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Eating Disorders and Poly-Behavioral Addiiction

October 23, 2014

Pathological Eating Disorders and Poly-Behavioral Addiction

eating disordersEvery living thing depends on food for survival. Without eating not only will a person be weak and unable to perform optimally but he will   die because there will be deficiency in the nutrients that the body needs to continue performing optimally. Feeding is a vital part of every living thing since foods also help in protecting the body against disease causing pathogens. Certain foods are very good at immune building and so through feeding the body is nourished and protected.

However there are also eating disorders that may cause you more harm than benefits. To begin with let’s define what pathological eating disorders are and possibly get some examples of the most common pathological eating disorders.

Eating disorders are illnesses that are caused by abnormal eating. In most cases it has to do with the amount of food taken by an individual. When a [person takes to little food that is insufficient to the needs of the body he will suffer consequences that over a time may become a full blown eating disorder. Eating too much food will also result in certain eating disorders. Eating disorders harms not only the physical health but also the mental health and therefore any eating disorder must be attended to curb its severe effects. Examples of eating disorders include:

Bulimia nervosa– it is normal to turn to food when feeling hungry, lonely, bored, or stressed. However with bulimia, overeating is more like a compulsion and a person feels out of control. When a person suffers from this eating disorder he will not eat merely to get satisfied but he will punish himself by purging, fasting, or exercising to get rid of the calories. The danger of purging and binging is that it affects the body and the emotional well-being of an individual. A person suffering from bulimia will need treatment so as to be able to overcome the feelings of shame, guilt and anxiety by developing good relationship with food.

A person struggling with bulimia is constantly in conflict with himself as he homes the battle between the desire to lose weight and the uncontrollable compulsion to binge food. After eating a person will engage in any act that will undo overeating by running or inducing vomiting. This is the major cause anxiety in those struggling with this eating disorder.

 

Anorexia nervosa

It is normal to have a desire to put your weight under control. People especially ladies have the need to have lean bodies. However in some instances the need to control your weight may interfere with your eating habit. You will begin to restrict eating some foods and this may become habitual. You may restrict food to a point of starvation all in the need to lose weight and gain that lean body. This results in an eating disorder known as anorexia nervosa. A person suffering from this eating disorder has his thoughts dominated by the urge to lose weight and this may become an obsession.

This eating disorder is very dangerous as it affects all the facets of your life. You will not even know who you really are and that is a major cause of torment in anybody. A person who suffers from this eating disorder is constantly in fear of gaining weight as they believe it will interfere with their outlook. Mealtimes are always very stressful to those who are suffering from anorexia as what they always think about is what to limit so as to keep them lean.

Today pathological eating disorders and their related diseases have become a major health concern worldwide. Many people are suffering from these pathological eating disorders than malnutrition. In fact some experts have purported that obesity which is a disease related to eating disorders has become the major health problem in the world replacing heart disease and cancer.

This thought is echoed by the World Health Organization which in June, 2005 stated that “obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally, with more than 1 billion adults overweight – at least 300 million of them clinically obese – and is a major contributor to the global burden of chronic disease and disability. Often coexisting in developing countries with under-nutrition, obesity is a complex condition, with serious social and psychological dimensions, affecting virtually all ages and socioeconomic groups.”

eating disordersAnother body that has shown concern on the contribution of pathological eating disorders in poor health in people is the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which in June, 2005 reported that “during the past 20 years, obesity among adults has risen significantly in the United States. This claim was backed up by the latest data from the National Center for Health Statistics which showed that 30 percent of U.S. adults 20 years of age and older – over 60 million people are obese. The pathological eating disorders and their consequential diseases do not affect the adults only but affect people of all ages. Today the percentage of young people who are overweight has more than tripled since 1980.

Poly-behavioral addiction would be described as a state of periodic or chronic physical, mental, emotional, cultural, sexual and/ or spiritual/ religious intoxication. Pathological eating disorders are valid cause of poly-behavioral addiction just like any other substance of abuse. Therefore a person suffering from any form of eating disorders should seek help before it results into a bigger problem like obesity and other related diseases.

Here at AWAREmed we are dedicated to avail help to all those who may be suffering from pathological eating disorders. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) is an expert in integrative treatment and will be willing as always to avail help to all those in need.

Pathological Eating Disorders and Poly-Behavioral Addiction

 

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Triggers and Addiction Recovery

October 22, 2014

Tips for Managing Triggers during Addiction Recovery

TriggerOvercoming addiction is one of the resolutions that addicts have every New Year but then fail to accomplish and live by. Not once I have heard of political fanatics speak of their favorite candidates and the things they will when their preferred candidates win. One of the major promises that most people make is to stop using drugs of abuse and stay free from these drugs but that just remains there or at least they try but they fail again and again. Overcoming addiction has since remained to be one of the hardest goals to achieve especially if you think of going through it all alone without seeking professional advice. In reality it is close to impossible overcoming an addiction without seeking professional help. However getting professional help does not mean that somebody else is now doing it in your place, no. you are the person that has the sole responsibility of overcoming addiction and without your commitment all the resources; time and money spent in taking you through the addiction recovery program will be a waste. But still with your commitment it is good to note that most people fail to go through the addiction recovery to its end because of the triggers that they may encounter in their environment and that is why most doctors will prefer an addict be attended to in a rehab where such triggers are not present. In some cases a person who has gone through the drug addiction recovery successfully may be overwhelmed by the triggers in his environments until he gives in and go back right into the mess. Therefore it is really important to know situations where you might encounter triggers and avoid them but if you can’t avoid them then you should learn how to cope with them.

What are Triggers?

In layman terms, when we talk of triggers in relation to addiction recovery, we refer to those factors in your environment that may lure you back to your past habit of using drugs of abuse. The triggers may include spots in your environment which brings you memories of your drug abuse habit. It may be an event especially where you will meet people who you used to share drugs with but are still using them.

This therefore means that even after completing treatment for alcohol and other addictive substances is not yet a won fight. There is still much to fight with while you are out of the rehab and it will take much more than mere commitment to abstain from alcohol and the drugs. You will encounter cravings for your drug of choice, and for any escape, an opportunity to numb out, and perhaps, sometimes, an overall desire to not feel what you are feeling. The bigger question is what will you do when you encounter these triggers that maybe in the form of events and people?

Here are some of the few tips that could save you from falling for your drugs of choice when cravings persist.

Know your triggers– just like people begin using drugs for different reasons, addicts have different triggers. Your trigger may be as a result of an unhealthy conversation that you got into with a person and has left you depressed. Another person’s trigger maybe his past photos while another person’s trigger maybe to see someone drunk.

Prepare yourself psychologically to counter your triggers– it would be a fallacy to assume that your triggers will just disappear in thin air. Instead prepare yourself to deal with your triggers. Appreciate that triggers are part and parcel of addiction recovery and equip yourself to deal with it.

Put in practice how you would overcome before it comes– try to lay strategies to deal with the triggers you have identified before you encounter them. You may role play with yourself in trying to find the most effective strategies to help you overcome.

Adopt a healthy lifestyle– eat well and have a good sleep. Without good sleep and good nutrition you r body will be deprived of rest and vital nutritional components making it hard for you to overcome the triggers. You should also avoid being lonely as loneliness may make you slip into your past habit in search of company. The major problem is in the H.A.L.T meaning hungry, angry, lonely and tired. By eating well and having good sleep you will be free from hunger and tiredness. As for lonely and anger you need help of family and friends to help you cope.

TriggersDo not test yourself– this is even well written in the bible (don’t ask about the verse) who is unto him who sees temptation ahead but continues to commit it. If you know your triggers do not try to test yourself. If you know your triggers are your past photos holding a bottle of beer, burning the photos will be worth it. If you know passing by a certain bar will trigger you then avoid that route. This way you will be able to avoid the temptation and keep yourself far from drugs of abuse.

These are some of the tips that you could employ to help deal with triggers. Like I said triggers are part of addiction recovery and it is therefore necessary that you prepare yourself psychological, practice how you would overcome your triggers of course after knowing them and adopt a healthy lifestyle that will enable you to overcome your triggers during addiction recovery. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is dedicated in helping all addicts. Visit her at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for help.

Tips for Managing Triggers during Addiction Recovery

 

 

 

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Ebola Virus In America: Should We Be Worried?

October 19, 2014

Ebola Virus In The U.S.A.

How It All Started

The story of the Ebola outbreak started from West Africa. Reports about its occurrence and huge number of causalities who were succumbing to it started surfacing soon after and reached the international media. Things reached their crescendo when reports of the havoc that the disease was wrecking primarily in West Africa and the speed with which it was spreading captured global attention.

Currently, Ebola outbreak is a global phenomenon, with fears that the spread of the disease is akin to that of HIV during its early days back in the 80s.

Primarily, the disease has affected three West African countries, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia. However, reports that the disease is actually spreading across the world have sparked concerted international efforts to battle its possible spread and direct effects. The manner in which the disease spreads has put air travel operations across the world in the limelight as different governments seek to protect their citizens against possible exposure to the disease.

Ebola

Warning Ebola

 

How the USA is Prepared

The government of the United States is completely prepared to tackle any incidence of the disease in the country. This is according to the statements made by public health officials in response to growing fears that the government may not be doing enough to protect the country against a possible occurrence of the disease.

There are several ways in which the government is prepared for a possible outbreak of Ebola, although this is an event whose occurrence is highly unlikely. For instance, the government has the capacity to detect a single case of Ebola in the country. Since the basic principle of preventing a possible outbreak of the disease in the country is having in place the right mechanism for early detection, isolation and treatment, the government can be said to be ready because it has the right mechanisms in place. The same can be said of many governments in the western part of the world.

Secondly, the ability to fully tackle a possible Ebola outbreak lies in the availability of effective treatments for the disease. Currently, the World Health Organization has authorized the use of an experimental form of a drug to treat Ebola patients. So far, the drug has proven to be an effective therapy against the disease, helping a number of patients on whom it has been used to fully recover from the grip of the disease. Furthermore, an experimental form of a vaccine against the disease is in the process of being tried out. If it is found effective, the vaccine will be an invaluable weapon in the fight against Ebola.

Preventive Measures Already Instituted

There are several preventive measures that have already been taken by the government in response to the Ebola scare. One of them is about screening passengers who are using air travel. Generally, the spread of Ebola occurs via air transport. This is what usually happens. An individual gets exposed to the disease-causing virus by accident. After exposure, the virus takes between 2 and 3 weeks before the first symptoms of fever appear, followed by massive hemorrhage through the openings of the body. During the incubation period, it is likely that the infected individual may travel out of the country in which the disease is present to a different one. If this happens, the person is likely to spread the disease to others.

This is why governments across the world are taking extraordinary measures to ensure that such a scenario does not occur. One way in which this is done is by screening passengers who are using air transport. Currently the government of the United States has instructed a number of airports to commence massive screening procedures for travelers who are coming in from Ebola-hit countries.

The Impact Of The Ebola So Far

So far, Ebola has killed well over 4,000 people in the world. According to the authorities, reported cases of infection of the disease are at about 8,000. This implies that the mortality rate of the disease is something to make individuals and governments across the world quite worried.

Another reason to worry about is that the mortality rate is set to rise with increasing deaths of individuals who had been affected before. This, therefore, calls for a concerted and well coordinated global response mechanism as a viable way of combating spread of the disease. Yet so far, the need for funding to combat the disease has not been fully met. This means that many of the initiatives that would have been put in place at the global scale have to wait. The impact of such delays in funding is greatly felt in countries that are heavily hit by the disease in West Africa.

Ebola

Ebola Symptoms

 

Already the disease has had significant impact on the social and economic factors of the said countries. With the death toll from the disease increasing, the social fabric that holds the society in the countries is greatly affected.

The situation in Europe and the United States is completely different. Regardless of the fears by members of the public, it is highly unlikely that countries in this part of the world can suffer from the direct impacts of the disease in such a manner. Already identified cases of the disease have been effectively tackled. However, news of the disease spreading so fast to different areas like Latin America is a strong enough reason for the government to step up its contingency plans and preventive measures.

Our goal at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center is to help you remain healthy at all times. We believe that health and wellness are primary needs of individuals that should be well taken care of. And for one to be healthy and well, information; timely information for that matter; is extremely important. That is why we take a keen interest in research studies on Ebola that are being carried out.

Ebola Virus In The US

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How Chemotherapy Contributes To The Need For Detoxification

October 15, 2014

Detoxifying Diet After Chemotherapy

What is detoxification?

detoxificationNaturally, the body functions by producing chemical compounds. The chemical compounds produced are as a result of the biochemical activities which take place at the cellular level. The result of the biochemical activities is that compounds which are required by the body are produced. In addition to this, some compounds which are not required by the body are produced as byproducts of the reactions. It is such biochemical compounds, which are usually toxic in nature, that require to be removed from the body through a process called detoxification. If not removed, the toxins tend to accumulate in the body, thus forming a good breeding ground for many other forms of diseases and illnesses.

Why is detoxification necessary?

Naturally, the body has its own detoxification mechanism. This happens principally through two organs: the liver and the kidney. The liver is able to purify blood of all manner of impurities and channel them out of the body through complex physiological processes. In the same manner, the kidneys are collect and dispose toxins from the body using appropriate mechanisms.

There are certain times when the natural detoxification process of the body is overwhelmed by the amount of toxins present. At such times, the body requires support for it to be able to remove all the accumulated waste products. A common scenario occurs when is undergoing chemotherapy, a form of cancer treatment that makes use of pharmacological drugs to kill the cancer cells.

How Chemotherapy Contributes To The Need For Detoxification

The chemical compounds that are used in the drugs present a serious problem to the body. Normally, after the compounds have performed their function of killing cancer cells in the body, it is up to the liver and the kidney to eliminate them. In most cases, the drugs are broken down and eliminated via the liver. However, in the course of treatment, the overload of chemical compounds that need to be broken down and eliminated makes the natural detoxification mechanism to be overstretched. This leads to a buildup of toxins in the body of a patient who has just undergone chemotherapy.

The buildup in toxins is manifested in different ways. For instance, one may complain of inexplicable fatigue, stomach and headache. In other cases the presence of toxins in the body may compromise the functioning of the immune system. This makes a patient quite vulnerable to a number of ailments. It is, therefore, necessary for one to detoxify the body immediately after undergoing chemotherapy.

How to eat right for your body during detoxification

detoxifying your bodyThe overall goal of detoxification after undergoing chemotherapy is to cleanse the body of all toxic products that are produced from the drugs used in the treatment. For this to be achieved, there are several things that need to be done in the course of the process. These are outlined as follows.

  • Preparing for detoxification

First, there is the need for a patient to be strong enough to go through the detoxification process successfully. Usually, detoxification is a long process that involves adopting specific eating habits, exercising and taking plenty of water. As such, a patient who has undergone chemotherapy is usually too weak to start the process immediately. Therefore, there is need for one to take time and build physical strength before starting the process. Strength can be easily built by doing light exercises and taking plenty of fluids to start with.

Second, water plays a very important role in the detoxification process. Even at times when your body is perfectly normal, you need water to help you remain healthy. Water not only helps your body function properly but also plays a leading role in removing waste products from it. Therefore, during detoxification after chemotherapy, one needs to increase the amount of water taken every day.

  • Fiber and detoxification

Third, one needs to increase the amount of fiber that is taken in the diet. Normally, fiber plays an important role in the process of digestion. A certain amount of fiber in the diet is necessary to make the process of digestion complete. When one has undergone chemotherapy, the presence of fiber in the diet is even more important. Therefore, one needs to increase its amount by eating whole fruits and vegetables in plenty. A good amount of fiber in the diet speeds up the elimination process of toxins from the body, thus helping one to recover from the effects of chemotherapy quite fast.

  • Use of antioxidants when detoxifying

Fourth, one needs to increase the intake of antioxidants. Usually, antioxidants are contained in vitamins A, B, C and E. when one eats fruits and vegetables as well as special supplements that contain these minerals; the detoxification process is dramatically sped up. Antioxidants have been known to help the body cells recover from the toxic effects of drugs that are used in chemotherapy. Therefore, by increasing the amount of food that contains antioxidants, one can speed up the detoxification process following chemotherapy. However, when buying such supplements, it is important to read the labels carefully before buying.

Dr. Dalal Akoury started AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Centre as a leading place for the treatment and management of cancer using alternative and complementary therapies. We use this approach when treating our cancer patients because we believe that is the best way of helping them overcome the toxic effects of conventional treatment methods such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This helps our patients attain overall wellness and health within the shortest time possible; a great achievement to us.

How Chemotherapy Contributes To The Need For Detoxification

 

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Ebola And IV Vitamin C

October 12, 2014

Characteristics of vitamin c

Vitamin C is one of the many different forms of minerals that are required by the human body for proper functioning. Since our bodies are not able to manufacture Vitamin C, we need to provide them with sufficient amounts of the mineral for their proper functioning.

Vitamin C has been known for its effect as a strong antioxidant. Although humans can get their required amounts of Vitamin C from a properly balanced diet, this is hardly enough. The body requires much higher levels of this mineral than what is provided for in an ordinary diet.

How Vitamin C Can Be Used To Enhance Ebola Treatment

Although this is still a theoretical issue that is under investigation, there are several reasons that have been proposed on how an injection of Vitamin C can be used to cure Ebola Virus Disease. To begin with, scientists have been curious about the ability of Vitamin C to act against viruses. Generally, studies have indicated that large amounts of Vitamin C are able to kill a large percentage of viruses. This antiviral activity of the vitamin has been observed on different types of viruses over the course of time. Although this is an issue that is under investigation, it sounds logical to say that research in the area offers some hope of finding a cure against the disease along these lines of thought.

Vitamin C

Another reason as to why an injection of Vitamin C could be used to develop treatment of Ebola Virus Disease arises from the ability of the vitamin to inhibit the rate of growth of viruses in general within the body cells. Usually, viruses and other disease-causing organisms survive by rapid and uninhibited multiplication within the body of the host. Immediately after gaining entry into the body of an erstwhile healthy individual, viruses embark on a rapid multiplication process. This gives them the ability to colonize the body cells of the host completely. It is after this objective has been achieved that a person begins to experience the signs and symptoms of the disease.

Now that Vitamin C has shown the ability to limit the rate of multiplication of viruses within the cells of a host, this logic can be used to develop an effective treatment for Ebola Virus Disease.

Different forms of Vitamin C

When used to treat Ebola Virus Disease, Vitamin C could potentially be used in different other forms apart from the intravenous injection one. One common form is the powdered Vitamin C. The powered form could be easily dissolved in pure water and taken orally. However, there are important issues that shall need to be taken into consideration if Vitamin C is to be administered in this form. The first one is about the dosage. It will important for the right amount of the powder to be used at all times for overall efficacy. The second one is the danger of over dosage. Research has indicated that an overdose of Vitamin C produces a lot of undesirable effects on the body. It will be necessary to take precautions against possible overdose.

Another form in which a potential treatment against Ebola Virus Disease would be based is tablets of the vitamin. Currently, Vitamin C tablets are easily found as nutrient supplements. Their usage is not restricted to treating a particular type of disease but rather, is applied as a broad alternative form of treatment. The beneficial effects of Vitamin C in the body are the driving force behind the popularity of this form of nutrient supplements. Just as is the case with powdered form of Vitamin C, care shall have to be taken when using the tablets to ensure efficacy on one hand and avoid toxicity arising from over dosage on the other.

The Advantages Of Using IV Vitamin C

If developed into an effective therapy against Ebola Virus Disease, Vitamin C will most likely be applied to patients in the form of an intravenous injection. There are several advantages of this form of treatment. First of all, in many cases, the absorption of Vitamin C from the stomach has been found to be inhibited by a number of physiological factors. This makes the application of a large dose of the vitamin through the powdered or tablet form inefficient because abnormally large amounts of the mineral will have to be applied to patients. However, when the intravenous method is used, the problem of poor absorption of Vitamin C is completely overcome.Vitamin C

Secondly, when Vitamin C is applied intravenously, the desired dosage in the body of a patient can be obtained with relative ease. It is no wonder that many forms of treatment for chronic diseases are offered by this means. An intravenous injection of a drug is quite effective in that the drug is directly introduced into the bloodstream of the patient. This facilitates immediate and effective action.

AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Centre is devoted to helping individuals lead completely fulfilling lives by being fully healthy and well. That is why we take keen interest in new developments on how integrative and complementary therapies can be used to enhance the overall outcome of conventional treatments when used to treat different types of diseases. We are located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and are open for consultations for any type of medical problem.

How Vitamin C Can Be Used To Enhance Ebola Treatment

 

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