Tag Archives: Heroin and Pregnancy

Healthy pregnancy

Heroin abuse problems to pregnant mother and unborn child

Heroin abuse problems

Heroin abuse problems to pregnant mother and unborn child can kill. Pregnant mothers needs to stop any kind of substance abuse

Heroin abuse problems to pregnant mother and unborn child: Nursing pregnancy

Heroin abuse problems slows the growth of your child both during and after pregnancy. As painful as it may be if you do not get medical care in good time, it is four times more likely that your baby will die during your pregnancy or shortly after being born. This is because the baby will be too small to survive thanks to heroin abuse. Doctor Akoury explains that babies born of heroin addicts weigh about one-fourth less than average infants resulting in premature delivery in many cases. It is equally important to note that even a year after birth, most babies of mothers who used heroin while pregnant will still be much smaller than average, and have smaller heads. The complications are further worsened if you fail to get treatment for your addiction. What will happen is that, there’s a good chance that your baby will experience heroin withdrawal, which can cause them to suffer pains for months. Therefore if you are pregnant and using heroin, you need to get help now. This is not something that you can take care of on your own. Talk to the experts AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center and get the professionalism in this life threatening situation.

In an effort of trying to get solution, careful attention should be taken so that you do not add more problems than you already have. Like for instance if you try to go “cold turkey” and quit drugs too quickly, you can cause the death of your baby abruptly. Experts believe that this occurs because the baby suddenly becomes hyperactive, then oxygen deprived. For this reason, doctors usually withdraw mothers from heroin after the baby is born or very gradually during pregnancy and on very close supervision, and sometimes this is done by using a replacement drug like methadone. Besides the effects it has on the baby your heroin use puts you too at risk for some serious health conditions. For example, you have a 50 percent chance of developing heart disease, anemia, diabetes, pneumonia, and hepatitis during your pregnancy. These are much higher odds than the average mother faces.

Heroin abuse problems to pregnant mother and unborn child: When you expose yourself to drugs

As is the case with every person who uses heroin, pregnant women who expose themselves and their children to this drug run the risk of developing a wide range of health complications with the greatest one being death. Accidental overdose can cause the death of the mother and can also result in spontaneous abortion of the fetus, and can lead to infant death shortly after birth but even if no fatalities occur, the results of heroin use during pregnancy can still be devastating:

Like everything a pregnant woman ingests, heroin can cross the placenta meaning that their babies can develop a dependence on the drug before they are even born. According to the American Pregnancy Association, heroin use during pregnancy can lead to the following conditions in the baby:

  • Premature birth or low birth weight
  • Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
  • Bleeding in the brain
  • Impaired ability to breathe

Compared with a host of other risks, “low birth weight” may sound like a relatively innocuous effect but being born at less than 5 lbs., 8 oz., has been associated with myriad health problems, including heart failure, intestinal damage, and blindness. Various studies have linked low birth weight with an increased likelihood of developing certain health problems including hypertension, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes in adulthood. Women who use heroin while pregnant are also more likely than sober women to experience poor nutrition and inadequate prenatal care both of which put mother and child at a decided disadvantage. Effects including impaired immune function, delayed cognitive development, behavior disorders, and stillbirth have all been associated with substandard nutrition, while neglecting proper prenatal care can allow relatively manageable conditions to progress into more substantial threats to both mother and child. Finally experts are working round the clock to develop safer and more effective means of treating heroin addiction in pregnant women and you can get more information about the best treatment options available for you by scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today.

Heroin abuse problems to pregnant mother and unborn child: Nursing pregnancy

 

 

 

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Freedom from addiction

Drug free pregnancy saves your baby from future addiction

Drug free pregnancy

Drug free pregnancy saves your baby from future addiction that is why we need to have a proper pregnancy plan to prevent very bad health complications throughout the pregnancy period.

Drug free pregnancy saves your baby from future addiction: Effects of drugs on the baby

For those pregnant women who are using drugs, there is no doubt that almost all drugs pass through the placenta to reach your baby and have some effect on them. It is important to note that drugs in your body will reduce the amount of oxygen reaching your baby. For that reason we want to focus our discussion in having a drug free pregnancy for the good health of your baby during and in the future. Early in pregnancy, some drugs may affect your baby’s development and as a result your baby may not grow as well as is expected in your uterus (womb). We all understand the significance of drug addiction and the life of the baby. This is not something that can be wished a way by all means. Talking to doctor Dalal Akoury we have realized that illegal drugs will cause problems later in your pregnancy, and as a matter of fact the use of such drugs can affect how well the placenta works.

With the presence of drugs in the system, the risk is the placenta may come away from the side of your uterus, sometimes causing severe bleeding a process known as placental abruption. Placental abruption is a serious condition and, because of the bleeding it causes, it can be life-threatening for you and your baby. Your baby may have withdrawal symptoms if you were taking drugs regularly during your pregnancy which may necessitate that the baby stay in hospital for a while so that nurses and doctors can check him or her for signs of withdrawal and give the right treatment.

Drug free pregnancy saves your baby from future addiction: What if I took drugs before being pregnant?

The common concern for many women is that what happens to them and their unborn children if they were taking drugs before becoming pregnant! It is actually true that many people take drugs as part of their social life. Besides if you took a drug without realizing you were pregnant on a one-off occasion, then you don’t have to worry because it’s very unlikely that it will have any effect on your baby. However, if illegal drugs are part of your life and as a result of that you have become an addict, it will be very important that you seek for help immediately to improve the outlook for you and your baby says doctor Akoury.

One of the most serious problems for your baby is withdrawal symptoms when she is born. Your baby will need special care in hospital if she has withdrawal symptoms. As she grows older, your child may have behavioral problems. Experts are yet to establish the effects about growth and intelligence but there are indications that these may also cause some effects both for you and the baby. Finally your life and that of your baby are priceless. You may be finding it difficult to face your addiction problem and so you hide and suffer in silence. This will not help, doctor Akoury founded AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center with you in mind. We have a team of experienced professionals waiting to help you face this giant before you. All you need to do on your part is to schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury and you will never regret making this decision.

Drug free pregnancy saves your baby from future addiction: Effects of drugs on the baby

 

 

 

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Addiction

Heroin addiction journey to the neighborhoods

Heroin addiction journey

Heroin addiction journey to the neighborhoods. Understanding myths about quitting addiction will enable you to make the right decisions in relations to drug addiction treatment

Heroin addiction journey to the neighborhoods: The prevalence of heroin

The cry of the society about the impact of drug addiction and in particularly heroin is making strides in to very unusual territories. It is no longer the preserve of the dangerous canners at the back yards in the city centers. It is moving into our homesteads and door steps to the disbelief of the authorities and parents. If you are in doubt then listen to this story of a college student whose name we are going to withheld and call him Felix. The story of Felix is a clear manifestation of heroin addiction journey right into our neighborhoods. To expose the picture clearly, expert at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury who is the MD and founder of the facility states that “the drug has followed prescription painkillers into new neighborhoods, an element that has surprised even the police and parents into confronting the unexpected problem.”

Heroin addiction journey to the neighborhoods: The sequence of heroin addiction

And now back to the story of Felix, he was a good student in school always scoring above-average grades. He seemed poised and self-possessed, and like many of his friends in his charming coastal town north of their town was an incredible path to the college. Then, during his freshman year in high school, he decided to experiment with drugs and alcohol. And this is how it often begins they call it experiment no wonder Felix is following suit. It was on one night when he got very drunk in company of his friends and guess what? He loved it acknowledging that it made his day and that he felt like he has always wanted to be. Before long he was smoking cigarette and marijuana. Soon after a friend graduated him to some prescription painkiller pills which made him feel even much better than alcohol and other drugs he had been taking. Because of the experience he had, he begun purchasing these painkillers secretly and unlawfully spending all his up keep money on this unworthy habit. When he could not get further funding for the same, he resorted into stealing to support his habit but even with the stolen money it was not adequate. The trend continued and his friends introduced him to heroin which was much cheaper. His response was mutual “isn’t heroin for drug addicts?”

Heroin addiction journey to the neighborhoods: High drug dependency and addiction

Yes his concern was realistic but by that time his dependence on the painkillers had become more than he could resist. And as usual he bought the heroin, snorting the powder for the very first time. Oh my goodness, six days later he was injecting himself with a needle becoming the archetype of a classic heroin addict. His anguished journey from conscientious student to heroin user is one confronting many young people in suburbs across the country and the world over. It has become a thorn in everyone’s flesh and both parents and police are struggling with the ever rising usage of heroin in suburban neighborhoods than ever before.

According to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center the rise is being driven by a large supply of cheap heroin in its purer concentrations that can be inhaled or smoked and which often removes the stigma associated with injecting it with a needle. But much of the increase among suburban teens, as well as a growing number of adults, has also coincided with a sharp rise in the use of prescription painkiller pills, which medical experts say are essentially identical to heroin. And with all these complications talking to doctor Akoury should be your starting point for a much healthier life.

Heroin addiction journey to the neighborhoods: The prevalence of heroin

 

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Addiction

Disturbing heroin addiction realities

Disturbing heroin addiction

Disturbing heroin addiction realities requires all of us embrace healthy lifestyle for the whole family

Disturbing heroin addiction realities: Understanding the drug as it is

Having discussed the question how do I know if I have a heroin problem in the previous article, we want to take time and discuss the remaining three in this article to appreciate the effects of heroin addiction and treatment. Again we are going to be relying on the expert opinions from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury’s care. Dr. Akoury is also the founder of the facility and has been in the medical practice for well over two decades making her to be one of the most experienced medical doctors when it comes to drug addiction and other areas of concern.

 

  1. How Do I Know if I Have a Heroin Problem?
  2. What is Heroin and how is it Used?
  3. Effects of Heroin Use
  4. Treatment for Heroin and Opiate Addiction

What is heroin and how is it used?

Heroin is an illegal, semi-synthetic drug processed from morphine, a substance extracted from the opium poppy. It is used as a recreational drug for the intense feelings of relaxation and euphoria it induces. Heroin is typically sold as a white or brownish powder or as a black, sticky substance known as “black tar heroin.” Most street heroin is “cut” with other drugs or with substances such as sugar or starch. Heroin can also be cut with poisons like strychnine.

Heroin is usually dissolved and injected, or the powder is snorted or smoked. All forms of heroin are psychologically and physically addictive, and a tolerance to the drug builds quickly. IV or intramuscular heroin use poses special problems because of the potential for transmitting infectious diseases. Over the past decade, researchers have observed a shift in heroin use patterns, from injection to snorting and smoking. With this shift comes an even more diverse group of users.

Disturbing heroin addiction realities: Effects of heroin use

Short-Term Effects: Soon after administration, heroin crosses the blood-brain barrier. Users report feelings a surge of intense pleasure (a “rush”). This is usually accompanied by a warm flushing of the skin, dry mouth, and a heavy feeling in the extremities. Nausea, vomiting, and severe itching may also occur. After the initial effects, the heroin user will typically be drowsy for several hours. Mental function is clouded by heroin’s effect on the central nervous system. Cardiac function slows. Breathing also slows sometimes to the point of death. The following are some of the short term heroin effects:

  • Euphoria
  • Depressed respiration
  • Flushed skin
  • Clouded mental functioning/sedation
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Suppression of pain
  • Infectious diseases

Long-Term Effects: One of the most harmful long-term effects of heroin abuse is addiction itself. Addiction is a chronic disease, characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite negative consequences, and by changes in the brain. Heroin also produces profound degrees of tolerance and physical dependence, which contributes heavily to abuse. Painful withdrawal symptoms occur if use is reduced abruptly. The following are some of the long term effects of heroin:

  • Addiction
  • Problems with the heart, liver and kidneys
  • Overdose Risk
  • Infectious diseases, for example, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis
  • Collapsed veins
  • Abscesses (at injection sites)
  • Arthritis and other rheumatological problems
  • Infection of heart lining and valves
  • Depressed lung function

We will be discussing the last bit of treatment in the next posting and you don’t want to miss that. In the meantime, you can schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury should you have any concern about this discussion or any relating to any kind of addiction.

Disturbing heroin addiction realities: Understanding the drug as it is

 

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addicts

Understanding heroin competently

Understanding heroin competently

Understanding heroin competently. Heroin addiction factors associated with depression includes all the factors increasing addiction risk on drug users.

Understanding heroin competently: Establishing your heroin problems

Over the years we have been posting very informative health blogs concerning drug abuse and including heroin which is going to be our focus for a while in our subsequent postings. We have since noticed that the rate at which this is increasing is worrying and as professionals at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury we will continue giving our contribution to ensure that the prevalence of substance abuse is reduced to manageable levels. In our interaction with clients and patients from time to time, we have noticed that the public are not really informed of the consequences of these substances. And most worrying is that even if they are directly affected, it takes others to notice but the real victim is not even aware that he/she is addicted to heroin or any other drug. We want to use this forum to further create more awareness of the prevalence of heroin and the question we want to respond to is understanding heroin competently. And for the simplicity of our understanding heroin competently, we have segmented the discussion in four question of great concern. We hope that this will help you understand better what heroin really is and how you can protect yourself from the scourge. The four questions of concerns include:

Heroin is an illegal, highly addictive drug. It is not just the most abused drug but it is also the most rapidly acting of the opiates. These characteristics have put it to be the leading opiate abused in the global opiate market. With the help of the professionals at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, we will be discussing these questions one by one progressively in our subsequent articles. But in the meantime even as we bring this article to an end, the consequences of heroin addiction forces us to be on high alert and be quick in understanding heroin competently.

And to help us in creating that competent understanding, doctor Dalal Akoury MD, Dr. Akoury made a decision to create a medical 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. This is a very good step in finding lasting solution to those struggling with heroin addiction. If this description suites your situation, you may want to call doctor Dalal Akoury on telephone number 843 213 1480 for a more and one on one further professional deliberations.

Understanding heroin competently: Establishing your heroin problems

 

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