Mixing Alcohol consumption with other hazardous substances

September 22, 2015

Mixing Alcohol consumption with other hazardous substances: Cocaine, Heroin, Marijuana and Other Drugs

Mixing Alcohol consumption with other hazardous substances is today a common occurrence in most of our societies and the consequences of this behavior is causing us seriously and the time for seeking for lasting solution is now

Sometimes we engage ourselves in very dangerous activities or behaviors either ignorantly or knowingly but the one common denominator in these actions is that the consequences can be life threatening in many ways. When you take your favorite drink you might not think it’s a big deal to have that alcoholic drink along with your prescription medication, or illicit drugs as an accompaniment. Doctor Dalal Akoury a veteran addiction expert and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center says that alcohol can be very dangerous when taken alongside all kinds of drugs including both prescription and illegal drugs. And in fact, alcohol is especially dangerous when you take it with another depressant. The experts’ at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center explains that two drugs performing the same thing in the body can have more extreme and lethal effects when taken together. And according to The Drug Abuse Warning Network report, it will interest you to note that from 2005 it was established that of all visits to the emergency room from drug use, approximately one-third of the patients were from drinking alcohol or mixing alcohol with other types of drugs. These visits often included mixing alcohol with cocaine, heroin and marijuana and that is what is going to form the basis of our discussion under the topic “mixing alcohol consumption with other hazardous substances.”

Mixing Alcohol consumption with other hazardous substances: Cocaine and Alcohol

The results are unpredictable when you mix alcohol with cocaine. Sometimes combining the two substances makes it difficult to feel the effects of either complication as intensely as they should while on the other hand, sometimes the mixture can increase the effects of each drug exponentially. Like for instance when you take a lot of cocaine, it’s more likely that you’ll experience worse effects from both drugs, and this could even lead to an overdose of not just cocaine but alcohol as well. Remember that cocaine is a stimulant and alcohol is a depressant. Therefore when you take cocaine, it makes your metabolism increase thereby causing the alcohol to go to your brain more quickly. The effect of this is similar to the feelings you are likely to experience when you drink alcohol in haste. And according to the November 2003 study in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence it was established that when one take cocaine and alcohol together, your body will respond by producing coca-ethylene. Coca-ethylene can make you feel the effects of cocaine or alcohol more than if you just took either substance individually. Remember that the effect of this substance can be very fatal to the point of causing heart problems and even death. This fatality can be avoided through professional treatment available at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury. You can therefore call today to schedule for an appointment with the experts today for the commencement of your recovery journey.

Mixing Alcohol consumption with other hazardous substances: Mixing Alcohol and Heroin

Alcohol and heroin produce similar effects in the body because they are both depressants. Separately, alcohol and heroin can cause respiratory complications (breathing problems), therefore when taken together the effect can be more serious and traumatizing. Besides all these, drinking alcohol can also impair the user’s judgment, thereby motivating them to continue taking more of heroin than they normally do, potentially causing an overdose.

Mixing Alcohol consumption with other hazardous substances: Marijuana with Alcohol

Marijuana can prevent you from feeling nauseous or from throwing up, so it can potentially prevent you from throwing up alcohol if your body needs to. This can make the extra alcohol stay in your body and may cause alcohol poisoning. The mixture of these two drugs can cause a number of effects on the body including some of the following:

Feeling like you’re spinning
Paranoia
Trouble concentrating
Throwing up
Trouble using your body

Mixing Alcohol consumption with other hazardous substances: Alcohol and prescription drugs

Whether or not you have a prescription for a prescription medication, mixing it with alcohol can be dangerous. It’s important to talk to your doctor about whether you can have alcohol with your prescription medicines, and if so, if you should limit the use to a certain amount. If you are using a prescription medication that wasn’t prescribed to you, or using it in a way that it wasn’t prescribed for, you are abusing the medication. Compounding this abuse with drinking alcohol only magnifies the risks of the abusive behavior.

Alcohol shouldn’t be mixed with most prescription medications because the combination can lead to severe side effects. Although you should specifically check on any medication you are taking, some medications that can cause a problem with alcohol include:

Painkillers like aspirin and acetaminophen
Antihistamines
Central nervous system depressants, like sleep medications, sedatives and drugs for anxiety
Antidepressants, like Elavil, Sinequan and MAO inhibitors
Diabetes drugs
Drugs for infection, including antibiotics
Many specific medications, including Catapres for high blood pressure, Verapamil for chest pain, Tagamet for gastrointestinal issues, and Adderall for ADHD or narcolepsy

Mixing Alcohol consumption with other hazardous substances: Additional drugs that can mix badly with alcohol

There is an endless list of drugs that can have negative effects on your body when you take them with alcohol. Some of the many that you should be cautious about include: Amphetamines, Mushrooms, Ecstasy, Caffeine, LSD, GHB and PCP. The list is actually endless meaning that what we have here may not be as conclusive as it should be. In this regard doctor Akoury recommends that everyone must ensure that they are aware of all the potential consequences before drinking alcohol while taking any kind of drug irrespective of whether it’s a prescription drug or an illegal street drug.

Finally dear reader, this is not something that you can comfortably handle on your own without the help of the experts. Therefore if you or anyone you know is struggling with alcohol or any other drug or both all at the same time, we will always be there for you at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. All you need to do is to schedule for an appointment with the expert (Doctor Dalal Akoury) and she will be of great help to you in the best and more professional way than you can ever imagine.

Mixing Alcohol consumption with other hazardous substances: Cocaine, Heroin, Marijuana and Other Drugs

Dual complications of alcohol and medication interactions

September 22, 2015

Dual complications of alcohol and medication interactions: Mixing alcohol and medications

Dual complications of alcohol and medication interactions can pose serious threats to your health and the sooner you seek for help the better

We are all aware that alcohol is the most abused substance by many users and the consequences are chokingly devastating. What is worrying is that even with this knowledge, many people are still drinking disorderly and to further complicate the matter, they are not only drinking but are also using other toxic substances as accompaniments in their drinking spree. This is what we want to focus on even as we look at the dual complications of alcohol and medication interactions. Speaking to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury who is also the founder of the facility, we were able to establish that alcohol consumption often has very harmful interactions with prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and even some herbal remedies. To shade more light on this doctor Akoury registers that the interaction of alcohol with other prescribe medications is likely to cause problems including some of the following: nausea and vomiting, headaches, drowsiness, dizziness, fainting, changes in blood pressure, abnormal behavior, loss of coordination and even savvier accidents. And besides that it is also very important to appreciate that mixing alcohol with other medications may also increase the risk of complications such including but not limited to the following:

Liver damage
Heart problems
Internal bleeding
Impaired breathing
Depression

In instances where such chronic health complications are present in an individual’s life, it is only fare for that person to seek for medication immediately. Nonetheless when medication is administered, in some cases, the consistent use of alcohol may decrease the effectiveness of such medications or render them useless all together says doctor Akoury. She continues to say that in other cases, alcohol interactions may make drugs harmful or even toxic to the body. And when we make reference to alcohol usage, it is important to note that even what is considered moderate consumption of alcohol may also intensify medication side effects such as sleepiness, drowsiness, and light-headedness, which may interfere with the individuals’ concentration and ability to operate machinery or drive responsibly on the road thereby causing serious or even fatal accidents. It is therefore very essential that when using any kind of medication, careful attention should be taken since alcohol can adversely interact with hundreds of commonly used medications. In that respect, taking time to scrutinize and make clear observation on the warning labels and ask your doctor or pharmacist questions if it’s safe to use alcohol with any medications and even other herbal remedies that you may be using.

Dual complications of alcohol and medication interactions: Alcohol interactions is significant and increases the danger

Do you have any idea about the significance of alcohol interaction? If you don’t, stay tuned and be informed professionally by our team of experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. Therefore doctor Akoury reports that according to the CDC, about two-thirds of American adults over age 18 at least occasionally use alcohol. Of this population about 51% are currently regular drinkers meaning that they have taken at least 12 drinks in the past year while about 13% are infrequent drinkers and that also means that they have taken up to 11 drinks in the past year.

Use of prescription and non-prescription drugs, as well as herbal remedies, also is extremely prevalent. Partly because of the obesity epidemic, most people of all ages are taking more drugs to control chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol. Because the incidence of chronic conditions increases with age, older individuals are especially likely to take prescription medications often as many as 10 per day many of which likely react adversely with alcohol. As the population ages, the problems associated with mixing alcohol and medications are certain to increase.

Dual complications of alcohol and medication interactions: Older people are at special risk of alcohol interactions

In older adults especially, alcohol use may increase the risk for falls, serious injury, and disability related to balance problems. Alcohol use also may trigger or worsen certain medical conditions. When alcohol use is combined with multiple medications, it may magnify these problems. Older adults don’t metabolize alcohol as quickly as younger adults do, so alcohol stays in their systems longer and has a greater potential to interact with medications. Even though most people over 65 drink less than the maximum recommended amount, this drinking is still considered harmful for many of them, due to their general condition, medical problems and medications.

Dual complications of alcohol and medication interactions: Drugs associated with alcohol interactions

We are living at a time when so many administered drugs are easily available over-the-counter. Most of these drugs that can adversely interact with alcohol are administered for treatment of various health complications including:

Depression
Diabetes
Angina and coronary heart disease
Anxiety and epilepsy
Arthritis
Blood clots
Cough
Pain, fever, and inflammation
Seizures
Severe pain from injury, post-surgical care, oral surgery, and migraine
Sleep problems
Enlarged prostate
Heartburn and indigestion
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Allergies, colds, and flu
Infections
Muscle pain
Nausea and motion sickness

Examples of commonly used prescription drugs associated with serious alcohol interactions include heart medications, which can cause rapid heartbeat and sudden changes in blood pressure; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which can increase risk of ulcers and stomach bleeding; blood-thinning medications, which can lead to internal bleeding; and sleep medications, which can lead to impaired breathing, motor control, and unusual behavior.

One of the most common causes of severe liver damage including some cases requiring a liver transplant is a combination of the pain reliever acetaminophen (available over the counter as Tylenol and in some prescription drugs) and alcohol. Other serious alcohol interactions are associated with over-the-counter antihistamines and herbal remedies such as kava, St. John’s wort, chamomile, valerian and lavender.

Dual complications of alcohol and medication interactions: Guidelines for preventing alcohol interactions

Doctor Akoury reiterates that although most drugs are often safe and effective when used as directed by the physician, it’s however very important to read the warning labels on all medications. Many popular pain medications and cough, cold, and allergy medications contain more than one ingredient that can adversely interact with alcohol. Finally as a precautionary measure, if by any chance you’re not certain if a medication can be combined with alcohol, it is advisable to avoid any alcohol consumption until you’re are properly advised by either a doctor or pharmacist that it’s safe to use the two concurrently. In the meantime as you put the above into practice, when faced with situations of addiction and you don’t know what to do, help is on the way at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury. All you have to do is to can and schedule for an appointment with her today and all you concerns will be professionally addressed.

Dual complications of alcohol and medication interactions: Mixing alcohol and medications

The consequences of drug addiction on immunity

September 19, 2015

The consequences of drug addiction on immunity: How drugs and alcohol affects immune system

The consequences of drug addiction on immunity are very realistic and not fiction and must be dealt with expeditiously

The body of any human being can be vulnerable to the various health complications at any given time in life. Normally when we fall sick we seek for immediate medication and some of us will get better very first while others suffering from the same illness may take a little bit longer time to recover from their illnesses. You may wonder why this is so and the explanation is very straight and simple. It is all about the variance strength every person’s immune system. And like we had said before immune system is a network of cells, tissues and organs working in solidarity to defend the body against disease, infection and viruses. Any harm to this introduces us to the focus of our discussion which is the consequences of drug addiction on immunity. Drugs are substances that demoralize our health and impact on us very negatively causing us to be vulnerable to all manner of infections. Doctor Dalal Akoury a veteran addiction expert explains that anyone using drugs or alcohol is significantly reducing the strength of their immunity greatly. It may not matter the intensity of your consumption to your substance, because research has established that any abuse of drugs can only lead to destruction of health and life in general.

As professional from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury, we post blogs that are very informative about health related issues so that we can have a very healthy society free from all kinds of addictions. Therefore it will interest you to note that doctor Akoury made a decision to create a medical center (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) whose main objective is to transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power. Dr. Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. Therefore if you want to keep healthy your immunity must be strong enough to defend you from vulnerabilities that come with lose of immunity. You can therefore schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury on telephone number 843 213 1480 for the commencement of your addiction recovery treatment and live your life thereafter comfortably and happily.

The consequences of drug addiction on immunity: Methamphetamine

It is no secrete that the dangers of methamphetamine are well known to everyone, however the drug potentially impact on the effectiveness of the immune system quite negatively in very many ways. Professional studies have suggesting that the drug may increase an individual’s susceptibility to infection by crippling his or her immune function. This can further be more complicated in situations where the individual is already struggling with some of the life threatening disease like hepatitis or HIV. These can really cause complications like cancers to spread quicker in the body. Doctor Akoury registers that besides the aforementioned concerns, methamphetamine is also known to dry out mucus membranes, particularly in the mouth and rectum thereby which when not dealt with expeditiously is likely to increase a persons’ exposure to infection and disease. The drug can cause people to have significant weight loss, chronic insomnia and respiratory problems which all expose a person’s immune system to deficiency and attack by disease.

The consequences of drug addiction on immunity: MDMA and Club Drugs

MDMA use has long been anecdotally linked to infection of influenza and bacterial infections. There is, however, no scientific evidence to support that the use of MDMA or other club drugs cause these infections or suppress the immune system. What is known, however, is that exhaustion and dehydration associated with the use of these drugs in nightclubs, at festivals and other music events does increase the risk of being infected with influenza or developing a cold. This is because these side effects lower the body’s ability to fight infection until normal energy and water levels of the body are returned.

The consequences of drug addiction on immunity: HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis

Illicit drug use has inherent risks that include serious health problems such as hepatitis, HIV and AIDS. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). There is no cure for the disease AIDS but there are some treatments available for the virus HIV. Individuals infected with HIV are at risk of contracting other, life threatening diseases because the virus weakens a person’s immune system.

Hepatitis on the other hand is an inflammation of the liver, most commonly caused by a viral infection that lead to chronic disease including liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Drug users are at higher risks of contracting HIV and AIDS due to a lowered immune system and because some users share drug injection equipment that may be infected with the disease. The reason that these diseases can be so easily spread is because infected blood is drawn into the syringe and then injected along with the drug by the next user of the same syringe. And once a person is infected with HIV/AIDS or hepatitis, they are at risk of developing further complications because of the effects of the disease on their immune system. Cancer, pneumonia, tuberculosis, gastrointestinal problems, neurological conditions and tumors are some of the known linked diseases. Besides these we also have skin infections, ulcers, tetanus, septicemia, thrombosis and respiratory diseases as some of the most common symptoms of a lowered immune system because of these diseases and infections.

Finally the consequences of drug addiction on immunity is no longer a small thing that can be wished a way easily. For a good health we need a very strong and stable immune system which we can’t get with the consistent use of drugs. Therefore if you are struggling with any kind of substance abuse this is your perfect opportunity of redeeming yourself from the scourge of addiction that weakens your immunity. You can call doctor Dalal Akoury today to schedule for an appointment with her and she will be able to help you regain your life back in the most professional way.

The consequences of drug addiction on immunity: How drugs and alcohol affects immune system

How drugs and alcohol affects immune system

September 19, 2015

How drugs and alcohol affects immune system: The dangers of having a weak immune system

How drugs and alcohol affects immune system is very diverse and and complicated but all the same we must do all it takes to eliminate all kinds of addiction to drugs.

Have you ever asked yourself of how drugs and alcohol affects immune system in people’s lives? Do you have any idea how this can be dangerous for your own life? These are some of the concerns we want to address in this discussion and because it involves the soldiers who protects you from attacks of diseases, be my guest as we unlock the potential truth about the benefits of keeping a strong immune system. Now to set the ball rolling, let us find out the professional definition of immune system. Doctor Dalal Akoury (MD) and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center gives the definition of the immune system as a network of cells, tissues and organs working in solidarity to defend the body against disease, infection and viruses. It therefore means that the immune system is one of the strong pillars that work in defense of our health and the general wellbeing of our lives. Meaning that if this system is damaged or reduced or incapacitated and does not work as efficiently as it should, a person will become vulnerable to attacks by various sicknesses or illness from infections or viruses. Experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center while carrying out research has established that drugs and alcohol are some of the well-known inhibitors of the immune system. And the consequences of that can only mean that those who abuse substances of whatever kind will lose their foot soldiers that defend then to the various attacks and therefore when they are attacked and fall sick, they are likely to take longer period of time to heal from their infections in relation to other people with stronger immune system.

Doctor Akoury reiterates that the implications can be very disturbing when the immune system is deficient in anyone’s life. Under this circumstances if a person abuses drugs or alcohol, such persons shall be subjecting their health to increased risk of contracting certain diseases including pneumonia, respiratory infections, blood-borne viruses such as HIV or Hepatitis and sexually transmitted diseases. Besides that, if they have a predisposition to cancer, heart disease or kidney disease, these conditions are more likely to occur. The list of substances that are likely to be abused by people is endless and the following are just but a few for the purpose of this discussion:

Alcohol
Marijuana
Methamphetamine
MDMA and Club drugs
HIV/AIDA and Hepatitis

And as we have already mentioned the list is endless and for the purpose of this discussion we are going to focus on alcohol and marijuana and the remaining three we will handle in our next article, but before we get to that let us first familiarize ourselves with the effects of binging on drugs and other substances.

How drugs and alcohol affects immune system: Effect of binging on drugs

Exhaustion as a result of binging on drugs or alcohol can be a significant cause of illness. When a person binge drinks, they may cause their body to go into toxic shock from the large amount of alcohol in their bloodstream. Secondary infections or damage to the liver can have life-long consequences. Doctor Akoury says that binging on drugs like for instance methamphetamine, cocaine or heroin can cause people to become dehydrated and seriously ill. The impact of dehydration, mental and physical exhaustion, sleeplessness and lack of food can have a long term impact on a persons’ health more so if the individual is of weak immunity. And with such implications the immune system will be at a high risk of being overrun with infection and disease and anecdotal evidence suggests that many people will have flu-like symptoms after a binge.

How drugs and alcohol affects immune system: Alcohol

Alcohol is one of the most abused substances and it is well known to cause long-term and serious consequences for a person’s body and mind. There are many diseases that are known to be caused by alcohol consumption which are chronic and dangerous. Alcohol also impedes the ability of the immune system to fight infection and disease. Excessive alcohol consumption or long term alcohol abuse can lead to immune deficiency in two ways:

Nutritional deficiency and
Reducing white blood cells

Alcohol impairs the normal digestion of nutrients due to damage caused to the cells in the digestive tract and by interfering with the secretion of enzymes needed for digestion. Alcohol can also impede the ability of the liver to store important vitamins. It has also been shown that drinking too much can prevent the body from absorbing enough protein. Therefore when consumed in excess, alcohol can reduce the ability of white cells to kill germs. High doses of alcohol suppress the ability of the white blood cells to multiply and inhibit the action of killer white cells on cancer cells. This can lead to the development of life threatening conditions such as liver cancer or liver disease.

How drugs and alcohol affects immune system: Marijuana

Smoking marijuana, or any substance, can have a negative effect on the immune system. Various studies have established that smoking marijuana causes damage to very sensitive cells in the lungs and increases the risk of contracting diseases and bacterial infections. Marijuana is known to contain more carcinogenic chemicals than tobacco smoke and because of the way the drug is inhaled deeply and held for longer than cigarette smoke these chemicals can cause severe respiratory damage. Some research has suggested that the active chemical in marijuana, THC, impairs the immune system from fighting disease. However, this research is not conclusive and further testing is required. The inhaled smoke from marijuana is often combined with tobacco which is known to cause significant damage to lungs, including the leading cause of lung cancer and emphysema. Pulmonary infections, pneumonia, respiratory infections and cancer are all real risks associated with smoking marijuana. Chronic bronchitis, impairment of air passages, inflammation of lungs and development of abnormalities in the bronchial lining and lungs are also commonly associated issues.

Finally knowing how drugs and alcohol affects immune system is not just important but should be a must for all concern people. This will not only help as an individual to take precaution in your own situations, but also to be of help to other people who may be struggling with addiction. Therefore if you or any one you know is struggling with addiction you can help them by scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today for a more professional touch that will resuscitate their immunity to normalcy.

How drugs and alcohol affects immune system: The dangers of having a weak immune system

The application of Cortisol in weight management

September 18, 2015

The application of Cortisol in weight management: Why stress must be defeated?

The application of Cortisol in weight management is one of the most efficient ways of weight management you can use to keep fit

In our previous article we dwelt much on the significance of cortisol in stress management and now we want to focus our discussion on the application of cortisol in weight management and why stress must be defeated so that we may come close to realizing our dream of keeping fit and with the help of experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center a facility which was founded by doctor Dalal Akoury (MD) we are going to put all the facts straight, therefore this is a discussion you don’t want to miss and we want to invite you to be part of us specifically to eliminate any ignorance that is likely to cause us to lose the focus of eliminating all the complications that are associated with weight complications in our lives. Doctor Akoury from her over two decades of professional practice is looking at the happenings of today’s society and she is very much concern with the kind of commercials that tout the effectiveness of supplements like Cortislim ™ and Relacore ™ that propose to help people lose weight and feel less stressed by inhibiting the effects of cortisol. Some of these commercials do not fully inform the general public effectively about some of the following:

The function and importance of cortisol for bodily function.
The potential link between cortisol and obesity.
The potential link between stress, cortisol, and appetite.
The harmful health effects of stress-induced obesity.

Therefore to bridge the gap, we want to shade more light on the above omissions so that together we can walk along in this worthy course of proper weight management.

The application of Cortisol in weight management: Where does cortisol come from and what is its purpose in the body?

Cortisol has become a ‘prime’ hormone of fascination, discussion and confusion within the consumer and fitness industry, due to misleading television commercials and advertisements. It is a steroid (compound based from a steroid nucleus) hormone that is produced in the cortex of the adrenal glands located on top of each kidney. Fasting, food intake, exercising, awakening, and psychosocial stressors cause the body to release cortisol. Cortisol is released in a highly irregular manner with peak secretion in the early morning, which then tapers out in the late afternoon and evening. Energy regulation and mobilization are two critical functions of cortisol. Cortisol regulates energy by selecting the right type and amount of substrate (carbohydrate, fat or protein) that is needed by the body to meet the physiological demands that is placed upon it. Cortisol mobilizes energy by tapping into the body’s fat stores and moving it from one location to another, or delivering it to hungry tissues such as working muscle. Under stressful conditions, cortisol can provide the body with protein for energy production through gluconeogenesis, the process of converting amino acids into useable carbohydrate (glucose) in the liver. Additionally, it can move fat from storage depots and relocate it to fat cell deposits deep in the abdomen. Cortisol also aids adipocytes (baby fat cells) to grow up into mature fat cells. Finally, cortisol may act as an anti-inflammatory agent, suppressing the immune system during times of physical and psychological stress.

The application of Cortisol in weight management: The potential link between cortisol and visceral obesity

Cortisol directly effects fat storage and weight gain in stressed individuals. Tissue cortisol concentrations are controlled by a specific enzyme that converts inactive cortisone to active cortisol. This particular enzyme is located in adipose (fat) tissues. Studies with human visceral (fat surrounding the stomach and intestines) and subcutaneous fat tissue have demonstrated that the gene for this enzyme is expressed more by obese conditions. It has also been demonstrated in research that human visceral fat cells have more of these enzymes compared to subcutaneous fat cells. Thus, higher levels of these enzymes in these deep fat cells surrounding the abdomen may lead to obesity due to greater amounts of cortisol being produced at the tissue level. As well, deep abdominal fat has greater blood flow and four times more cortisol receptors compared to subcutaneous fat. This may also increase cortisol’s fat accumulating and fat cell size enlarging effect.

The application of Cortisol in weight management: What is the potential link between stress, cortisol, and appetite?

Animal and human studies have demonstrated that cortisol injections are associated with increased appetite, cravings for sugar, and weight gain. Epel et al. demonstrated that premenopausal women who secreted more cortisol during and after novel laboratory stressors chose to consume more foods high in sugar and fat. It has been thought that cortisol directly influences food consumption by binding to receptors in the brain (specifically, the hypothalamus). This can stimulate an individual to eat food that is high in fat and/or sugar. Cortisol also indirectly influences appetite by regulating other chemicals that are released during stress such as CRH (corticotrophin releasing hormone), leptin, and neuropeptide Y (NPY). High levels of NPY and CRH and reduced levels of leptin have been shown to stimulate appetite.

The application of Cortisol in weight management: Harmful health effects associated with stress-induced obesity

Chronic stress can contribute to several harmful physiological events. When body tissues are exposed to high levels of cortisol for extended periods of time, some cellular and tissue alterations may occur. High levels of cortisol cause fat stores and excess circulating fat to be relocated and deposited deep in the abdomen, which left unchecked can develop into or enhance obesity. In addition, hypertension (high blood pressure), hyperlipidemia (elevated lipids), and hyperglycemia (elevated glucose) have been linked to elevated cortisol levels. Individuals with a high waist-to-hip ratio (which identifies visceral obesity) are at a greater risk for developing cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes mellitus, and cerebrovascular disease. Are there any practical assessment tips for the fitness professional to utilize?

To help identify clients with a potential risk for the diseases described above (which are associated to stress-induced obesity) and distinguish any patterns of fat distribution, fitness professionals can utilize a waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) measurement or waist circumference measurement. The WHR is the circumference of the waist divided by the circumference of the hips. The waist measurement is at the narrowest part of the torso between the ribs and iliac crest. The hip measurement is around the buttocks at its maximum posterior extension.

The application of Cortisol in weight management: The significance of cortisol in stress management

Finally professionals should ensure that their clients are aware of the links between stress and abdominal obesity. Cortisol is a necessary hormone that is responsible for fuel regulation and is released while exercising, eating, awakening, and psychosocial stress. However, if there is too much cortisol in circulation, abdominal obesity can develop. This type of central obesity is linked to developing cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes mellitus, and cerebrovascular disease. An effective and regular exercise and stress management program may be a key to reducing and or preventing stress-induced obesity.

The application of Cortisol in weight management: Why stress must be defeated?

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