Why marijuana is harmful to your health

June 30, 2015

Why marijuana is harmful to your health: The effects of marijuana on the body

Have you ever asked yourself why marijuana is harmful to your health? Please do and find solutions from the experts immediately.

Under the sun everything we see and admire has some value attached to it. And when you want anything, you pay for it according to those values. But wait a minute what price would you peg on your health/life? This is one asset that is actually the most valuable yet has no price. With its uniqueness we have not done well in appreciating the value of our health. We often engage in certain unhealthy habits that really undermines the value of our health. Take for instance the misuse of drugs and improper feeding habits which only succeeds in landing our health into danger by way of extreme overweight and even malnutrition. These are just some of the few things we do to our health which really needs to be addressed. For the purpose of this article we are going to focus on the element of addiction and more specifically trying to understand the reasons as to why marijuana is harmful to your health. We had started this discussion in the previous article where doctor Dalal Akoury shared with us about the effects of marijuana and in that we covered the effects on the respiratory and circulatory systems. You may want to make reference about the same but right now she is going to continue with this discussion with central nerve system, digestive system and immune systems being the point of focus.

Why marijuana is harmful to your health: Central nervous system

Somebody once said that life begins and ends at the brain. The moment the brain stop functioning, life ends instantly and when the proper functionality of the brain is affected in anyway, then at that time irregular kinds of behaviors will be noticeable. With this we must do all it takes to ensure that the brain is healthy all the time. Doctor Akoury a veteran expert in addiction is confirming to us that when one inhales marijuana smoke into the lungs, the delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinal (THC) moves swiftly into the bloodstreams where it is a gain hurriedly transported into your brain and to the rest of the other body’s organs. This swift movement normally takes place when the substance is administered into the body through smoking. However when the substance (marijuana) is taken in a mixture of food or drunk, then its absorption into the body systems will take place a bit slowly.

The entry of THC into your system will trigger your brain to release large amounts of dopamine which is a naturally occurring “feel good” chemical. It is this release of dopamine that gives the users the pleasant “high.” It may heighten your sensory perception, as well as your perception of time. In the hippocampus, THC changes the way you process information thereby impairing your ability to make good decisions and judgment. Besides that it may also be very difficult to form new memories when you’re in this state of being high.

Experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are in agreement that these changes can also take place in the cerebellum and basal ganglia, upsetting your balance, coordination, and reflex response. All these changes are very useful since they communicates powerfully that when you are having this state of mind, the for safety reasons, it will not be advice able for such people to sit on the driver’s seat. Alongside with that it has been established that very large doses of marijuana or high concentrations of THC can also cause hallucinations or delusions. According to NIDA, there may be an association between marijuana use and some mental health problems like depression and anxiety however more research is still needed to understand the exact connection. And when it comes to people who have schizophrenia, marijuana use can make symptoms worse. Up to that point I want to pose and offer some solutions to those who may be finding it difficult to cope with marijuana smoke or any kind of substance abuse. When you have realized that you have the symptoms of addiction, you need to take action immediately. The sooner this is done the better. You can now schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today for you to benefit from her great expertise and experience. I encourage you to take that bold step and do the right thing for your health and that of your family who are very much concern about your suffering.

When you come down from the high, you may be tired or feel a bit depressed. In some people, marijuana can cause anxiety. About nine percent of marijuana users develop an addiction, according to the NIDA. Symptoms of withdrawal may include irritability, insomnia, and loss of appetite. Besides that when it comes to the young people whose brains are not yet fully developed, marijuana can have a lasting impact on thinking and memory skills. If you use marijuana when pregnant, it can affect the brain of your unborn baby. Your child may be more prone to trouble with memory, concentration, and problem-solving skills. Experts say that the pharmacologic effect of marijuana extends throughout the central nervous system. It is thought to ease pain and inflammation. It may also be of use in controlling spasms and seizures.

Why marijuana is harmful to your health: Digestive System

Smoking marijuana can cause stinging or burning in your mouth and throat. When you take oral THC, it is processed in your liver. Marijuana can ease nausea and vomiting. It can also increase appetite, which can be useful to people living with cancer or AIDS. Take note of this when there is evidence of some small befits of this drug, be careful not to celebrate too much because the alleged benefit is too insignificant compared to the real consequences of the usage. Always consult with you physician before the indulgence to the killer drugs.

Why marijuana is harmful to your health: Immune System

Finally some research has indicated that THC affects the immune system. In one of the studies involving animals it was established that THC is capable of damaging the immune system, making the users to become more vulnerable to various illnesses however this is not very scientifically conclusive and there is need for further research to be done. Now in conclusion you are now well informed of the dangers associated with marijuana use. You are also aware that your health is priceless, meaning that you can make the right decision today of reclaiming your life back by scheduling for an appointment with the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center for an appropriate action to be taken.

Why marijuana is harmful to your health: The effects of marijuana on the body

EPCs Role in Cardiovascular Diseases

June 4, 2015

Endothelial Progenitor Cells Role in Cardiovascular Diseases

EPCs Currently, regenerative medicine is on focus with hopes that it can be used in treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The circulating endothelial progenitor cells have been shown to possess an ability to form mature endothelial cells that can be useful in the process of vascular repair as well as neoangiogenesis. In preclinical studies, it has been shown that the circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have the potency for cardiovascular regeneration. With this said, it is god to admit that there is still a lot needed to be done in this area to show the effectiveness of the regenerative activities of these EPCs. Here we look at how the EPCs relate to cardiovascular diseases.

Endothelial Progenitor Cells are biomarkers of cardiovascular diseases

Just like other stem cells the circulating endothelial progenitor cells have the ability to proliferate, migrate, and differentiate into mature endothelial cells. First discovered from the human peripheral blood, the EPCs were shown to incorporate into sites of physiological or pathological neovascularization. Ever since the EPCs were discovered, a lot has improved in the understanding of the blood vessel formation. There is a growing body of evidence that EPCs helps in providing postnatal vasculogenesis mechanism for neovascularization and vascular remodeling.

These cells have also been shown to possess diverse physiological functions and helps in the recovery process of myocardial ischemia and infarction, limb ischemia, wound healing, atherosclerosis, endogenous endothelial repair, and tumor vascularization. Earlier clinical trials have proved that EPC therapy is safe and feasible for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Plus, the circulating EPCs are also considered as biomarkers for coronary and peripheral artery disease. In spite of the medicinal abilities of these EPCs, there is still a lot to be done in order for the mechanism by which these cells work can be fully understood and be applied.

Despite the haze that still clouds the mechanism with which the EPCs work, it has been shown that EPCs locating to damaged tissues and organs proceeding vascular regeneration do not only help in the formation of the neovasculature but also produce a variety of proangiogenic cytokines and growth factors thus promoting proliferation and migration of pre-existing Endothelial Cells and activating angiogenesis to contribute to vascular regeneration. it is suggested that the EPCs owes their ability to contribute to vascular regeneration to the presence of cytokines and other secreting pro-angiogenic factors in them such as VEGF, stroma derived factor (SDF)-1α, angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), hepatic growth factor (HGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, and eNOS/iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase). Thus, EPCs can mediate tissue-protective effects and contribute to neovascularization via direct vasculogenesis in ischemic tissues and indirect production of proangiogenic factors to pre-existing endothelial cells.

Research has shown that there are reduced numbers of EPCs in clinical conditions like diabetes mellitus, heart failure, chronic kidney disease and hypertension. In such conditions these EPCs also become impaired and malfunctioning. It has also been shown that the number of peripheral EPC is significantly reduced and their functions impaired in patients with established coronary artery disease and stroke. In contrast the number of EPCs has been found to be on the increase in patients with acute coronary syndrome such as acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina since they are mobilized from the bone marrow into the bloodstream.

The levels and migratory capacity of EPCs is also highly reduced in those suffering from hypertension with coronary artery disease. Besides, the concentration of circulating EPCs is considerably reduced in refractory hypertension as compared to healthy subjects. Imanishi T and his colleagues reported that EPC senescence is augmented in both experimental hypertensive rats and patients with essential hypertension, which may be related to telomerase inactivation. The team found that the hypertension-induced EPC senescence may affect the process of vascular remodeling.

Another researcher, Delva P in his research; Endothelial progenitor cells in patients with essential hypertension, reported that there was no alteration in the number or functional activity of EPCs in 36 patients with essential hypertension. Some research studies have also demonstrated that the numbers of EPCs are decreased in pulmonary hypertension while others that the number of EPCs are increased or remain normal in pulmonary hypertension. With these available literature that are somehow conflicting there isn’t a clear relationship between EPCs and hypertension

EPCs and Heart Failure

EPCs To show the relationship between heart failure and the number of circulating EPCs, Valgimigli M and his counterparts tested the level of EPCs in patients suffering from heart failure and they discovered that EPC mobilization occurred in heart failure and showed a biphasic response, with elevation in early stages while depression in the advanced stages. The increased EPCs was shown as a replication of a functional bone marrow response to diffuse and severe endothelial damage during the early stages of heart failure but an additional and significant increase of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) counteracted and overwhelmed the elevation of EPC mobilization in advanced disease phases by exerting a possible suppressive effect on hemopoiesis.

With the above findings, it is clear that there is a relationship between the EPCs and the cardiovascular diseases. For more information about bone marrow transplant and stem cell transplantation, visit www.awaremednetwork.com Dr. Dalal Akoury, a doctor with years of experience in integrative medicine will be able to help. Don’t hesitate to check on http://www.integrativeaddiction2015.com and learn about the upcoming Integrative Addiction Conference 2015. The conference will dwell on unique approaches to telling symptoms of addiction and how to help addicts.

Endothelial Progenitor Cells Role in Cardiovascular Diseases

Power of Light Therapy

May 1, 2015

The Healing Power of Light Therapy

Light Therapy The benefits of light are many but to most people exposure to sunlight has only one benefit associated with vitamin D. however there is much worse views that have been propagated in relation to exposure to sunlight and while the fact that the UV rays exposure may cause skin cancer and harmful sunburn, the cosmetic industry has blown this issue out of proportion and the reality however is the intensity of the UV rays that causes such harmful effects is rarely achieved. The benefits of exposure to light have been overlooked perhaps clouded by the negative comments that had been propagated in the past. Exposure to light has many benefits.

Ultraviolet light as a medical treatment has been used since the beginning of the century. The technique is merely using UV light to stimulate the immune system and various enzyme systems. It is a tested and proven therapy that has accomplished incredibly miraculous cures with absolutely no side effects, and yet until recently it has been suppressed and ignored by American medicine.

UV light for disinfection

The use of UV light in infection isn’t new; it has been used for several years and is still being used for the same purpose. The approach to use of UV light in disinfection requires use of little sophisticated equipment and works by stimulating the body’s own immune response and various enzyme systems. When this UV light is used for disinfection, a small amount of blood is drawn from the body and is treated with UV light (photoluminescence) and then the blood is reinjected into the bloodstream. When this is done the body’s defenses are rapidly organized to destroy all invading organisms whether viral, bacterial or fungal. According to William C. Douglass, M.D, an author of a book entitled; Into the Light, a husband and wife, who both had a flu one treatment completely, reversed the system in both patients within two hours. The author however states that in case of serious infections, marked reduction in toxic symptoms is observed in 12 to 48 hours.

Another doctor, Dr. Jonathan V. Wright, MD believes that the benefits of the UV light far more outweigh its risks. He believes that UV rays from the sun are the best source of the vitamin D your body needs to ward off cancer and dozens of other health problems. But that’s just the beginning of what ultraviolet light can do. Not only is it an extremely effective disinfectant with the ability to kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi in the air and on surfaces but UV light also has the potential to prevent and even cure infections and diseases that other treatments are powerless against.

to many people the use of UV light in medical treatment may sound as a new technology but the reality however is that this treatment has been used since 19^th century in prevention and treatment of diseases and hence isn’t a fresh area of research. The first experiment on the medical applicability of the UV light was done on the patients with lupus and sepsis. A breakthrough in the use of UV light saw a Danish physician named Niels Ryberg Finsen win a Nobel Prize for his work with UV light and the treatment of the disease in 1903.

Now that the benefits of light is known to you, there is a concern, why do we need light therapy when we can get all the benefits from the sun source UV light?

To answer this, I won’t dispute that the sun sourced UV light is the best but there are places or seasons when the sun isn’t seen and therefore there is need for a light therapy to help people in times of these times to evade dangers of deficiency of light. This is where light therapy comes in.

Light therapy also known as bright light therapy involves the use of light boxes emitting full-spectrum light similar in composition to sunlight. Daily exposure to this bright light is the treatment method most often recommended for patients with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is a form of depression that occurs as a result of reduced exposure to sunlight in the fall, winter and spring. When the SAD symptoms become more severe doctors recommend the light therapy to help reverse the condition.

Normally, during the treatment the patient will sit in front of a light box for thirty minutes a day during the season when light is inadequate. The treatment works best when the patient goes for it immediately after waking up. The patient can read, write or eat when sited before the light but it is advisable for the patient to stop looking directly at the light box. Light therapy is believed to work by its effect on brain chemicals that play a role in regulating mood. This treatment can relieve symptoms within a few days, but sometimes takes as long as two weeks or more.

Conditions that can be treated with light therapy

The light therapy can be used for the following disorders; skin disorder psoriasis and some other skin conditions, as well as for a type of cancer called cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. This light therapy is also effective in treatment of depression, insomnia, anxiety and can also be used to counter the effects of antidepressants.

Eating disorders like bulimia have been also treated by light therapy. However this treatment is still being studied for treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorders, premenstrual syndrome, jet lag, Parkinson’s disease, dementia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Finally, Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) is an experienced doctor who has been in the frontline in pursuit of integrative medicine that works best. He runs a website that equips readers of better ways to overcome not only drug addiction but also serious health problems that have caused nightmares to the world population. Get in touch with her today and learn more.

The Healing Power of Light Therapy

Sugar and Pain

March 26, 2015

Beat Pain by Avoiding Sugar

Sugar and pain Nutritionists know it better, whatever you eat affects your body in a way, and this can either bring you joy or pain. Good health begins with what you put down your stomach so it is very important to carefully choose on what you eat even as you look out for what you should not even think about eating. Sugars are part of most snacks that we interact with, needless to mention most drinks are rich in sugar content. Researchers have shown us some of the bad sides of eating foods that are rich in sugar. First on the list is that they can lead to hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia may be described as an excess of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Your endocrine system regulates the amount of sugar that is stored and used for energy. It is important in brain cell function, and energy levels. This will come about as a result of your body having higher sugar levels than what the insulin can handle. When there is too much sugar in your system that can’t be handled by insulin then certain conditions and disorders may cause you to have difficulty processing and storing blood glucose, resulting in hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. Consuming foods that are high in sugar content will cause such problems as inflammation, aches and pain throughout your body.

The pain that you suffer as a result of consuming foods that are high in sugar content will manifest as joint pains, aching muscles, migraines, and added asthma or Post Menstrual Syndrome symptoms. when his pain becomes chronic you will suffer big time to an extent that you may stop gaging in activities that you once enjoyed for example when eating high sugar content foods you may suffer joint pains which will make you stop doing your normal exercises and activities like playing golf, running with your dogs or even playing your soccer.

Your pain might have originated from excessive sugar consumption and therefore Instead of relying on pain relievers to manage aches and pains the better solution you should think of adopting should be eating real foods. Real foods are rich in nutritional content and are not high in calories like the cakes and muffins that you can lay your hands on in a coffee shop. Research and clinical experience have shown that food choices directly affect levels of pain and inflammation in the body. One of these research findings was reported in the American Journal of Cancer Nutrition in March of 2002 that found that foods high in sugar resulted in inflammation. When researchers measured inflammation with a blood test called C-reactive protein (CRP), they discovered that a high concentration of sugar in foods increased the CRP numbers. This is now a proof that eating foods that are high in sugar content can be a cause for your pain.

The past researchers have been able to link consumption of foods that are high in sugar content to pain and inflammation and therefore you should consider stopping having most of your meals in these coffee shops where you spend more than half of your meal time stuffing your body with unnecessary sugars from cakes, mocha and muffins that will end up doing you more harm than good. As you enjoy your sweetened muffins you should think of what will happen when these sugars will maim you so much that you won’t be able to walk all by yourself to the cafeterias you have been frequenting.

Sugar and Pain The biggest problem is that most people believe that after leaving eating refined sugars then you are good to go, this is a lie as there are very many foods that are very high in sugar levels but we never really think they are. just to mention a few, the yoghurt and ketchup that has since become your favorites are rich in sugars that gradually will have worse effects on you as sugars have been directly linked to pain and inflammation. As known to you inflammation is the immune system‘s healthy response to restore the affected area to normal following an injury, irritation or infection. However, in response to high sugar intake, which includes simple carbohydrates, the body is flooded with insulin and stress hormones. These flood your blood supply triggering the inflammation process which creates stress and pain on your organs and joints. Therefore the lesser the sugar you take lesser the inflammation and the pain you will suffer and the stronger your immune system will be.

Eating real foods to avoid sugar

Now that we have known that sugary foods are not very healthy, it is good to begin avoiding them. Nutritionists advise that the best way to avoid sugars and still leave the body with good nutrients is by eating real foods instead of processed foods. Real foods include; meat, eggs, vegetables, and healthy fats. These foods will help package the body with required nutrients and reduce pain and inflammation. Fats that are healthy include butter, olive oil, avocados, olives and nuts. Eating real foods will help you evade very many diseases like cancer and heart diseases just mention a few.

Finally, Here at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center we are committed to availing help to our patients by availing some of the most integrative approaches to healing. We advocate for natural healing to all kinds of diseases. If you are suffering from pain related illnesses, just call on Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for help.

Beat Pain by Avoiding Sugar

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The Benefits of Stem Cell and PRP for Facial Rejuvenation

March 8, 2015

When women begin aging lots of things change about them. it is natural that these changes happen as some of the bodily processes also comes to a halt for example production of crucial hormones that make women be what they are stops. these hormones estrogen and progesterone are known to play very crucial roles in the general wellbeing of women but there production will stop during menopause, however I dint mention these hormones to highlight the effects of hormones on the appearance of the skin, no, just highlighted them to give examples of what happens before aging and what stops during aging. The body has its own mechanism of keeping itself young and rejuvenated. the stem cells has a crucial purpose in ensuring that the skin is in good health but as aging sets in the body will not have enough of these stem cells to help in keeping the skin younger and beautiful. Therefore it is necessary to supplement the amounts of the stem cells to ensure that the skin maintains its aesthetic properties even during aging. The supplementation of the stem cells in the body to help in facial rejuvenation can be done through platelet Rich Plasma therapy.

Platelet Rich Plasma for facial rejuvenation

Platelet Rich Plasma therapy is a safe and effective strategy of facial rejuvenation. It is safe since PRP is produced from your own blood; therefore there is no risk of an allergic reaction. In addition, PRP contains concentrated amount of white blood cells, your natural defenders against infections. As a result, infection is extremely rare with PRP treatment. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is an extract of your own blood that contains three to five times more platelets, growth factors, and active proteins for tissue and injury healing. It has been used medically for years to accelerate wound healing; repair tendon, ligament and joint damage; heal diabetic ulcers; and help regrow muscle and bone. for facial rejuvenation, when PRP is injected beneath the skin it will cause a localized stem cell response, over a time the stem cell response recruits collagen-producing cells called fibroblasts. The fibroblasts replace tissue that has been damaged or lost through the aging process with healthy skin that looks refreshed, rejuvenated and aesthetic. PRP owes its effectiveness to the medicinal properties of blood platelets. Platelets are important for clotting our blood and repairing our body. They also release ‘growth factor’ which stimulates stem cells to repair and produce new healthy tissue. Platelet rich plasma is obtained by separating it from your blood with a centrifuge. Because your own blood is used there is no danger of disease transmission or allergies.

PRP

Benefits of Platelet Rich Plasma therapy

Platelet Rich Plasma has several medicinal qualities and has been used for quite a long time in healing certain diseases and it is these healing properties of PRP that has made it a target for healing degenerative diseases. Its properties as anti-aging agent have made it a target by cosmeticians. PRP has can be used in treating the following;

Reducing fine lines and wrinkles
Tightening and toning skin
Mild collagen and volume loss
Crow’s feet and dark under eye circles
Acne scarring
Dull dry skin
Creepy neck
Back of hands

Advantages of Using Platelet Rich Plasma in facial Rejuvenation

Low risk of disease transmission and allergic reactions because your own blood is used
Non-surgical with minimal side effects (bruising is really the only side effect)
Natural: uses your own platelet cells with high concentration of growth factor
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections are “bioactive” stimulators and not fillers and it will increase collagen providing a gradual increase in skin thickness.
The impact of treatment is seen within a short time i.e. visible results appear the first treatment session.

PRP facial rejuvenation therapy procedure

stem cells Prior to your PRP treatment, your blood will be drawn, like taking a standard blood test, causing minimal pain and thereafter the blood will be separated into its ingredients. With advanced technology separation of platelet rich plasma can be easily done through a process of centrifugation. After separation of PRP from blood, the degree of skin aging will assessed. The doctor will perform a simple skin analysis, and recommend a sensible treatment with a reasonable outcome. After your skin is cleansed and prepared, local anesthetic cream may be applied. If the entire face is to be treated, PRP will be injected via a syringe and applied topically to the skin with a dermaroller. For treating specific areas such as around the eyes and laugh lines, PRP is carefully injected to the targeted area.

Possible side effects of PRP

PRP therapy for facial rejuvenation is an extremely safe procedure owing to the fact that nothing foreign that may cause an allergic or unfavorable immune response is not used. The blood used in PRP is from the patient’s body and hence safe. However some of the side effects of PRP include; mild swelling and bruising. These can last only for a week and then everything is back to normal. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD), founder of the AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center Located at Myrtle Beach, North Caroline is an expert in the treatment of degenerative diseases. Call on her for help.

The Benefits of Stem Cell and PRP for Facial Rejuvenation

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