these essential nutrients escalates the risk of cancer.

Alcohol depletes Folate

Excessive or long term consumption of alcohol leads to depletion of folate. Folate is an important vitamin that helps our cells produce new DNA correctly. People who drink alcohol tend to have lower levels of folate in their blood. Some studies have linked low levels of folate to cancer.

Alcohol generates ROS

Alcohol generate damaging reactive oxygen species (chemically reactive molecules that contain oxygen), which can damage DNA, proteins, and lipids (fats) through a process called oxidation. Any damage on DNA increases risk of cancer. Besides alcoholic beverages may also contain a variety of carcinogenic contaminants that are introduced during fermentation and production, these may include; nitrosamines, asbestos fibers, phenols, and hydrocarbons.

Alcohol addiction is a vice that should be fought by all means that is why we at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are committed to availing help to addicts and offering them a place to call home. We offer NER Treatment and Amino acid therapy that are the most effective approaches to addiction treatment and recovery. You call on Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) today and begin your journey to victory against addiction.

How Does Alcohol Increase The Risk Of Cancer?

Alcohol and Breast Cancer

January 18, 2015

Alcohol Abuse Increase the Risk of Breast cancer

The risks of alcohol abuse are well known by even elementary school kids. However the link between breast cancer and alcohol abuse is something ma y people have never known. This is not so appropriate given that most recent research findings have shown the clear link between these two conditions. Studies have proved the links between alcohol use and breast cancer. Research findings points out that one in five (21.6%) of all alcohol-related deaths are due to cancer globally. Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death in women coming second after lung cancer.

According to Drinkaware’s Chief Medical Advisor, Professor Paul Wallace, people should know that alcohol abuse can increase women’s risk of getting breast cancer.

“My impression is that my patients don’t know about the link between alcohol and breast cancer any more than they do about the association between alcohol and fertility. We can do more to increase awareness.” he says

The professor continued to give the following details on the link between alcohol abuse and breast cancer. True to his words there seems to be a lot of evidence that alcohol abuse increases the risk of breast cancer. However, he made it clear that drinking alcohol does not guarantee that you will get breast cancer but it increases your risk of getting the disease. How much you drink over your lifetime is what increases the risk.

He opines that although alcohol does increase the risk, taken with all the other factors, its contribution to overall causation of breast cancer is estimated to be about 4%. The advice is that if you do regularly drink it should be within the government’s lower risk guidelines.

However the evidences availed by Dr. Wallace aren’t the only ones available to back up this link between alcohol abuse and breast cancer. There are older evidences which show that alcohol increases the risk of developing breast cancer. Professor Wallace confirms that they have known for years that your risk of developing breast cancer increases when you overindulge in alcohol consumption. Overall, women have a 9.5% chance of getting breast cancer before they are 75.In one of these studies it was found that drinking every day even a small amount raises that risk to 10.6%. (4) Professor Wallace says, though, that the overall risk (anything that affects your chance of getting a disease) is based on how much you drink on average each day over a lifetime.

According to Professor Wallace, this link is real based on past research findings which have been reinforced by a recent research that was even done on a larger scope to establish the link between alcohol abuse and breast cancer. This study however is still going on. This study is done on 1.3 million women across the United Kingdom. This study has indicated that the overall risk of a woman to develop breast cancer increases by 7.1 percent for each 10 grams of alcohol drank

Despite the evidences that have been availed, the exact ways alcohol increases the risk of developing breast cancer are still not fully understood but researchers have made known some of the highly potential mechanisms through which alcohol consumption links to breast cancer. one of the mechanism that is suspected to be the major contributor here is the fact that ethanol is broken down into a toxic substance known as acetaldehyde, which can cause genetic mutations, a permanent change in the DNA sequence that makes up genes. This can trigger a response from the body leading to the development of cancerous cells.

Several studies have also reported that alcohol can potentially increase the production of the female hormone estrogen in pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women. One characteristic of a cancer cell is that it multiplies out of control and in certain types of breast cancer; high circulating levels of estrogen can make this more likely to happen. Alcohol also weakens the immune system leading to nutritional deficiencies, including folic acid, vitamins A, B6, D and E and zinc, all of which may make it more difficult for the body to fight cancerous cells making a person more vulnerable to breast cancer.

The risk of developing breast cancer as always known is much higher in women than in men; this can be attributed to the higher levels of hormone estrogen in women which has been known to increase risks of developing breast cancer. Professor Wallace therefore advices women to stop indulging in excessive drinking and to drink below statutory drinking regulation limits as that is the only way they can reduce this risk of breast cancer apart from dropping alcohol use entirely.

Breast Cancer “Drink within the government’s lower risk guidelines. When taken overall, looking at all the things alcohol does, the risk at these levels is minimal. Life isn’t about zero risk. Even if you lived in a bubble and didn’t ever go outside, you would still be likely to get osteoporosis because you didn’t exercise!” He adds.

Even men are at risk

The risk of breast cancer is not only to worry women but men as well. Though breast cancer is synonymous to women, men also are at a high risk of getting this disease especially later as they age since that is the time when their levels of hormone estrogen increases. It is therefore advisable for men to reduce the amounts of drinks they take and reduce this risk.

Finally, Alcohol abuse, addiction and cancer are problems that people cope with every day. These problems need to be treated effectively through integrative medicine. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) is an expert at this. Call her on (843) 213-1480 for help.

Alcohol Abuse and Breast cancer

Progesterone hormone influences addiction in men

January 12, 2015

Progesterone Hormone and Nicotine Addiction in Men

Progesterone hormone Just like any other addiction, nicotine addiction is a grave health problem. It is a problem that has affected the whole world. About 35 million people in the United States alone try to quit smoking each year, but less than 7 percent are successful. Many smokers report a feel of high sensation, followed by a feeling of relaxation. It is because of these positive feelings that nicotine has been associated with plus the normal cravings make nicotine products very hard to be abandoned by those already using them. Past research has suggested that women may experience fewer nicotine cravings and may be less affected by smoking’s positive reinforcement factors when compared to men. This according to researchers is because the women have higher levels of progesterone hormone. Fluctuations in levels of the female hormones estradiol and progesterone during menstruation may play a role in determining how women are affected by nicotine. this also affects men, little known to many, men also have progesterone hormone though in lower quantities but still serving crucial suppose. In men the adrenal glands and testes also make progesterone and they work to counter the activities of hormone estrogen in men. in case of low levels of progesterone in men , they will exhibit the following symptoms; Low libido, Hair loss, Weight gain, Fatigue, Depression, Gynecomastia (“man-boobs“), Erectile dysfunction, Impotence, Bone loss and Muscle loss.

According to a study that was done to examine the effects of a controlled oral dose of progesterone on smoking behavior, nicotine withdrawal symptoms, and nicotine-related positive reinforcement factors in nicotine dependent males it was found that Higher progesterone blood levels corresponds both to reduced β2*-nAChR availability in all brain regions except the thalamus and to craving and withdrawal symptoms. These findings suggest that progesterone might promote men’s positive abstinence experiences by inhibiting β2*-nAChR availability. However, the study did not detect any direct link between men’s β2*-nAChR availability and craving or symptoms. In this study that took four days, participants were randomly assigned to receive a daily dose of 200 mg of progesterone, 400 mg of progesterone, or placebo. All participants had to abstain from smoking for Days 1 through 3. On Day 4, participants took part in a smoking session, during which their smoking habits, including the number of puffs, duration of puffs, and number of cigarettes smoked, were measured. Outcome measurements also included self-reports of cravings; carbon monoxide monitoring; and standardized questionnaires to assess nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

Progesterone modulates the reward system

In other Preclinical and clinical studies have shown that progesterone modulates the reward system and responses to stimulant drugs. The majority of the preclinical work in this area however has been conducted with cocaine with results showing that progesterone, and its active metabolite allopreganolone, attenuates the rewarding effects of drugs of abuse. Animal studies have mainly focused on the ratio of estradiol to progesterone as a predictor of sensitivity to drug reward with results generally showing that when levels of estradiol are high and relatively unopposed by progesterone drug reward is heightened. Though this study was done using cocaine and not nicotine it makes sense that the balance between progesterone and estradiol is crucial in mitigating the effects of a drug and minimizing chances of a drug user to be addicted to the drug. It is therefore safe to say that it is important for the levels of progesterone in men to be at safe levels to limit effects of drugs.

Progesterone to fight nicotine Addiction

progesterone hormone Progesterone being a hormone that is mostly dominant in women, most researchers having linked it to nicotine addiction worked mostly with women. However bearing the understanding that men also have estrogen and progesterone as well as other hormones it is evident that progesterone might have similar effects on them. As a man ages the production of hormone progesterone becomes slowed or stops, the main function of hormone progesterone in the body of a man is to check on the activities of the estrogen hormone. Estrogen dominance is a problem that not only women grapple but men also are tied to it. in few research findings that have been published, it has been found that progesterone may help men who are fighting nicotine addiction but this hormone decreases as a man grows and so to help it can be supplemented. Clinical research studies in this area have many challenges including the difficulty of conducting the study during a certain phase of the hormonal transition. In addition, men of reproductive age have multiple commitments and participation in a research study with a demanding schedule is not an easy task. Nevertheless, clinical research in this area is crucial to develop more effective treatments for nicotine addiction that will tailor to the needs of women.

Finally

Dr. Dalal Akoury of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Center has dedicated her life to helping patients restore their lives by use of integrative medicine. She also holds many conferences in which she offers training on how integrative medicine can be used to fight addiction among other conditions. Call her on (843) 213-1480 for help.

Progesterone Hormone and Nicotine Addiction in Men

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