Medical nutrition therapy for Substance Abuse

August 26, 2015

Medical nutrition therapy for Substance Abuse: Specific nutritional threats discussed

Medical nutrition therapy for Substance Abuse is a very effective way of dealing with toxic substances in the body for a better, healthier lifestyle using natural nutritious food elements.

The dangers of substance abuse can be very fatal and life threatening if action to address them is not expedited. Over the decades we have been on the first lane of delivering solutions to this problem with a lot of professionalism, care and excellence. It is our commitment to see this problem eradicated in it’s entirely in our life time and that is the reason why we have not relented in our zeal to its elimination. For that reason, we the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury will remain in the forefront of the fight of drug addiction applying all the tools at our disposal until we can say that the war is worn. Nonetheless this is not an easy assignment and we are acknowledging that and that is why our team of professionals are well trained to the task. Over the past few weeks we have been looking at the effect of proper nutrition in the fight of this problem and we want to further that discussion today in this article by the effects of medical nutrition therapy for substance abuse elimination and how it works.

Doctor Dalal Akoury says that depending on the variance of the substances abused by different individual, their nutritional status, weight problems and disease, we are likely not to have similarities the ways such substances affects them. It is therefore very important that when seeking for the best avenues, we must conduct out a full assessment and evaluation primarily to determine the individual requirements. And that is what we want to first explore in this article with a view of examining the common needs for medical nutrition therapy (MNT) in substance abuse and then discuss the specific nutritional threats each substance poses as well as the recommendations for addressing those threats. By the end of the discussion you will be well equipped to face any nutritional challenges that may come your way even as you fight off addiction. We therefore urge you to stay on the link for much more information about this way of fighting addiction.

Medical nutrition therapy for Substance Abuse: Malnutrition

Malnutrition is a serious health problem that comes into the body due to the deficiencies of several food nutrients. It causes the body to be pale, weak and being vulnerable to any attacks by chronic health complications. Nonetheless for the purpose of our discussion, malnutrition that is related to addiction is categorized either as primary or secondary malnutrition.

Primary malnutrition – this normally occurs when the substance replaces other dietary nutrients in the body thereby causing a lot of intoxication to the body system.

Secondary malnutrition – under normal circumstances this will results from improper nutrient metabolism, absorption, utilization, or excretion even though the diet may be adequate. Even though malnutrition is categorized in either primary or secondary, they both have one common denominator which are both types of malnutrition can result from any substance use.

Medical nutrition therapy for Substance Abuse: Effects of malnutrition

Doctor Akoury registers that even though malnutrition can affect any body, it is important to note that patients who are struggling with multiple addictions show increased deficiencies due to malnutrition. Like for instance in one of the studies it was revealed that up to 70% of addicted drug users suffered vitamin D deficiency and low levels of vitamin C, and yet in another research it was also established that some 50% of addicts were deficient either in iron or vitamins (vitamins A, C, and E being most common) during detox.

It is also important to note that MNT for malnutrition roles includes correcting any deficiencies, providing an adequate diet, and addressing any alterations that need to be made to the diet due to oral, digestive, or metabolic issues. A once-a-day, low-potency multivitamin/mineral supplement may be useful for those unable to consume a calorically adequate diet and those with dietary limitations or severe gastrointestinal damage.

Medical nutrition therapy for Substance Abuse: Metabolic syndrome

According to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, substance abuse, especially alcohol abuse, is closely associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, which consists of increased abdominal obesity, hyperglycemia, abnormal cholesterol, and hypertension. The mechanisms through which substance abuse contributes to this condition includes increased cell damage, reduced energy production, cells’ reduced antioxidant potential, and enhanced excitotoxicity. Some substances, including alcohol and marijuana, lead to higher calorie intakes, increased weight circumference, and poorer nutritional profiles, all of which will lead to an increased metabolic syndrome risk.

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in substance abusers is reported to be 5% to 31%, with a higher risk for those who abuse alcohol and opioids. Higher risk is thought to be associated with an increased period of dependence on a substance. To reduce this considerably, it is important that we take such patients through counseling particularly on the subject of lifestyle changes. The effectiveness of this will go a long way in decreasing their risk of contracting chronic health conditions like cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Besides this such patients should also be encouraged to engage in healthy practices like exercise, weight loss and dietary changes to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol and quitting smoking.

Before we come to the conclusion of this discussion, I want to give some assurance to you concerning the best way forward even after leaving this sight. But before you go remember that we have only looked at malnutrition and metabolism and we are yet to explore on pharmacotherapy, weight management and eating disorders which are also very instrumental in medical nutrition therapy for substance abuse. Because of that we are going to proceed with the two in our next article and it is going to be very healthy for you to be there. Finally as a possible way forward whenever therapy is mentioned, people often think of resources and the cost implications. Remember what we said in the introduction that we are determined in seeing you through this process of eliminating addiction all through. That is why doctor Dalal Akoury founded this facility (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) so that you can get the much needed assistance conveniently and at a very competitive rate. Therefore if this description suits your situation, then you need to schedule that appointment with doctor Akoury today for the commencement of your recovery journey today.

Medical nutrition therapy for Substance Abuse: Specific nutritional threats discussed

Coping with challenges associated with addiction treatment

August 24, 2015

Coping with challenges associated with addiction treatment: Intelligent ways of containing drug addiction professionally

Coping with challenges associated with addiction treatment can be very difficult if you chose to face it on your own however with support from experts and loved ones the burden becomes much easier to bear.

If you have been with us on this very informative journey of delivery health information concerning our health, you must be aware that drug addiction is very dangerous and both socially, physically and psychologically to everyone. It has no boundaries and does not care whom to affect, when and how to attack. From the previous article we have intensively dealt with several mechanisms, pathways, intelligent and mart ways of dealing with complications that come with drug addiction. You can make reference to those articles but for the purpose of this article we want to focus our discussion on the topic “coping with challenges associated with addiction treatment and recovery process.” We therefore want to invite you to stay with us on the link as we engage the services of doctor Dalal Akoury a veteran addiction expert of over two decades to shade more light on the strategies of coping with challenges associated with addiction treatment in our societies.

Coping with challenges associated with addiction treatment: Coping with drug cravings

Experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center a facility founded by Doctor Dalal Akoury are in agreement that sometimes craving cannot be avoided in certain circumstances and therefore in such time it is necessary to find coping ways to the problem. The following are some of the ways you can adopt to cope with cravings:

Get involved in some distracting activity – Distracting activities like reading, a hobby, going to a movie, exercising (jogging, biking) are some of the good examples that can be very effective in helping containing the escalation of substance abuse. This is so because ordinarily once you get interested in something else, you’ll find the urges go away. Another effective response to a drug craving is eating however when implementing this careful attention must be taken of ensuring that you eat a lot of junk food which are likely to add you more stress and inches to your waistline.

Sharing the problem with others – There is a lot of benefits is sharing problems and like it is always said that a problem shared is half solved, it therefore means that talking to your friends or family members about craving when it occurs is indeed seeking for solutions. Talking about cravings and urges can be very helpful in pinpointing the source of the craving. Also, talking about craving often helps to discharge and relieve the feeling and will help restore honesty in your relationship. Craving is nothing to feel bad about.

Urge surf – Many people try to cope with their urges by gritting their teeth and toughing it out. But some are just too strong to ignore. When this happens, it can be useful to stay with the urge until it passes. This technique is called urge surfing. Imagine yourself as a surfer who will ride the wave of your drug craving, staying on top of it until it crests, breaks, and turns into less powerful, foamy surf.

Challenge and change your thoughts – When experiencing a craving, many people have a tendency to remember only the positive effects of the drug and forget the negative consequences. Therefore, you may find it helpful to remind yourself that you really won’t feel better if you use and that you stand to lose a lot. Sometimes it is helpful to have these benefits and consequences listed on a small card that you keep with you for reference purposes.

Coping with challenges associated with addiction treatment: Build a meaningful drug free life

You can support your drug treatment and protect yourself from relapse by having activities and interests that provide meaning to your life. It’s important to be involved in things that you enjoy and make you feel needed. When your life is filled with rewarding activities and a sense of purpose, your addiction will lose its appeal.

Pick up a new hobby – Do things that challenge your creativity and spark your imagination, something you’ve always wanted to try.

Adopt a pet – Yes, pets are a responsibility, but caring for an animal makes you feel loved and needed. Pets can also get you out of the house for exercise.

Get involved in your community – Replace your addiction with drug-free groups and activities. Volunteer, become active in your church or faith community, or join a local club or neighborhood group.

Set meaningful goals – Having goals to work toward and something to look forward to can be powerful antidotes to drug addiction. It doesn’t matter what the goals are whether they involve your career, your personal life, or your health, just ensure that they are important to you.

Look after your health – Regular exercise, adequate sleep, and healthy eating habits help you keep your energy levels up and your stress levels down. When you feel good, drugs are much less of a temptation. The more you can do to stay healthy, the easier it will be to stay sober.

Coping with challenges associated with addiction treatment: Don’t let relapse keep you down

Relapse is a common part of the recovery process from drug addiction. While relapse is understandably frustrating and discouraging, it can also be an opportunity to learn from your mistakes and correct your treatment course.

What causes relapse? – Various “triggers” can put people at risk of relapsing into old patterns of substance use. Causes of relapse can differ for each person. Some common ones include:

negative emotional states (such as anger, sadness, trauma or stress)
physical discomfort (such as withdrawal symptoms or physical pain)
positive emotional states (wanting to feel even better)
testing personal control (“I can have just one drink”)
strong temptations or urges (cravings to use)
conflict with others (such as an argument with a spouse or partner)
social pressures to use (situations where it seems as though everyone else is drinking or using other drugs)
good times with others (such as having fun with friends or family)

Finally doctor Akoury says that the most important thing to remember is that relapse doesn’t mean treatment failure. Therefore instead of giving up, it is important that you get back on the wagon as quickly as you can. Call your sponsor, talk to your therapist, go to a meeting, or schedule an appointment with your doctor. When you’re sober again and out of danger, look at what triggered the relapse, what went wrong, and what you could have done differently. You can choose to get back on the path to recovery and use the experience to strengthen your commitment.

Coping with challenges associated with addiction treatment: Intelligent ways of containing drug addiction professionally

Intelligent ways of containing drug addiction professionally

August 24, 2015

Intelligent ways of containing drug addiction professionally: Complete de-registration of substance abuse

Intelligent ways of containing drug addiction professionally can be very instrumental in eradicating in its entirely all the problens that are associated with drug addiction that causes a lot of harm to this generation.

In management all over the world, good managers do not just spend time for the current running events but also offer a provision for the aftermath of the event. This has been seen to be a serious setback in many organizations if not managed properly. Experts are now confirming that setbacks of failure to properly offer provisions for the aftermath of any event can ruin the success which may have been delivered from the beginning. Just like in the management of a business or an event, it is also very important that when administering treatment to any patient, careful attention must be taken to address any unforeseen eventualities on, during and after treatment. When it comes to the management of drug addiction, identification of the problem and acknowledgement come first then treatment and putting systems that will deal with any complications that may arise after treatment period. Therefore owing to the nature of this problem, we want to explore on the possible intelligent ways of containing drug addiction professionally so that any treatment done does not disintegrate to further addiction. To take us through this discussion, we are going to relay on the expert opinions of professionals from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury (MD) who is also the founder of the establishment. To start the discussion doctor Akoury says that when it comes to the in all the setbacks that we may have cravings for the substance one was using before treatment is one of the most disturbing one and this is what we want to start with as we progress into the discussion.

Intelligent ways of containing drug addiction professionally: Keep triggers and cravings in check

From the several studies professionally done on this subject, it has been established that in the quest of finding solutions to drug addiction, two problems are seen as the most outstanding obstacles. At the initial stages the first obstacle is that of denial. Many people are living in denial and they are not willing to acknowledge that they have a problem that needs to be fixed. In the process of their denial, the intensity of their addiction to the substances they are abusing increases such that by the time treatment commences, it becomes very difficult to help them owing to the magnitude of the damage done. Besides the hurdles faced at the initial stages, the other technicality comes at the end of the process when the patient is either progressing well with their recovery program or are fully recovered from their addiction. We are addressing the problem of craving for the drug and so doctor Akoury registers her professional opinion that “while getting sober from drugs is an important first step, it’s only the beginning of the recovery process.” She says that once sobriety is achieved, the next step is to allow the brain to recover and rebuild connections that have changed while addicted. This is likely to take some time and it is during this time that the drug cravings can be so intense to the point of getting out of hand overwhelmingly. Doctor Akoury gives several measures that an individual can take to contain the situation and she advises that at this point you can support your continued sobriety by making a conscious effort to avoid people, places, and situations that trigger the urge to use as follows:

Seek to find new friends and make a break from old drug friends – For you to see the fruits of your recovery it is important that you don’t make the mistake of hanging out with old friends who are still doing drugs. They will cause you a lot of harm and before you know it you will be back to your old habits. Therefore it is necessary that you surround yourself with people who support your sobriety, not those who tempt and tice you to slip back into old, destructive habits.

Avoid bars and clubs – Alcohol is very addictive and therefore even if you don’t have a problem with alcohol any more, don’t feel that you are strong and can resist the temptation to sip when meeting friends, in other words keep serious distance to social places like bars and clubs where alcoholic beverages are sold. Remember that drinking lowers inhibitions and impairs judgment, which can easily lead to relapse. Drugs are often readily available and the temptation to use can be overpowering. And besides that it is also important that you avoid any other environments and situations that you associate with drug use.

Be up front about your history of drug use when seeking medical treatment – This is very important says doctor Akoury that anytime you are due or you are in need of a medical or dental procedure done on you, be open and discuss freely with your physician all you know about your history and most importantly find a provider who will work with you in either prescribing alternatives or the absolute minimum medication necessary. Take note of this that this is not the time for you to be ashamed or feel humiliated about your previous drug use. The more you open up to your health provider the better help you will get from them. So don’t withhold open up and allow yourself to be helped.

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

Intelligent ways of containing drug addiction professionally: Consistency in sobriety

When you have understood the magnitude of cravings, it then becomes easier for you to pick up the pieces and move on. That is why it is always very necessary that as soon as you are out of the rehabilitation centre, you must always keep in constant consultation with your physician so that when there is any reason of relapse immediate action can be taken to remedy the situation before it deteriorates into more heart breaking situations. And in that regard I want to prevail upon you and beseech you not to relent in your desire to remain sober. Never give up even if you relapse from time to time. Remember that it is not a crime to relapse but how you handle yourself in such situations is what matters most. Therefore always consult with experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center from time to time so that any cropping damage can be arrested and dealt with in good time.

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