Wrong Food Causes Joint Pain

December 6, 2014

Wrong Food Causes Joint Pain

Joint pain is a common complaint among many people. It not only slows you down but causes a
lot of discomfort. It can be caused by injury or disease. It is estimated that over 50 million Americans today are affected by joint pain. A joint refers to an area where two bones meet. These bones are separated by cartilages. The fact of the matter is that joint pain is no longer a disease of the old folks.

Joint pain has been linked to conditions such as arthritis, gout especially of the big toe, bursitis, and muscle pain. Other cause of joint pain include viral infections, fractures, overuse or straining of the joints, rheumatoid arthritis, osteomyelitis which is simply bone infections among others. Joint pain can affect more than one joint at a time. The most common complaints of joint pain are within the hip and shoulder region. However, it can affect any part of your body.

Joint pain can range from mild to very severe pain. It can last from a few days or even go on for several months a condition called chronic joint pain. Whether mild or severe the fact is that, joint pain can affect the quality of your life.

The most common cause of joint pain among a given number of populations is arthritis. It is a disorder of the joints that is caused by an inflammation on the joints. Patients with arthritis complain of pain on the affected joint. Other causative factors of arthritis may be straining of the joint, wear and tear of the muscle tendons of the joints, or fatigue.

Apart from the causes mentioned above, eating the wrong foods can also lead to joint pain. Research has shown that certain type of foods contribute to painful joints.

The Diet Question: Gluten

Eating the wrong diet may lead you to develop joint pain. Studies have shown that eating foods rich in gluten can cause inflammation. This inflammation is what causes pain especially on the knees and joints. You may experience actual physical pain in these areas. The joints especially are the ones highly likely to be affected by inflammation.

The most common source of gluten is wheat flour. Others are barley, rye and other foods made with these grains and any foods made with these grains.

Of the available sources of gluten, wheat is the most common that finds it way in most of our diets. Avoiding wheat may prove very difficult to most of us. This is because it would mean avoiding all those delicacies made from wheat flour. Am talking about pasta, bread, cookies, cakes, muffins, pastries, crackers, gravy, sauces, cereal and the list is endless. Beer is also a source of gluten.

joint-pain

You may have experienced pain in the joints at one time. What comes to our minds when that happens is that we are doing too much work or probably taking those many stairs to your office every day may be causing the pain. Well, this may be true since joint strain may eventually lead to joint pain. Past studies have shown that our diet is the main cause of most of the health problems we experience. This is not different from joint pain and the major cause of joint pain has its root with the gluten diet.

Going off gluten may prove next to impossible to most of us. This is because it is in all the good foods out there. But if something affects your health the best thing to do is cut it out.

Additional Facts about Joint Pain: Leaky Gut Syndrome

Digestive problems affect a number of people. Ever heard of leaky gut syndrome? The gut plays a major role in your overall health and well-being. When food is not being digested properly, it can lead to all kinds of unimaginable problems. For one, foods may fail to be properly digested. This would mean that little or no nutrients will be absorbed into the blood stream. When this happens, the body is derived of the essential nutrients it requires to stay healthy.

Leaky gut syndrome is a medical condition that affects the intestinal linings. It occurs when the permeability of the intestinal walls is increased. Due to this increased permeability, large molecules, antigens and toxins are allowed into the blood stream. These lead to inflammation.

The inflammation of the lining of the intestines leads to destruction of microvilli. Microvilli serve a critical role of absorption and controlling what is absorbed by the blood and what will become waste. The damage of the microvilli prevent them from generating enzymes and other gut secretions which are required for the overall health of the digestive system and efficient absorption of nutrients. joint-pain

When this happens bacterial imbalance occurs in the gut. Normally our bodies have bacteria, some useful others harmful. Proper functioning of the digestive system creates a symbiotic relationship between these bacteria. When the permeability of the intestinal wall is destroyed this balance is offset. Pathogenic bacteria increase in the gut and it renders the useful bacteria completely useless. This imbalance is what leads to leaky gut syndrome.

Antibiotics, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and pesticides are the major causes of leaky gut syndrome. A lot of foods that we take are grown with artificial fertilizers. These harbor a lot of toxins in the foods which are later taken in our body system. These toxins when they reach the gut end up destroying the lining of the gut leading to leaky gut syndrome.

Leaky gut syndrome has been associated with diseases such as arthritis, chronic fatigue, rheumatoid arthritis, acne, eczema, liver dysfunctions among others.

Just like gluten can cause inflammation leading to joint pain, leaky gut syndrome can also be a causative factor for aching joints. The best way to prevent leaky gut syndrome is by properly washing all fresh vegetables and food before cooking and eating.

At AwareMed we not only inform you about the causes of joint pain but we tell how you need to live in order to avoid it!

Wrong Food Causes Joint Pain

Adrenal Fatigue, Chronic Stress And Ebola

October 14, 2014

Adrenal Fatigue, Chronic Stress And Ebola

What is adrenal fatigue?

Adrenal fatigue is a broad term that is used to describe a condition in which a person feels exhausted as a result of failure of the adrenaline glands to function properly. The adrenaline glands are two small structures that are located near the kidney. The glands are responsible for the overall hormonal balance in the body. This is a very important function and it is carried out in two broad ways. First, the adrenaline glands are directly involved in the maintaining the hormonal balance within the body of an individual by producing a number of important hormones. Secondly, the glands control the production and distribution of the majority of different other hormones in the body. Therefore, apart from directly producing important hormones in the body, adrenal glands are important in that they regulate the production and distribution of other hormones.

Signs and symptoms of adrenal fatigue

Basically, adrenal fatigue develops when the adrenal glands are not working as they should be. There can be several reasons that make the adrenal glands to malfunction. For example, chronic diseases such as different types of cancer can interfere with the way the glands function. This definitely leads to adrenal fatigue.

Adrenal fatigue

Generally, diagnosis of adrenal fatigue is a difficult task. This is because the condition produces symptoms that are similar to other medical conditions that are different from it. Also, since the term actually describes a broad amalgamation of signs and symptoms, it may be difficult for a doctor to isolate it from other conditions that may cause similar symptoms.

However, there are certain signs and symptoms whose appearance should be taken as an indication that a person is suffering from adrenal fatigue, that is, if no other direct cause of the symptoms can be pointed out. For example, a feeling of general weakness or fatigue is a clear indication that one may be suffering from adrenal fatigue. This is true particularly if the condition persists and it cannot be attributed to any other medical condition. Lack of energy is usually accompanied with other related signs such as a low level of libido, dizziness and a characteristic tiredness even after one has had a long night’s sleep.

The second sign and symptom of adrenaline fatigue is related to changes in a person’s moods and level of hormones. Moods are usually determined by hormones. Since adrenal fatigue affects the way the adrenal glands function, the hormonal balance within the body of an individual is disturbed. When this happens, a person tends to experience sudden changes in moods over the course of time.

Stages of development of adrenal fatigue

Chronic Stress Adrenal fatigue does not develop overnight. The condition follows a course of development from the time when one experiences the first signs and symptoms to the stage where it becomes a chronic condition. In the first stage, the body of an individual is forced to release a lot of hormones that are associated with the ‘fight or flight’ instinct. This usually happens after a person is exposed to stressful conditions.

In the second stage of development of adrenal fatigue, the body gets accustomed to the conditions to which it first reacted with sharply during the first stage. At this stage, the body tends to make its own internal changes in the production and distribution of hormones. More and more cortisol is produced at the expense of other hormones which are meant to serve different other purposes. Cortisol is the hormone that helps individuals to cope with different forms of stress.

The hormonal imbalance that arises as a result of the body concentrating on producing cortisol and ignoring the production of other equally important hormones is what leads to the different signs and symptoms that a person experiences as a result of adrenaline fatigue.

The effects of adrenal fatigue

Adrenal fatigue causes a number of unpleasant effects in the body. Because of the stages in which the condition goes through as it progresses, its effects on the body tend to be felt in progression as opposed to sudden changes. Therefore, one is likely to fail to realize the full impact of the condition until when it is too late. By this time, the functioning of the adrenal glands is completely impaired that one’s body is unable to cope with any form of stress.

There is a complex relationship between adrenal fatigue and a horde of different types of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer and even Ebola. Although studies are still ongoing, it can be deduced that the degenerative effect of adrenal fatigue on the body predisposes it to the possible development and advancement of such diseases.

How adrenal fatigue can be reversed

There are several different by which adrenal fatigue can be reversed. The good news is that all these methods are natural and are available here at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Centre. The methods can be divided into several categories. The first one is about the use of different forms of nutritional supplements. Such supplements contain magnesium and different types of vitamins which have been found to help in restoring the functioning of the adrenal glands to their ideal state. The second one involves use of exercises and general lifestyle habits as a way of restoring the adrenal glands to their ideal state. Lastly, adrenal fatigue can be reversed by taking the right kind of food while at the same time avoiding excess sugars and other unhealthy substances.

Adrenal Fatigue, Chronic Stress And Ebola

Opiophilia Replaced By Opiophobia

October 1, 2014

Opiophilia Replaced By Opiophobia the Pendulum Is Again In Motion

Opiophobia There are certain phenomena in the medical field that are rather hard to understand. We were brought up knowing that opioids and like substances were bad and should be avoided at all costs and we did that but as we grew and each of us went his way in matters there are mysteries that we met. As everybody else chose careers I chose to be here practicing medicine and I tell here my perception of opiates and like substances were changed here we use them as drugs especially as pain management drugs. To many people this may sound irrational. How do you use a drug that has dangerous effects to treat an illness? Don’t worry we had the same questions and curiously we waited to have these mysteries unraveled. We use these drugs in doses that are only able to address the pain and for a time that may not cause any serious health problems. However as patients were put on these drugs the whole medical industry work up to the realization that the use of these drugs in most cases resulted in the patients being addicted to the drugs and hence demanded more and more of these drugs. These drugs are rewarding in nature and so patients that are put on these drugs will automatically tend to crave for them. That is when opiophilia became a disease to be fought from all corners to help patients on these drugs to evade addiction and dependence on these drugs.

What is Opiophilia?

Opiophilia is a love of opioids, the love for opioids may not begin as a choice but may begin gradually when a patient is prescribed opiates to help him in pain management. In the past the doctors had given a blind to the possibility of pain patients under opiate drugs to be addicted on these drugs as they believed that the dosage was not enough to make the develop dependence on these drugs. However as patients take these drugs they will become addicted as the drugs are rewarding in nature. This therefore means that before a doctor prescribes opiate to a chronic pain patient he should assess the patient and develop exit strategies that will help these patients avoid addiction.

Fortunately, the medical industry has fought opiophilia and better strategies have been put in place to ensure that patients on these drugs are safe. Opiophilia seems an already won battle. Apart from proper pain management by use of these drugs other natural ways of pain management have been embraced to help patients where necessary. These natural pain cures include Prolozone therapy, PRP and prolotherapy. These natural pain cures are now used worldwide to help patients with chronic pain.

The fight against opiophilia was won but that did not end all the problems associated with the use of opiates in managing pain in patients. Another disease came and replaced opiophilia and this is opiophobia.

Opiophobia is a disorder or affliction, so named because people affected have a great aversion to the use of prescription opioids for the treatment of pain, to the point where they will actually refuse to take or administer it. This is rather new disease in field of drugs and addiction. This term is also used to refer to instances when doctors fear or are unwilling to prescribe opioid medication to patients.

In most cases doctors who have had unwillingness to prescribe opioid medications are often counseled and so they go back to administer the drugs. Opiophobia should be addressed just as much as opiophilia since it is the opioid that goes deep in managing pain. This is because the only direct biologic pain-relief system in the human body is the endogenous opioid receptor system, consisting of endorphins and their tissue based action sites, or receptors. Using opioid based drug in pain offers instant relief and so the opiates still remain to be the best pain relief medication. The public as well as the doctors may be subject to opiophobia owing to the negative information that are spreading concerning the use of opiates in dealing with pain. The major concern of these groups is that they know that when a patient has used the opiates for a short term or long-term pain then he becomes addicted and will show symptoms of withdrawal once he stops using the drugs. This may be true but this is also true with other medications doesn’t a diabetic patient become dependent on insulin? Needless to mention several strategies have been put in place to ensure safe exit from the use of these drugs. When you are dependent on any drug for medical purposes. That is not abuse.

Because of opiophobia and opiophilia State regulators have been introducing legislation to severely curtail availability of opioid class of medication this unfortunately may be a disadvantage rather than an advantage as there are patients that are already dependent on these drugs needless to mention there is no alternative that has been put in place that can work effectively enough to replace opioid class of drugs in managing pain.

Exit strategy from opioid therapy

There is need for a safe exit strategy to help the patients evade any possible danger that may come from using the drug. However it is better for a doctor to formulate a safe exit strategy. He will be able to do so depending on such factors as; consistence of a patient’s behavior with drug addiction, patient’s willingness to cooperate with an outpatient-based opioid analgesic tapering plan, patient’s history with substances disorders. All these assessments will help the doctor to formulate a safer exit plan for the patient.

Here at AWAREmed we are dedicated to finding the best solutions to chronic illnesses and that is why Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) is always in the forefront advocating for integrative medicine since it is only through integrative medicine that a person can be healed wholly. Do not hesitate to call on her for help in managing any sort of chronic pain as well as other diseases.

Opiophilia Replaced By Opiophobia the Pendulum Is Again In Motion

Benefits of Health Coaching

September 6, 2014

Health Coaching Is Helpful In Healing Patients with Chronic Diseases

Also referred to as wellness coaching, health coaching is a process geared towards helping a person make healthy life adjustments and change in behaviors. The life coach helps the person seeking help by enabling them to find themselves, know themselves better, identify their values and find ways through which to transform their goals into actions. Health coaching is a platform that many patients can use to get their good health back. The coach is like an instructing driver, he never holds the steering wheels but is there showing you what to do and how to do it. He helps you to unlock the inner healing power in you even as you discover much more about yourself. Health coaching helps you unravel the mystery that is you!

Today there are very many health coaches who are working with patients to help them overcome their down moments. It has become a popular practice since it is a friendly approach to health care. It helps in complete healing of the patient unlike the other forms of treatment that isolates themselves from the patient leaving the patient with no support and no directions on how to pursue better health. Health coaching has very many benefits that we might talk of today. Health coaching has become a vital component of integrative wellness centers that are known to be dealing with chronic diseases. An example of these health coaching and wellness resource centre is AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center in Myrtle Beach.

At AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center in Myrtle Beach, the integrative doctors understand that to make the necessary changes that are necessary to make you gain from the treatment is not easy and requires you to be assisted in order to go through treatment successfully. . Integrative Health Coaches are an essential part of our healthcare team to help guide our patients to success. They have become unavoidable health experts that we so much need in every step of the way. They are like an umbrella during rainy season, they cannot stop the rain themselves but they help you to be more resistant to the rain. They give you various ways through which to overcome pain and psychological trauma always associated with cancer treatment.

Integrative Health Coaching help the patients to journey well in their treatment by creating a good rapport with them as well as being a committed partner that helps them to adopt and stick to satisfying and healthy lifestyles. The health coaches will use both innovative and practical strategies to help people clarify what they want, explore options, enhance personal accountability and take action for optimal health. Integrative health coaching helps patients evade the turmoil that they go through during treatments especially in chronic illnesses. They advice on the best alternative treatment that is best for the patient having studied the patients values and inner ability to cope with the challenges that may arise in the cause of treatment using various options.

Most alternative treatments involve change in eating habits. This is no easy change restricting certain types of foods that were initially used to while adopting diets that you never knew in the first place cannot be very easy without a health coach. In some situations the disease might have been caused by unhealthy choices like alcohol consumption and smoking that are addictive as well. An addict cannot easily stop indulging in risky behaviors without a health coach. It is therefore necessary for a patient to have a health coach this is because they also focus on the mind, the body and the spirit of the patient hence helping them to get the best results in the life changes that they make. Another advantage of working with health coach is that they have a personal touch with the patients and that in itself is enough support that gives them the feeling of belonging and being loved which goes a long way in giving them the peace of mind necessary during healing.

Benefits of health coaching

Focuses on whole person- the health coaching sessions are not only focused in healing you physically. It is more focused in helping a patient make healthy changes that will change his entire life wholly; the body, spirit and mind. The health coach will also consider your personal values in helping you overcome your health problems.

Health Coaching

Availing resources- the health coach will help in availing the needed resources to help the patient make the right health choices. Behavior change is not easy but with a health coach all can be achieved.

Emotional and moral support– the health coach develops a partnership with the patient that is both emotionally and morally supportive as he is making the crucial health choices.

Self discovery– the health coach guides the patient through a journey of self discovery that involves the patient knowing himself better. Personal awareness and change of mindset are important in making healthy decisions.

Synergistic approach to treatment– in health coaching the patient and the health coach are involved in every aspect of the treatment. They identify the obstacles that may it difficult for the patient to make the healthy choices and find ways to implement the changes together.

Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) is an experienced doctor that has helped many cancer patients in their fight against the disease. She has also helped many people regain their sex appetite and add more fun their sexual life. She founded AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center which is home to many people seeking health breakthrough. Call on her now and learn more on how to enhance your sexual health.

Health Coaching Is Helpful In Healing Patients with Chronic Diseases

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