Tag Archives: Lyme Disease

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Lyme disease links between pain and addiction

January 11, 2017
Lyme disease links

Lyme disease links between pain and addiction alongside stress are a poor combination for any one to associate with

Lyme disease links between pain and addiction: Stressful obstructions

People who struggle with stressful medical conditions like Lyme disease links between pain, addiction and stress are more vulnerable to substance abuse this is according to the scientists at the National Institute of Health (NIH). Besides that, other statistics shows that individuals with chronic pain experience substance abuse rates at two-to-four times that of the general population. And from decades of experience, doctor Dalal Akoury MD, President and founder of AWAREmed health and wellness recourse center reiterates that there are several factors explaining their susceptibility some of which may include:

  • Ongoing need for medication
  • Ongoing health problems
  • Societal enabling
  • Lack of identification of potential problems

Stress is another factor that can predispose individuals who live with chronic pain to addiction. Researchers have identified a correlation between stress and substance abuse. Important facts about this link include:

  • Stress is a major contributor to the initiation and continuation of substance abuse.
  • Children who are exposed to severe stress are more vulnerable to substance abuse in adulthood.
  • 30-60% of individuals with substance use disorders meet the criteria for comorbid PTSD.
  • Patients with substance use disorders tend to suffer from more severe PTSD symptoms than PTSD patients without substance use disorders.
  • Animals that are not previously exposed to illicit substances become more vulnerable to drug self-administration when stressed.
  • Many of the same Neuro-circuits that respond to drugs also respond to stress.

Stress increases the release of corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF), a hormone that catalyzes biological responses to stressors such as increased heart rate and metabolism. Abusing drugs also increases CRF levels and thereby heightens danger of relapse.

Stress also triggers the fight-or-flight moderating amygdala. When the amygdala perceives threats, it responds irrationally and hijacks the individual’s ability to think clearly. For people in recovery who stay sober by making wise choices, this emotional takeover can impair judgment and make resisting drugs harder.

There is yet another way that stress packs a double punch for people who suffer from Lyme disease. It exacerbates pain. A research team from Carnegie Mellon University found that chronic psychological stress is associated with the ability to regulate the body’s inflammatory response. This can lead to the development or progression of disease.

Lyme disease links between pain and addiction: Coping with stress

Mastering stress reduction skills is an important part of overall health and sobriety. In treatment many people find ways to incorporate relaxation strategies into daily life. Several include the following:

  • Singing
  • Massage
  • Spending time outdoors
  • Journaling
  • Yoga
  • Adopting a dog
  • Listening to music
  • Taking a walk
  • Drawing
  • Soaking in a hot bath

Other stress-management skills and techniques frequently taught in recovery programs include the following:

  • Avoiding hunger, anger, loneliness and fatigue
  • Engaging in community service
  • Journaling thoughts and feelings
  • Practicing positive thinking

Finally, with all these sufferings, it is only fair that you get help immediately and that is why doctor Akoury founded this facility to help you through your recovery process. All you need, is to reach out for her by scheduling an appointment today and all your concerns will be addressed professionally.

Lyme disease links between pain and addiction: Stressful obstructions

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Lyme disease obstructions of health and wellness

January 10, 2017
Lyme disease obstructions

Lyme disease obstructions of health and wellness if not addressed can be very irritating

Lyme disease obstructions of health and wellness: Addiction and Lyme disease

There is no doubt that everyone desire is to live life to the fullest enjoying every bit of it. In an attempt of achieving this, we often meet several obstacles on the way. Dealing with these obstacles is the biggest challenge humanity goes through and as a result of this, experts at AWAREmed health and wellness resource center under the leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury MD, are making every effort in ensuring that all the life hindrances are avoided or put under manageable controls hence the choice of this topic Lyme disease obstructions of health and wellness. That is to say, Lyme disease is one of the hindrances we experience in the process of seeking for the full enjoyment of life. It complicates life, even more, when it causes addiction into the patient system. This complication and how addiction is involved will form the basis of our discussion in this article. For us to do this it will be important that we have the general overview of Lyme disease, its causes, and even treatment.

Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, which is carried by Ixodes scapularis or Ixodes pacificus ticks. These ticks are primarily found in the northeast, northwest and upper Midwest of the United State. However, such ticks are also found globally in bushy areas and their effects are the same for all patients. We can avoid Lyme disease by staying away from tick-infested areas. If this is not possible for whatever reason, outdoor enthusiasts should wear long pants tucked into their socks and a long-sleeved shirt tucked into their pants. In the event a tick bites you, it should be removed carefully without delay by inserting tweezers between the tick and the skin and lifting gently. Normally such tricks will have to be attached to the skin for at least 48 hours to transmit disease. When neurologic symptoms occur, they are probably triggered by the direct action of the bacterium and an immunologic reaction. People who live with Lyme disease face a daily battle marked by fatigue and pain. Ordinary tasks can become challenging and stressful leading some individuals resulting to self-medication with drugs and alcohol which are very addictive.

Lyme disease obstructions of health and wellness: Symptoms of Lyme disease

First recognized in 1975 when a group of children living near Lyme, Connecticut became ill with arthritis, Lyme disease has spread to nearly all 50 states and affects approximately 16,000 individuals each year. Within a few days to several weeks after being bitten by an infected tick, 80% of people develop a red, circular rash around the bite according to experts at the Mayo Clinic. The center of the rash may clear as it grows giving the appearance of a bull’s-eye pattern. The rash may feel warm, but it is usually not painful or itchy. Other symptoms in the early stage of Lyme disease may include the following:

  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Joint pain
  • Muscle aches
  • Headaches
  • Stiff necks
  • Swollen lymph nodes

Later stages of Lyme disease can become very serious resulting in debilitating and chronic symptoms including:

  • Arthritis in the arms and legs
  • Memory loss
  • Numbness in hands, arms, legs, and feet

Lyme disease is usually treated with antibiotics taken for three to four weeks. Antibiotics are usually taken by mouth, but in severe or advanced cases of Lyme disease, they may be given by injection. If treatment begins at the early stage of the disease, a complete cure is likely and any delay, recovery may take longer and symptoms may last for months or even years which is why seeking professional redress with doctor Dalal Akoury is very important for you.

Lyme disease obstructions of health and wellness: Addiction and Lyme disease

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Fibromyalgia and NAD Treatment

January 28, 2015

Fibromyalgia and NAD Treatment

There is often a thin line between chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. The two conditions exhibit almost the same symptoms. Many are the times when patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome have been diagnosed and treated for fibromyalgia.

So what is fibromyalgia? It is a health disorder that is often characterized by intense and widespread pain in the muscles. These pains are accompanied by other symptoms like increased fatigue, insomnia, mood swings and impaired memory and concentration levels. Studies show that the intense pains in patients with fibromyalgia is as a result of manipulation of the way pain signals are processed by the brain.

The symptoms of this disorder begin to manifest themselves after an individual has undergone a major stressful situation, physical trauma, infection or surgery. In some other cases the symptoms will continue building up over a period of time.

Contrary to many beliefs that fibromyalgia is a disease of the old folks, the condition can affect anybody from the young to the old. However, women are more at risk of developing the disease as compared to men. This is probably because women are more exposed to psychological stress than men.

Fibromyalgia

Most people who are diagnosed with the disease suffer from conditions such as temporomandibular joint disorders, anxiety, irritable bowel movements, headaches as well as depression. While fibromyalgia remains without a cure, the patients are given medications which aim at controlling the symptoms. Also some physiological measures such as relaxation, exercises and reducing the amount of stress you are exposed to also help ease the situation.

NAD Treatment for Fibromyalgia

Some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia are like those of chronic fatigue syndrome. NAD treatment is one that is used on patients suffering from this condition.

Basically we all need energy to survive. Every process in our bodies relies on energy and that is what keeps us healthy from circulation, breathing to even digestion. The mitochondria are responsible for generation of energy used by cells to perform their functions. Without this energy we are prone to diseases and medical conditions like chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) refers to a molecule whose function is to react with the oxygen found in the mitochondria. This reaction creates energy that is used by the cells to help you in breathing, movement, food digestion, blood pumping and thinking.  In short, this energy is what enables to live your life as it is.

Studies show that lack of this molecule is what causes chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, anxiety, depression, weakening of the immune system, impaired memory and decline in concentration levels, sleeping problems, muscle aches and weakness and even drug and alcohol addictions. Deficiency in this molecule is a cellular disease epidemic that may go undetected.

How Does NAD Works?

NAD is basically and active form of vitamin B3. NAD is converted into a co-enzyme that binds with hydrogen to become NADH. Hydrogen combines with oxygen in the body to generate energy. Naturally when hydrogen and oxygen react in their liquid forms they generate energy like in the case of hot air balloons. This same reaction takes place in the body.

However due to the explosive power of hydrogen, during NAD treatment it must be carefully inserted into the NAD molecule so that it can generate energy for the body without causing harm to the patient. NAD in this case acts as the hydrogen carrier before it reacts with the oxygen to become NADH.

The process of converting NAD into NADH undergoes through a cycle called Citric Acid Cycle. The fats, carbohydrates and proteins that we eat in our diet provide the necessary chemicals that enter into the cycle. At this point the NAD molecule becomes loaded with the hydrogen which enters into the mitochondria generating a reaction with oxygen that ends up generating energy.

Fibromyalgia

The energy produced by this reaction in the mitochondria is in form of ATP and also a bit of water. The ATP is what is used by the body to assist in blood pumping, contraction of muscles and also the energy that is required by billions of cells in the body.

It is clear how important energy is for normal body function. The energy produced is utilized by body organs like the heart and brain. When there is a deficiency in the energy production the brain is the first organ that is affected. This leads to decline in concentration, memory problems and reduced attention.

If incase this shortage of energy lasts a bit longer, the brain is unable to produce neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline which are useful in maintain consciousness. We thereby start experiencing depression, anxiety, moods swings and lack of sleep.  It is afterwards that the muscles begin to ache and fatigue creeps in because processes like blood pumping have reduced.

At AwareMed we believe in health and wellness and genera body health. Dr. Dalal Akoury will provide more information about this topic and more. Just visit www.awaremednetwork.com today and she will answer any questions you may have about Fibromyalgia and other health conditions.

Fibromyalgia and NAD Treatment

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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

 

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Lyme disease And Addiction: Understanding The Connection

June 1, 2014

Lyme Disease- Introduction and History

lyme disease

Lyme disease alert

Lyme disease, by definition, is a bacterial infection that humans contract when they are bitten by an infected deer tick. It’s caused by a spirochete whose scientific name is Borrelia burgdorferi. In Europe, the disease may also be due to another bactreia, the Borrelia afzelli. The disease has in most cases been branded the “Great Imitator” due to the fact that its symptoms often confuse with those of several other diseases. An individual with the disease may be affected in the joints, heart, skin and the nervous system. Lyme disease is not contagious from one infected individual to a non-infected person as the infection is spread through infected deer ticks.

The infection develops in two phases. The first phase often identifies as a red spot that appears to be expanding at the spot where the bite occurred. The spot is often noticeable for between three and thirty (3-30) days. In some cases, flu-like symptoms for example, headaches, tiredness, joints and muscles pain are experienced.

If the infection goes untreated after the first phase, it may develop into a more serious and chronic type, months or years later. The chronic type, every so often described as chronic Lyme disease, may trigger symptoms identical to those of chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia.

Lyme disease surfaced in 1982 from a research done in Lyme, Connecticut, where the infection was first identified in some children as rheumatoid arthritis. With time, it was revealed that deer ticks are the carriers of the Lyme bacterium that caused the disease. The ticks acts as vectors which transmit the disease whenever they bite humans. In discussing Lyme disease and addiction, we will try to identify the connection between these two conditions and see how Lyme disease has a possibility of driving one into addiction.

As you already understand that Lyme disease is a bacterial infection, its link to addiction probably comes in how the disease is treated through administration of antibiotics. It’s now evident through research that antibiotics overdose or abuse may lead into addiction. But first, let’s discuss the symptoms of Lyme disease and its treatment.

Symptoms of Lyme disease And the Connection to a Possible Addiction

Lyme disease affects different body parts as it develops. First, the bacteria enters the skin and body at the point where the tick bite occurred. This point becomes reddish with time, and as the bacteria moves away from the bite, it leaves an expanding reddish rush which resembles “flu-like” symptoms.

The disease is medically assessed and described in three identified phases:

  • Early localized disease with skin inflammation
  • Early disseminated disease with heart & nervous system involvement, and sometimes incudes palsies and meningitis
  • Late disease which features motor and sensory nerve damage, brain inflammation as well as arthritis.

Early in the first phases of the illness, say after days to weeks of the bite, a rush develops on the skin around the area of the bite. Sometimes and in a few victims, a special ring called the erythema migrans, develops and resembles a bull’s eye in a dart board. In some, the rash goes unidentified. As the skin becomes red, there may be accompanying symptoms like muscle and joint stiffness, generalized fatigue, swollen lymph nodes and a headache, all of which may be confused to a viral infection.

The redness may disappear in about a month even without any treatment and the effects of the bacteria spreads in the body, causing abnormalities in the nervous system, heart and joints.

In the later stages, severe symptoms are witnessed and may include:

  • Inflammation of the heart muscle leading to abnormal heart rhythms and heart failure
  • Nervous system develops facial muscle paralysis (Bell’s palsy)
  • Abnormal sensation due to disease of peripheral nerves (peripheral neuropathy)
  • Meningitis
  • Confusion
  • Arthritis, or inflammation in the joints

Researchers have realized that anxiety and depression are also common with people experiencing increased rate of Lyme disease. This makes this condition a possible addiction source as these two conditions are similar to those of withdrawals.

The link between Lyme disease treatment and addiction

Lyme Disease

An infected Human Hand

The treatment of Lyme disease demands the use of antibiotics to fight the bacterial infection. Also, some of the symptoms of Lyme disease sometimes include swollen glands of lymph nodes which are very painful. As such, administration of pain relievers might be necessary. With the fact that narcotic pain relievers are the best, their use will be encouraged in such situations. Most of these drugs are addictive.

As Lyme disease mimics several other diseases’ symptoms, it’s commonly misdiagnosed in its chronic state for other diseases and as a result, wrong antibiotics given. The effect of this is that wrong antibiotics are introduced into the body which creates antibodies for the antibiotics. As a result, there is a possibility of resistance to antibiotics developing. Another factor in this perspective is the fact that most antibiotics are administered to treat infections that are rather viral than bacterial.

In treating Lyme disease, the administration of antibiotics depends on the level or stage of the infection. If strong antibiotics are used in the early stages where any mild antibiotic would get rid of the infections, the possibility of resistance to antibiotics increases.

Whenever there is resistance to antibiotics, there is a likelihood of overuse or abuse (excess drug intake) to treat the condition as the effect of the drug diminishes. The body begins to tolerate the effects and thus demands for more or stronger pills (which is one way in which addiction develops).

Finally….

Addiction is a serious condition that threatens life if left untreated. As such any condition that may force one into the path of addiction, irrespective of the form of addiction, is fatal and should be minimized in all ways possible. As such and with the fact that Lyme disease is likely to be confused with other diseases, there is a pressing need to consult only trained and well experienced professional doctors, like Dr. Dalal Akoury of Awaremed. With her vast experience in the medical practice, she has the right mix of skills, knowledge and experience to offer the right treatment for Lyme disease and addiction.

Be it that you’re a physician or a patient in need of a life transforming addiction treatment, Dr. Dalal Akoury provides training and treatment in all aspects of addiction- the genetics and epigenetics of addiction. She’s an expert in all addiction treatments, including NAD and NADH treatment for addiction. Get in touch for her life-changing treatments and training.

Lyme Disease- Introduction and History

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