Addiction and Cancer Development

December 14, 2014

Addiction and Cancer Development

Cancer is a disease that has caused pain to many families and the whole world today is living in fear of this disease. The disease is not easy cured though not incurable. However the cost of curing this disease has made it a death sentence to many people especially in the 3^rd world countries where it has continued to rob people of their loved ones due to high bills that can never be afforded. The disease is synonymous to pain and this has made it the most dreaded disease. The fact that it can’t be easily treated therefore leaves us with one better option which is to avoid it all costs. Prevention is the best option when dealing with cancer. When it comes to avoiding cancer then whatever goes through your mouth becomes a concern, you need to eat healthy food and desist from anything that may beckon tumor growth and this include avoiding use of drugs that may eventually cause cancer. Addiction has very many health risks cancer development included. It is a known fact that smoking causes cancer and anybody addicted to tobacco has higher chances of developing cancer. However there are other drugs that when a person is addicted to then he comes closer to cancer.

Cigarette addiction and cancer

Apart from nicotine which is a highly addictive substance, cigarettes contains a cocktail of about 5000 chemicals that are not very safe for health. Taking it once may not be so dangerous but with the high nicotine content you are bound to get addicted exposing yourself to harmful chemicals. Other chemicals, including nitrosamines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, are formed when the tobacco leaves are processed or burnt. This is all before the tobacco industry adds the hundreds of other chemicals to cigarettes. This is why there is no safe way to use tobacco.

When you smoke the chemicals in cigarettes get into your body causing myriad of problems including cancer. The main way that smoking causes cancer is by damaging the DNA and altering the functioning of key genes that protect our bodies against cancer. Many of the chemicals found in cigarettes have been shown to cause DNA damage. These chemicals includes; benzene, polonium-210, benzo, pyrene and nitrosamines. Cigarettes also contain chromium which makes poisons like benzo and pyrene which stick even stronger to the DNA causing more harm. And chemicals like arsenic and nickel interfere with pathways for repairing damaged DNA. This makes it even more likely that damaged cells will eventually turn cancerous. Therefore to evade cancer you should try to avoid cigarettes addiction.

Cancer development takes time

Smoking cigarettes causes cancer but that does not mean that when you smoke it once you will be cancerous, at the same time it does not mean that if you have been smoking cigarettes for a year and you are still cancer free then you can’t ever get cancer through smoking. Cancer is a multi-step disease-it grows over a long time; it may even take a decade for smoking to cause cancer. This is because naturally our bodies are designed to deal with a bit of damage but it’s hard for the body to cope with the number of harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke. Over time DNA damage builds up and makes it more and more likely that our cells will become cancerous. It is therefore necessary for a beginner to stop smiling before he becomes addicted as that will increase his chances of getting cancer.

Addiction

Alcohol addiction and cancer

Alcohol consumption is common among people of different ages despite the many risks that it poses to a person’s health. Alcohol addiction has been linked to cancer though researchers are yet to understand how it directly beckons cancer. Here are some of the ways alcohol addiction is thought to cause cancer. Firstly, when alcohol is taken it is converted into a very harmful chemical known as acetaldehyde. This chemical can cause cancer by damaging DNA and stopping our cells from repairing this damage. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified acetaldehyde formed as a result of drinking alcohol as being a cause of cancer. Acetaldehyde also causes liver cells to grow faster than normal. These regenerating cells are more likely to pick up changes in their genes that could lead to cancer.

Alcohol also affects the delicate balance between estrogen and testosterone hormones. When the levels of estrogen hormone become then the risk of breast cancer is increased. Alcohol can cause cancers through many ways and therefore it is necessary to avoid alcohol addiction as that may favor cancer development.

Alcoholism is a vice that should be fought by all means that is why we at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are committed to availing help to addicts and offering them a place to call home. We offer NER Treatment and Amino acid therapy that are the most effective approaches to addiction treatment and recovery. You call on Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) today and begin your journey to victory against addiction.

Addiction and Cancer Development

Obstacles of quitting Smoking

August 6, 2014

Obstacles of quitting Smoking – Things Not to do when helping a smoker to quit

there are so many obstacles for quitting smoking. it should be our collective responsibility to put this problem to manageable levels.

I believe that you are not hearing for the fast time the dangers of smoking cigarettes or any other drug. The human body has no association with smoke emanating from cigarettes and in fact it is not just the smokers who are at risk of contracting smoking related health condition but research has established that even the secondary smokers find themselves with all the smoking related health complication just in the same way as full addicts. How then do we help our people who have subjected their lives in to drug addiction and in this case we are looking into smocking.

Obstacles of quitting Smoking – Helping smokers quit

It may not concern you that your friend is smoking and you’re not, you may hate to be near smokers because of the strong smell emanating from them due to the substances they smoke. This attitude may be justified due to secondary infections however this is not the best way to go about it. This should be a concern of everyone you and I included. We must do all we can to encourage smokers to stop and quit this habit completely.

The benefits of having a smoking free society is healthy for everyone and we must be persuaded to collective and individually do what we can. Therefore for you to be of help to your smoking loved one or any other person quit their habit, it is very important that you get to know what applications will work and those that may not work. This piece of information is very necessary as it will help you face the smoking obstacles when you finally begin the journey of being an instrument of bringing change in our smoking society and so if you have tried all you can to influence your target from smoking or this will has just crossed your mind and you are considering giving it a try, you must ensure that you take all the precautionary measures so that you do not end up falling prey to the effects of smoking as a result of secondary smoking. Your target is to win the mind of your friend into seeing the benefits of quitting smoking. Smoking causes serious damage to almost every single organ in the human body, so it can’t be good not now or ever. It may interest you to know that much as you may hate smoking those whom you’re trying to encourage to quit smoking may not share the same opinion with you and they may be doing the exact opposite which is loving what they do (smoking).

Obstacles of quitting Smoking – Hazardous Nicotine

Nicotine and all the associated habits that come along with smoking like holding, inhaling and reaching for cigarettes throughout the day are physically and emotionally addictive to smokers. Research has established that smoking is a killer the world over. Many people are losing their lives because of smoking and the statistics is worrying. In US for example about 393,000 lives are lost annually from smoking related illness. This is therefore a motivation for you and I to ensure that this figures come down by changing our attitude towards those who smoke, we must desire to love them and not hate them even if we hate their actions. It cost you nothing trying to bring help a smoker quit their habits and so if you haven’t been able to get that smoker in your life to quit, it’s important to keep trying again and again, even if you become a bother to them persist on you may become bad in their site but don’t let this discourage you because there is great benefit when you finally win and they quit entirely.

Obstacles of quitting Smoking – What not to do in helping a smoker quit

Love is a very powerful element is unlocking this smoking problem. It’s said that love and kindness is the language that the blind can see and the deaf can hear. Loving someone who’s tried repeatedly to quit but failed each time they try is very important. These people need to be cared for and letting them know that someone is there for them despite their struggle with smoking will encourage them not to give up. Words of encouragements are very necessary and you must avoid negative remarks like “I give up! You’re never going to quit!” these are very weighty statements and can impact negatively to the smoker they may wonder whether quitting smoking is possible or worth the effort they are putting. Nonetheless words of encouragement like “I’m not giving up on you and will be with you on this journey to the end of it” are useful statements which will remain in their minds for a long time and positively influences your loved one’s decision to stay the course.

Giving up on methods that aren’t working is a good idea, though. With smoking, it may be the “same approach, different day” or even “different day, different approach,” because it’s hard to know when something just might click and connect with a smoker’s desire to quit. It is therefore important that you keep trying and showing concern while you figure out what definitely isn’t working or what’s driving them to smoke more. Doing this on your own may be overwhelming at times and so you may need the guidance of a professional from time to time. At AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center you will meet addiction professionals who will help you in your effort of quitting smoking in the most natural way. This facility was founded by Doctor Dalal Akoury who has been in this line of treatment for over the last two decades making her to be very experience to handle your smoking problems in a much more dignified way. While at this facility, doctor Akoury together with her team of experts will work round the clock to ensure that your smoking problem is no more. They will attend to you in many ways among them will be by focusing on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE and your life will never be the same again.

Obstacles of quitting Smoking – Things Not to do when helping a smoker to quit

Tobacco Addiction: Helping Your Patient from “I do” to “I don’t”

July 23, 2014

What’s New In Tobacco Addiction

Tobacco addiction Tobacco is not only a highly addictive substance but also one of killer drug substances. It is though one of the most widely abused substance in the world to date. Tobacco is one of drugs of the kind that makes the users keep saying “if I wanted today I can quit smoking this thing” but the truth is that quitting smoking tobacco naturally is not that easy. Nicotine which is a compound found in the tobacco is the chemical responsible for this addiction. This chemical causes a rush of adrenaline when absorbed into the bloodstreams or when inhaled through cigarette’s smoke. This chemical also initiates an increase in dopamine, nicknamed as “brain’s happy” chemical. This chemical consequently stimulates the brain areas which are normally associated with pleasure and reward. Just like with any other drug, the prolonged usage of tobacco can cause a physical and psychological addiction. This is not only applicable for smoky tobacco but also the case with the smokeless tobacco such as snuff and chewing ones.

What Are The Symptoms Of Addiction From Tobacco?

Unlike the addicts from the other forms of drugs, addiction from tobacco is very easy to spot. This is because tobacco is legal in many countries in the world. This factor makes it readily available and hence easy to acquire and can be consumed even in public. The smell of the tobacco makes it impossible for the addicts/ user to hide. It is very distinct from the other smells and it follows the smokers everywhere they go.

Some users of tobacco do not do it regularly, but for the addicts it has to be regular. How then do we notice an addicted person?

The person cannot stop smoking or chewing despite many attempts to stop. The person will continue to take the drug even though it has a negative effect to his body.
After every meal, the person must smoke or chew or after long time of not taking it. The addicted person will always want to take the drug and therefore after taking time without taking the drug e.g. while eating, after the activity the person will be seen smoking.
If the person attempts to quit taking tobacco, there will be withdrawal symptoms such as shaking hands, sweating, rise in heart beat or even irritation.
The person seems not to be at ease when he/ she has not smoked, and for the person to feel comfortable especially when the person is stressed must take tobacco.
The person will always attempt to dodge activities which are to take place which tobacco use in not allowed.
Another way of noticing a tobacco addict is that, the person will continue to take tobacco even when it causes him/her health problems.
The person will depict intense craving for tobacco and can afford to lose anything to get tobacco. If such a person doesn’t have money to purchase the tobacco substance can end up in pretty crimes seeking money to buy tobacco.

Can Tobacco Addiction Be Treated?

Addiction from tobacco can sometimes prove difficult to manage, despite a wide range of treatment methods available for the treatment of tobacco addiction. The main problem here becomes the relapse, which is mainly caused by craving the ritual of smoking. The process of recovery from this kind of addiction is never smooth, and unless the addict is devoted, relapse will be most likely.

Let’s look at some of the methods through which tobacco addiction can be treated:-

The patch

This method of treatment of tobacco addiction is also known as a nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). It uses the principle of gradual transition from drugs, by ensuring that the addict doesn’t withdraw from the drugs abruptly but slowly. It therefore gives the addict a small level of nicotine to wean the body gradually.

Tobacco Addiction

The nicotine Gum

This is another form of NRT, which helps the addicts which have a habit of chewing and thus a need for oral fixation. The gum which is given to the recovering addict supplies a low level nicotine to ensure gradual transition of the addict from tobacco.

Inhalers and spray

This is another form of NRT also and involves supplying low level nicotine through spraying the nicotine sprays into the nose of the addict which is then inhaled to the lungs.

Medication

The other way of treating tobacco addiction is by the medical way. These are medications which are given by doctors once the addict visits health centers. Certain antidepressants or high blood pressure drugs are known to help in the treatment of addiction.

Therapeutic treatments

This involves use of psychological and behavioral treatment techniques. This involves activities which try to change the addict’s way in which they think about addiction and working to alter the feelings or behaviors the brain associates with tobacco use.

Despite having all these options in the treatment of tobacco addiction, it is important to note that some options will work well for some people and not to the others. It is therefore important to discuss the treatment method you choose with your doctor and keep in touch with the doctor to be able to track your progress and determine the progress.

Tobacco Addiction: Helping Your Patient from “I do” to “I don’t”

Lung Cancer

July 18, 2014

Lung Cancer – Your Risk factors

Lung cancer treatment start with quitting smoking because smoking contributes to 85% of all reported lung cancer problems

I know that at the mere mention of the name cancer when the doctor is examining your health condition you are likely to frown even if the doctor was not referring to your case. This is because cancer is a disease that scares people both the sick and the other family. When a member of the family is down with cancer everybody is concern. Many will wonder that if cancer is in the family and it is hereditary who is going to be the next victim or casualty? These concerns are justified and therefore it is only important that we do all we can to reduce the risk factors as much as we can. What can be avoided should and must be avoided so that we do not find ourselves in this state of panic. A risk factor for lung cancer is anything capable of increasing ones chances of getting lung cancer. It is important on the onset to understand that having one or more of the risk factors is not a conclusion that one is definitely going to contract lung cancer it is not always the case. There are just indications of risks and not finality, as a matter of fact one may portray a number of these factors but is still free from cancer while one who did not have any of the risk factors end up being diagnosed with lung cancer. I am put a lot of emphasis on this so that you are not scared in anyway.

Lung Cancer – Smoking

Cigarette smoking is one of the major risk factors of lung cancer and allow me to repeat once more that it is not automatic that if you are smoking then you will definitely get lung cancer no, you only have higher risk but not definite. Back to the discussion, as a risk factor it is estimated that out of a total of 100, 85 lung cancers are directly related to cigarette smoking be it cigars or pipe smoking all increases ones risk for lung cancer. As a smoker it is important that you are aware of the dangers of smoking because your risk of getting lung cancer increases depending on the quantity and the duration of smoking.

Quitting smoking however lowers your risk for getting cancer the good news about all this is that your risk will go down even if you partially stop for example if you are used to smoking one packet of 40 sticks of cigarette daily and you reduce it by half this reduction will go a long way in reducing your risk of getting lung cancer. Even though there will be reduction even on partial quitting it will be much better if you quit completely.

The risk associated to cigarette smoking is also extended to secondhand smokers. That is to say people who do not smoke at all but stays around smokers. Because of the nicotine emanating from the smoke of cigarette burns, if these are inhaled by these none smokers then they are equally in danger of contracting lung cancer as a result of this simple action.

Lung Cancer – Other risks

It is not all about cigarette smoking that increases the risk factors of lung cancers, we have other risks as well. The exposure to some addictive substances may increase your risk for lung cancer and such substances may include:

Marijuana – This is a very powerful substance whose effect is very significant. Smoking just one marijuana cigarette, or a joint, has the capability of affecting the lungs to the tune of smoking a whole pack of cigarettes.
Certain chemicals – These include arsenic and asbestos they are equally able to increase the risk.
Radiation – This come a result of exposures from your work place, medical tests, or from the environment (such as radioactive dust).
Radon gas – This includes exposure from your home or work place.
Air pollution – Living where the air is polluted can increase your risk for lung cancer due to the inhalation of contaminated oxygen.

Risk of lung cancer may also come due to changes in gene mutations. These gene changes often occur as one approaches old age. As precautionary measure it is important to seek for medical attention immediately if you:

Experience unexpected onset of chest pain which is characterized by crushing or squeezing and is progressing in intensity, or appears with symptoms associated to heart attack like shortness of breath and nausea.
Experiencing sudden difficulty in breathing.
If you are coughing up a lot of blood (not just streaks of blood or a small amount of blood mixed with a lot of mucus) from your lungs.
Have been vomiting and feeling that you are likely to pass out when you sit up or stand for some time.

As mention earlier cancer is a very devastating illness and it will be advisable that you are always in constant touch with your doctor to find out when an evaluation is needed resulting from your health experiences like if you:

Have new chest pain (more than just discomfort when you cough) that lasts a long time and deteriorate when you take a deep breathe.
Develop symptoms of pneumonia like shortness of breath, cough, and fever.
Have a cough that produces a small amount of bloody (bright red or rust-colored) mucus.
Frequently cough up yellow or green mucus from your lungs (not postnasal drainage) for longer than 2 days.
Vomit regularly when coughing.
Have a prolonged cough that goes for four weeks or even more.
When you breathe normally when you resting but lucks breathe after undertaking on a physical activity.
Experience increasing fatigue for no good reason.
Have suddenly begun losing weight.

Finally it is very costly treating cancer than preventing it. We have discussed some of the risk factors involved with smoking taking being the key in relation to lung cancer. We have a duty to defend our self and our loved ones from the frustration of lung cancer by ensuring that what we can prevent in prevented. Drug addictions of any kind must be treated soonest and to do this experts and only known experts must be engaged at all levels. At AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center a facility founded by Doctor Akoury to help people addicted to various substances get solutions to their addiction. She has been in administering addiction treatment to patient around the globe in a very special and unique way that leave patients well and sound in record time. I encourage you to visit this facility and doctor Akoury together with her team of experts will ensure total focus on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE. Your well-being is our priority and your decision to visiting us is the best for it will give you your life back and reduce and possibly eliminate your risk of lung cancer.

Lung Cancer – Your Risk factors

Smoking and Heart Disease

July 18, 2014

Smoking and Heart Disease – Drug Addiction

Smoking causes heart disease and the solution is to quit smoking it is fatal

Those who are addicted to cigarette smoking may not know that they are smoking their life out of their system. They are also not aware that by sticking to this habit of smoking they have deliberately chosen the first lane leading them to their early grave. I will make effort in this article to state things as they really are because it is more helpful to know the whole truth as they are. The objective is not to scare you in anyway but to give you the clear picture of what cigarette smoking can do to you and the people around you. Because there is no safe smoking I will put it that by choosing the highway of smoking you are quietly committing suicide you may not agree with that but if the end result is that fatal then you are truly on that high speed locomotive of death. Throughout this article we will be interrogating the human heart one of the most vital organs in the body and how smoking affects its functions.

It is true that many people link cigarette smoking with respiratory problems and lung cancer which is just one of the many negatives of smoking but what many do not know is that smoking is also a major cause of heart disease to both genders. It is estimated that about twenty percent of deaths reported in the U.S are related to heart diseases explaining the reason why smoking is a major cause of heart attack.

Heart (attack) Disease

Heart attack has it characteristics. The risks of those characteristics are significantly multiplied in the systems of smokers. For instance if you smoke on a daily basis one pack of cigarette your risk of heart attack will twice more than non-smokers. This is the general effects to all genders but specifically to smoking women and are using birth control pills, such individuals will have their risk of heart attack, blood clot, stroke and peripheral vascular disease significantly increased.

The dangers of smoking cigarette do not only affect smokers but also people around them. Even though the people around smokers may not be smoking in their own right they will develop health problems related to the environmental tobacco smoke also known as secondhand smoking or passive smoking. Children are the most affected as a result of passive smoking but generally secondhand smoking causes chronic respiratory conditions, heart disease and cancer. Research has established that about 35,000 passive smokers die annually from heart disease. Now reflecting on the highway of death you can now begin to appreciate that indulgence in cigarette smoking is for sure suicidal.

Smoking Increase Heart Disease Risk

The nicotine present in cigarettes is transported straight to the bloodstream and the result is:

Insufficient oxygen to the heart.
Undue blood pressure and heart rate.
Increase in blood clotting.
Mutilation to cells aligning coronary arteries and other blood vessels.

Benefits of Quitting Smoking to your Heart and Lifestyle

Now that you are appreciating how smoking is harmful to your health and those around you, the following are some of the benefits of quitting smoking:

Extend your lifetime significantly.
Decreases your risk of contracting disease (including heart disease, heart attack, high blood pressure, lung cancer, throat cancer, emphysema, ulcers, gum disease, and other conditions).
Feel healthier. After quitting, you won’t cough as much, you’ll have fewer sore throats, and you will increase your stamina.
Look better. Quitting can help you prevent face wrinkles, get rid of stained teeth, and improve your skin.
Improve your sense of taste and smell.
Save money.

How to Quit Smoking

Quitting smoking is not an easy task however the first step is to have that self-conviction that you want to quit smoking and not to be motivated by the desire to please your friends or family. You must in the process be ready to all rounds emotionally and mentally this will helps in planning for your recovery. To get started you may choose from the following guidelines:

Put down all your reasons for quitting in writing and read them daily before, in the process and after quitting. You may want to consider these tips:

Remember to write down when you smoke, why you smoke, and what you do when you smoking. This will help you know your triggers and avoid them.
Choose to stop smoking in certain situations (such as during your work break or after dinner) before actually quitting.
Create a list of activities you can do instead of smoking. Be ready to do something else when you want to smoke.
Ask your doctor about using nicotine gum or patches. Some people find these aids helpful. There are also drugs to help you quit smoking, such as Chantix and Wellbutrin.
Join a smoking cessation support group or program. Call your local chapter of the American Lung Association to find one.

How Will I Feel When I Quit Smoking?

When you stop smoking, you may crave cigarettes, be irritable, feel very hungry, cough often, get headaches, or have difficulty concentrating. These symptoms of withdrawal occur because your body is used to nicotine, the active addicting agent within cigarettes.

When withdrawal symptoms occur within the first two weeks after quitting, stay in control. Think about your reasons for quitting. Remind yourself that these are signs that your body is healing and getting used to being without cigarettes.

The withdrawal symptoms are only temporary. They are strongest when you first quit but will usually ease within 10 to 14 days. Remember that withdrawal symptoms are easier to treat than the major diseases that smoking can cause.

You may still have the desire to smoke, since there are many strong associations with smoking. People may associate smoking with specific situations, with a variety of emotions, or with certain people in their lives. The best way to overcome these associations is to experience them without smoking. If you relapse do not lose hope. Seventy-five percent of those who quit smoke again. Most smokers quit three times before they are successful. If you relapse, don’t give up! Plan ahead and think about what you will do next time you get the urge to smoke.

The good news is your risk of a heart attack is cut in half within two weeks of quitting smoking. After 15 smoke free years, your risk is similar to that of a person who has never smoked. Dear reader listen to the good news in this last paragraph isn’t it what you want? You will get it at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, an addiction facility founded by Doctor Akoury who has a passion in helping addicts recover from their addiction irrespective of the magnitude. Doctor Akoury together with her team of experts of several decades will focus on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE. What an opportunity the ball of good health is in your coat.

Smoking and Heart Disease – Drug Addiction

Tag Archives: Smoking cessation