Tag Archives: Health

Understanding Hot Flashes And It’s Treatment

December 28, 2014

Understanding Hot Flashes And It’s Treatment

hot-flashesHot flushes sometimes called hot flushes refer to a quick sensation of heat and sometimes a red, flushed face and sweating.  This is a common problem, however the exact cause of hot flashes is not known, but may be related to changes in circulation that take place during menopause. Hot flashes happen when the blood vessels near the skin’s surface dilate to cool. A woman may also sweat to cool down her body. And some women have a rapid heart rate or chills. Hot flashes with sweating can also happen at night. These are called night sweats and may make it harder to sleep. Hot flushes may also be accompanied by a red neck. When affected the period that it takes to ease vary among women who are going through menopause. In some women the hot flashes may disappear after a week while in other women it will affect them for life. Hot flashes become less severe as time goes on.

 Symptoms of Hot Flashes in Women

Women may suffer the following symptoms when hit by hot flashes

The frequency of hot flashes varies; sometimes you may have many hot flushes in a day while in other times you will have few hot flashes that may subside after few minutes. Though they can affect you during the day, they are more common in the night. When a person is affected by a hot flush it may take more than a year but most hot flashes will stop on their own within five years. Though hot flashes can subside on their own it is important to seek medical help if the symptoms become too severe.

Causes of Hot Flashes in Women

The exact cause of hot flashes in women has never been known. Not every decline in hormones results in hot flashes. It is also true that some women can go through menopause without suffering from hot flashes. However here are some factors that have been thought to have a great bearing on the cause of hot flashes.

Medications and Foods

When a drug or a type of food is introduced to the body the body will react to it in a way. There are some drugs and foods that are thought to induce hot flashes. These medications may include raloxifene (Evista) and tamoxifen (Tamoxifen and Nolvadex). There are some drugs that may also produce effects that mimic hot flashes. Spices used in preparing foods like peppers can also induce feelings similar to menopause induce hot flashes.

Stress and Anxiety

Stress and anxiety are some of the emotional causes of hot flashes. In reaction to external stimuli the body may release the stress hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine, which pump up blood flow and produce a warming sensation throughout the body. External stimuli such as migraine may cause heat that spreads all over your face.

Changes in hormonal balance

A change in hormonal surroundings may cause hot flashes even if it is not related to menopause. It is believed that hypothalamus plays a bigger role in occurrence of hot flashes. This is because it is the part of brain that deals with the body temperatures therefore any conditions that affects the hypothalamus can result in abnormal rise in temperatures such as hot flashes.

hot-flashes-symptoms

Other risks associated with hot flashes include;

  • Women who smoke are more likely to get hot flashes.
  • A high body mass index (BMI) is associated with a higher frequency of hot flashes.
  • Physical inactivity. If you don’t exercise, you may be more likely to have hot flashes during menopause.
  • More African-American women report menopausal hot flashes than do women of European descent. Hot flashes are less common in women of Japanese and Chinese descent than in white European women.
  • Alcohol- Alcohol may induce hot flashes in some people. Generally it is thought that using drugs of reaction may escalate the probability of hot flashes occurring.

Treatments for Hot Flashes in Women

There both orthodox as well as natural treatments for hot flashes. The natural treatment for hot flashes may include;

  • Evening primrose oil is a botanical herb that is often used to treat hot flashes, although there is no scientific evidence to support this. Side effects include nausea and diarrhea. Women taking certain medications, such as blood thinners, should not take evening primrose oil.
  • Although there is no scientific evidence to support using flaxseed, it is thought to decrease the symptoms of menopause, particularly hot flashes. It’s also known as linseed.
  • Soy products. Plant estrogens, found in soy products, are thought to have weak estrogen-like effects that may reduce hot flashes. Soy foods, not supplements, are recommended.
  • Black cohosh. Some studies suggest that black cohosh may be helpful in the very short term (6 months or less) for treating hot flashes and night sweats. Side effects include gastrointestinal upset.

Hot flashes are just some of the known symptoms that may trouble your life during menopause. Just like any other serious disease, it is necessary that you seek medical help. Contact Dr. Dalal Akoury an expert in natural therapies on (843) 213-1480 for help.

Understanding Hot Flashes And It’s Treatment

 

Related articles
Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin

Pain Management with Injections

December 27, 2014

Injections for Pain Management

Injections for Pain ManagementPain management is crucial especially in treatment of such diseases that are characterized by chronic pain such as cancer and arthritis. Pain management is also important part of treatment especially in situations where the patient is to go through intense like during chemotherapy for cancer patients or after going through surgery.  Nobody will like to have intense pain maim him for even the least amount of time. People like to be happy and avoid anything that may bring them pain. However in some instances there has to be pain for a much serious health problem to be solved. To manage pain certain drugs are used that helps you to endure the pain, unfortunately most of these are addictive and so as you are using them to manage pain you are at risk of addiction. Opiates are the mostly used drugs in pain management and they work well in ensuring that your pain is moderated if not done away with completely. The nature of these drugs however requires that they be administered by a professional since they are very rewarding and before long the patient may become addicted to them or even dependent on them. There is however one disadvantage of using opiates in pain management; Due to their rewarding nature they can be easily abused and a treatment that once began on the right foot may end up being another nightmare in a person’s life hence there is need for actions to be taken to help patients not to be addicted to this pain drugs.

The medical researchers however did not stop at opiates but went step further to come up with other treatment methods that can be employed to help in treating pain  patients and these involves the use of injections .  In most cases whenever a person has pain in any part of the body, he may be encouraged to try physical therapy or to go for a cortisone injection which normally helps but if all these failed then you need a different approach to tackling the pain. Proliferative therapies like the prolotherapy, Prolozone and the platelet rich plasma therapy (PRP) are a good way to deal with pain but are little known.

Prolozone

Prolozone is a form of proliferative therapy. Proliferative therapy generally involves the injection of natural substances into the affected area. When done properly, these injections stimulate the release of growth factors and formation of new collagen in the affected area. The prefix “prolo” refers to this stage of new tissue growth or “proliferation.” As the body forms new collagen, the treated ligaments and tendons become thicker and stronger and more capable of doing their work. Proper alignment, stability, and function are restored, and typically the pain subsides.

Prolozone therapy uses ozone which is a form of oxygen but with three oxygen atoms. The ozone has a very powerful regenerative ability that helps in treating the damaged connective tissues. When the ozone is injected, it improves the oxygen circulation and delivery to the damaged cells. Prolozone therapy also helps not only by strengthening the tendons and the ligaments but also by rebuilding cartilage in the treated joints. Prolozone therapy was by pioneered Dr. Frank Shallenberger.

Patients enjoy Prolozone therapy as compared to other proliferative therapies like prolotherapy since with Prolozone the number of individual injections is less based on the area treated as compared to the number of injections in prolotherapy. The solution is dispersed over a larger area compared to prolotherapy, due to the injection of ozone gas. This has made Prolozone more preferred by people who do not want many injections

Platelet rich plasma therapy (PRP)

This is a safe non-surgical procedure that helps those with injuries in the tendons or suffering from osteoporosis. This treatment utilizes platelets from the patient’s own blood to rebuild a damaged tendon or cartilage. It has been successful in not only relieving the pain, but also in jumpstarting the healing process.

Platelet rich plasma therapy (PRP)

During this therapy the patients’ blood is drawn and placed in a centrifuge for 15 minutes to separate out the platelets. The platelet-rich plasma is then injected into the damaged portion of the tendon or cartilage with the guidance of an ultrasound machine. This treatment is one of the best non-surgical procedures that can be used against pain plus it takes short time for the patient to heal completely. Averagely patients take three months to be able to return to the activities they were performing before the injury that resulted in the pain.

IV therapy for chronic pain

IV nutritional therapies might have been used in chronic pain management for quite a time and have showed impressive results.  Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) treats patients with chronic pain on a daily basis and has found that some people who suffer from extensive inflammation or degeneration from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia or other auto-immune problems may just be lacking some of the vital minerals and vitamins in the body and therefore an IV vitamin and mineral therapy might just work well for them.

IV therapy involves administering the minerals, vitamins that the body lacks through and IV drip. The same might be used to administer some medicine that may help to heal the injured tissues and facilitate formation of new tissues.

Finally

With the injections for pan management you will not only experience liberating relief for weeks with but also are helpful in finding the long-term pain solution. Injections are so simple and low risk they should be in the pain-management discussion for everyone. To discuss how therapeutic injections can free you of pain and improve your long-term outlook, please call (843) 213-1480 or contact Dr. Akoury Dalal

Injections for Pain Management

 

Related articles
Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin

All About Menopause Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment

December 26, 2014

Menopause Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment

Menopause is a stage in life. That said when it occurs at the right time it is normal and hence not a disease. Menopause refers to the time when a woman’s menstrual periods stop and her ovaries stop releasing ova. A woman is considered to have hit menopause once she has gone a year without having a menstrual period.  The normal menopause should be happening between 40-60 years of age. However most women hit menopause at 50 years of age. As menopause approaches the menstrual periods become irregular and the flow may either become thicker or lighter however it is not mandatory that these changes must accompany menopause.

Menopause is a normal process that should not cause any reason to worry, however there is also premature menopause. Premature menopause occurs before the age of 40 and can be caused by a variety of things, such as removal of the ovaries, autoimmune disorders, endocrinological reasons, or cancer therapy. Medical interventions, such as a hysterectomy –removal of the uterus may also prevent menstruation. If the ovaries are removed as well, production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone are stopped, causing the symptoms of menopause. Premature menopause should be treated as soon as possible as it may affect negatively the health of a woman.

menopause symptoms

Signs and symptoms of menopause

In most cases when a woman is approaching menopause her bleeding patterns will change. The flow may become lighter or heavier, longer or shorter, the time between periods may increase and there may be occasional missed periods. These changes may occur gradually in some women, but in other women they occur more abruptly. Apart from this change in bleeding patterns, there are also other physical and psychological signs and symptoms associated with menopause. In some women they are very mild while in others they are more severe. The symptoms may last for only a few months, or may continue for several years. The average length of time for menopausal symptoms to be experienced is three to five years.

Physical signs and symptoms may include:

  • Headaches
  • Joint and bone pain
  • Palpitations
  • Unusual skin sensations
  • Hot flushes
  • Sweating at night
  • Tiredness
  • Vaginal dryness. Note that during menopause there might be occurrence infections of the urinary tract and vagina due to the thinning of the vagina and bladder walls.

 Psychological signs and symptoms may include:

  • Loss of confidence
  • Forgetfulness
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Anxiety
  • Reduced interest in sex
  • Irritability and mood swings
  • Difficulty concentrating

Causes of Menopause

Menopause is a very normal process that marks an end of a given lifestyle of a woman. When born a woman has ovaries that are to produce ovum when the right time comes. The release of these ova however has to be controlled by some hormones such as the Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) which are secreted by the pituitary gland as part of the normal menstrual cycle. The main work of these hormones is to stimulate the ovary to produce estrogen and progesterone and to release an ovum. As a woman ages, her ovaries don’t respond to FSH or LH as strongly as they used to. Over time, less and less estrogen and progesterone are produced and the woman stops releasing ovum hence the menstrual cycle ceases.

Premature menopause however is a cause for concern. If a woman cannot go through her periods before 40 then she needs to be helped. Premature menopause can be genetic or it can be caused by autoimmune diseases. These diseases produce antibodies that can damage the ovaries. Surgical removal of the ovaries causes artificial menopause, as can chemotherapy or radiation therapy to the pelvis to treat cancer. Different diseases may cause menopause in relation to the way they are treated for example in a case where an ovary is to be surgically removed the woman may become menopausal at an age below 40 which is considered premature menopause.

menopause symptoms

Menopause Treatment

Menopause is a natural process that should not be treated, however it comes with certain symptoms that must be addressed medically to calm. One of the popular ways of fighting symptoms associated with menopause is the menopause hormonal therapy (MHT). MHT was initially known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT). It involves taking the hormones estrogen and progesterone. MHT can be very good at relieving moderate to severe menopausal symptoms and preventing bone loss. But MHT also has some risks, especially if used for a long time. MHT has been found to be very effective in reducing hot flashes and night sweats, poor sleep, irritability, treating vaginal symptoms, such as dryness and discomfort and pain during sex. Menopause hormonal therapy also helps in slowing bone loss and easing mood swings and depression that are common to women who have hit menopause.

As said earlier MHT has some risks too. It may cause the following;

  • Blood clots
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Breast cancer
  • Gall bladder disease

A woman’s health is controlled by the hormones, any decline in the levels of estrogen hormones may cause undesired effects on the health of a woman. To be safe from severe symptoms of menopause you need to Request Menopause Treatment Information Today. Contact Dr. Dalal Akoury by calling her on (843) 213-1480. She will surely be able to give a helping hand.

All about Menopause Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment

 

Related articles
Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin

Poor Sleep Insomnia Treatment

December 24, 2014

Poor Sleep Insomnia Treatment

Just like meals, sleep play a pivotal role in good health and wellbeing of a person. It is the only avenue through which the body rests. Everyone’s individual sleep needs vary. In general, most healthy adults are built for 16 hours of wakefulness and need an average of eight hours of sleep a night. However, some individuals are able to function without sleepiness or drowsiness after as little as six hours of sleep. Others can’t perform at their peak unless they’ve slept ten hours. And, contrary to common myth, the need for sleep doesn’t decline with age but the ability to sleep for six to eight hours at one time may be reduced. In spite of these differences the need for sleep can never be underestimated, everyone needs a good sleep to be able to perform normally.

According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), sleep is essential for a person’s health and wellbeing. But still there are millions of people who do not get enough sleep and many suffer from lack of sleep. NSF conducted survey between 1999-2004 that revealed that at least 40 million Americans suffer from over 70 different sleep disorders and 60 percent of adults report having sleep problems a few nights a week or more. Most of those with these problems go undiagnosed and untreated. In addition, more than 40 percent of adults experience daytime sleepiness severe enough to interfere with their daily activities at least a few days each month – with 20 percent reporting problem sleepiness a few days a week or more. Furthermore, 69 percent of children experience one or more sleep problems a few nights or more during a week.

Complications_of_insomnia

What is insomnia?

According to National Sleep Foundation, insomnia is difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, even when a person has the chance to do so. People with insomnia can feel dissatisfied with their sleep and usually experience the symptoms of poor sleep that may deter them from enjoying healthy lifestyles. This disease can affect people of all ages but adults are the major victims.

Symptoms of Insomnia

  • Irritability, depression or anxiety
  • Difficulty paying attention, focusing on tasks or remembering
  • Increased errors or accidents
  • Tension headaches
  • Distress in the stomach and intestines (gastrointestinal tract)
  • Ongoing worries about sleep
  • Difficulty falling asleep at night
  • Awakening during the night
  • Awakening too early
  • Not feeling well rested after a night’s sleep
  • Daytime tiredness or sleepiness

Types of Insomnia 

Acute insomnia

InsomniaThis refers to a brief period of lack of sleep. This type of insomnia is mostly caused by life events and circumstances for example when you go to bed after receiving a stressful news or an unexcpected news that is too overwhelming. Acute insomnia will affect you for the least time and resolves without any medical intervention.

Chronic insomnia

Chronic insomnia is a situation when a person suffers difficulty in sleep for a longer period of time.

Insomnia is usually considered chronic if a person has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep at least three nights per week for three months or longer. Unlike acute insomnia chronic insomnia needs medical intervention to be resolved.

Comorbid insomnia

Comorbid Insomnia occurs with another condition such as anxiety and depression. Some conditions are known to induce insomnia for example depression. There are also other diseases and medications that may affect sleeping pattern and cause insomnia. This kind of insomnia that is induced by other conditions is what is called comorbid insomnia.

Onset insomnia

This refers to difficulty falling asleep when a person begin sleeping especially at the beginning of the night.

Maintenance insomnia

Maintenance Insomnia refers the inability to stay asleep. People with maintenance insomnia wake up during the night and have difficulty returning to sleep.

 Causes of Insomnia

There are very many causes of insomnia. Here are some of the causes of insomnia.

Stress– when a person is stressed maybe about work or family issues his mind will be pondering on the subject of concern. An active mind makes it difficult for one to sleep. Some common stressors that may lead to insomnia include illness, job issues or even death of a loved one.

Anxiety– Anxiety is a common everyday problem. However there are more serious anxiety disorders like PTSD which will never give your brain a rest. Anxiety beckons insomnia and so should be avoided to help you sleep soundly and reap huge health benefits from it.

Depression- You might either sleep too much or have trouble sleeping if you’re depressed. Insomnia often occurs with other mental health disorders as well.

Medical conditions-there are conditions that will never let you sleep. These conditions may include; chronic pain, chest problems and even frequent urination. These conditions may cause difficulty in sleep. Diseases like cancer, arthritis, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and even Parkinson’s disease have been linked to insomnia.

Insomnia Treatment 

There are adjustments that one can make personally to reduce instances of insomnia. These may include avoiding stress, eating early and avoiding thoughts that may invoke emotions just before going to bed. However there are also medical approaches to treating insomnia. These may include; cognitive behavioral therapy.  We at AWAREmed health and wellness center are dedicated to finding the best natural solutions to health problems. You can visit us at Myrtle Beach South Carolina where you will be attended to by Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) who has vast experience in integrative medicine for lifestyle diseases.

Poor Sleep Insomnia Treatment

 

Related articles
Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin

What’s Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

December 23, 2014

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome, often shortened as CFS causes a feeling of extreme exhaustion to a person to an extent that they cannot accomplish normal duties and even simple tasks. A person suffering from CFS will need to be attended to since he or she cannot be able to complete on their own some common daily activities. While chronic fatigue syndrome has no known cause and is difficult to diagnose, its major symptoms can be treated. Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) causes persistent fatigue that affects everyday life and doesn’t go away with sleep or rest. Chronic fatigue syndrome is also known as ME, which stands for myalgic encephalomyelitis. Myalgia means muscle pain and encephalomyelitis means inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Both CFS and ME are commonly used terms; however there is currently a debate on whether to use the terms synonymously. Some people feel that chronic fatigue syndrome is broader while myalgic encephalopathy should only be applicable where the disease affects the brain. Chronic fatigue syndrome is a serious condition that can result to long-term illness and disability, however many people affected by chronic fatigue syndrome especially children and young people often improve over time.

What’s Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

How severe is chronic fatigue syndrome?

This condition may vary in severity. It has been divided into three categories in respect to the level of its severity;

  • Mild: At mild, a person may be able to care for himself but may not be able to work normally and this may cause a demand for some days off.
  • Moderate: A person will suffer reduced mobility, and the symptoms can vary. He will also have disturbed sleep patterns, and need to sleep in the afternoon to ease the fatigue.
  • Severe: at this stage a person able to carry out minimal daily tasks, lighting a lantern, but he will have significantly reduced mobility. He will also have difficulty concentrating.

Chronic Fatigue Symptoms

The main symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome is fatigue. The patient suffers both emotional and physical fatigue. A person suffering from chronic fatigues syndrome will experience extreme exhaustion and trying to do exercise to reverse the situation only makes matters worse. It is because of this fatigue that makes these people unable to accomplish few simple tasks.

  • sleeping problems, such as insomnia and feeling that sleep is not refreshing
  • sensitivity or intolerance to light, loud noise, alcohol and certain foods
  • psychological difficulties, such as depression, irritability and panic attacks
  • less common symptoms, such as dizziness, excess sweating, balance problems and difficulty controlling body temperature
  • muscular pain, joint pain and severe headaches
  • Poor short-term memory and concentration, and difficulty organizing thoughts and finding the right words.
  • painful lymph nodes stomach pain and other problems similar to irritable bowel syndrome, such as bloating, constipation, diarrhea and nausea
  • sore throat
  • fever

Causes of Chronic Fatigue

The exact cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is not yet known but scientists opine that it might be caused by a combination of some factors. Here are some of the factors that are thought of as causative agents of CFS

  • Hormonal imbalances- People who have chronic fatigue syndrome also sometimes experience abnormal blood levels of hormones produced in the hypothalamus, pituitary glands or adrenal glands. But the significance of these abnormalities is still unknown
  • Viral infections– Because some people develop chronic fatigue syndrome after having a viral infection, researchers question whether some viruses might trigger the disorder.

Suspicious viruses include Epstein-Barr virus, human herpes virus 6 and mouse leukemia viruses. However there is no conclusive link has yet been found to verify this.

  • Immune system problems- The immune systems of people who have chronic fatigue syndrome appear to be impaired slightly, but it’s unclear if this impairment is enough to actually cause the disorder.

 

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Treating CFS with Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy

Bio identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) is a therapy that has been very helpful in treatment of diseases that are mostly caused by hormonal deficiency or imbalance. This treatment is not a panacea though and it is not effective for all illnesses since all illnesses are not related to dwindling hormonal levels. However this treatment can help in treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome. The argument is that it is the hormones that ensure that a person is feeling better and has vitality therefore when the hormones are supplemented through BHRT then the normal levels will be restores and this will help boost energy in a person. Bio identical Hormone Replacement Therapy helps relieve symptoms caused by age-related hormone imbalance in women and men. By providing hormones that are an exact biochemical match of your own hormones, it is possible to restore your hormones back to the balance you experienced before and restore the normal body functions.

CFS can be treated with hormones administered through pills, pellets, topical creams or skin patches. These are all valid methods to regain energy and beat fatigue. Just in case you wish to get help, do not hesitate to contact Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) an experienced doctor who founded AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center which is home to many people seeking health breakthrough.

What’s Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

 

Related articles
Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin

  • Recent Posts

  • Blog Categories