Drug dependency has become a severe problem in most countries with millions addicted to substances such as heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, alcohol and others. In recent years, staggering information regarding the amount of drug use and abuse prevalent in society has raised much awareness about the problem; yet treating drug addiction has not received the same amount of press.
Many people who know someone with a drug or alcohol problem believe that some time in a rehabilitation centre will make all their problems go away and that the person will be cured following treatment. This is not the case, as drug addiction is not caused by the drugs; the problem lies within the addict.
For years, any type of substance abuse problem has been labelled a moral failing – that the addict is weak, lacks self-will and is a bad person. In the present day, a greater number of people are beginning to see addiction as a disease – that addiction is terminal and incurable, but can be arrested, treated and abstinence maintained. The disease is obsessive and compulsive in nature, leading to addicts obsessively and compulsively seeking drugs and other substances or experiences which will aid them in avoiding unwanted feelings.
Why do addicts use drugs?
Addicts are usually incapable of processing and expressing their feelings in a healthy way. Inner conflict and an inability to deal with life and the feelings which accompany it are the motivation for addicts to use substances. Getting high helps addicts to avoid their feelings; whether happy, sad, depressed or ecstatic, addiction thrives on an inability to cope with feelings, driving addicts to use.
When an addict uses drugs and engages in obsessive and compulsive behaviour, they soon begin to lose all power over their actions. This is the point at which their using progresses to a level where nothing will stop them – losing family, their jobs, houses and self-respect mean nothing compared to the desperation of getting the next hit. Addicts usually recognise their using as a problem, yet are unable to stop using drugs, despite their best intentions. They are powerless over their disease and cannot stop using on their own, even though they have the desire to stop. It is at this point that many addicts seek help for their problem.
How is drug addiction treated?
Treating drug addiction has progressed from the way the problem was previously dealt with centuries ago. Exorcisms and imprisonment in state mental hospitals were the normal way of dealing with addicts before more was known about the disease. These days, drug addiction counselling is based on helping the addict deal with their underlying issues in a caring and supportive way and in a safe environment. Individual counselling as well as group therapy has proved to be the best method of treating drug addiction through the positive results yielded by the combination.
For addicts that have the privilege of being able to attend a treatment programme in a rehabilitation centre and/or receive drug addiction counselling, the prognosis of maintaining sobriety is positive. However, an addict can only live a life of recovery if they are willing to help themselves. If an addict does not want to stop using, no amount of therapy or time spent in a treatment centre will help them, unless they are motivated to stop and to invest their time and energy in helping themselves.
An important part of recovery from any addiction is a daily programme of recovery for the addict to follow. Addiction is incurable and if left untreated will prove to be fatal, yet with a recovery programme which the addict applies themselves to daily, an addict can stay clean and sober for the rest of their life, one day at a time. No matter how much therapy and counselling an addict may receive, life will still present problems and uncomfortable feelings. If an addict is unable to process these feelings in an appropriate manner, they will not be able to maintain abstinence. Because addiction is a disease, it will not simply “go away” – it can be arrested and managed, but this takes effort and willingness on behalf of the addict in question.
A daily reprieve from drugs
A daily programme of recovery that is very successful is a Twelve Step programme as used in Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous. These programmes are based on the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous which lead addicts through a process of admitting that they have a problem, establishing a belief in a power greater than themselves, dealing with life and feelings appropriately and helping other sufferers find recovery.
The programme includes suggestions such as meeting attendance (in which the Twelve Steps and programme are discussed), working with a sponsor (a more experienced member of the fellowship), reading programme literature, written work (exploring the Twelve Steps) and service to the fellowship and society.
Individuals suffering from the disease of addiction do not need to live a life of shame and self hatred anymore. Through counselling and adopting a programme to help maintain a healthy life, mentally and physically, an addict can live the rest of their lives clean from the use of drugs and alcohol. Recovery from drugs and alcohol takes effort and vigilance, but will allow addicts who have lost everything to begin to lead a normal and productive life again.
Archive for January, 2010
What is an ovarian cyst?
It is a tumor in the ovary that can either be benign or malign. The most common type, known as functional, develop during the ovulation process. The other types of ovarian cysts happen by the disorderly growth of cells in the body.
Ovarian cyst is a common women issue, which most of the time can be cured other than by surgery, but it can make the women infertile if not treated in time.
Causes
The cyst that appears for the indefinite multiplication of cells in the superficial layer of the ovary (epithelium) has certain causes. The functional ovarian cyst appears in women with hormonal irregularities. The family genetic is a strong factor regarding women who develop cysts.
Types of cysts
Functional - This is the most common type of ovarian cyst, it is formed during the process of ovulation, during which women produce small lumps that must be expelled during the menstruation. This type of cyst tends to regress naturally. Serous - Secrete a clear, transparent and low viscosity. Very different from the functional, the serous does not regress. In contrast, it tends to grow. The sooner it’s detected, the better are the chances of getting cured. Teratoma - They have inside sebum, hair and even teeth. It is formed by embryonic cells (present in the ovary) that multiply in many places. The cells are nonspecific and determine various characteristics at the same time. Endometriotic – They consist of cells of the endometrium (the layer formed during the reproductive cycle and is driven by monthly periods). Inside, there is a bloody fluid, chocolaty color. Malignant – Are ovarian cancer and occur in about 1% of women – especially in those over 50 years. If not diagnosed and treated in the beginning it can kill.
What are STD Testing Centers? If you suspect that you may have been exposed to STDs, STD Testing Centers are the right place to go to. Unlike hospitals wherein you have to line up and wait anxiously, these centers offer immediate and straightforward service. These centers not only offer testing services; they may also offer treatments and counseling.
STD Testing Centers can be found by doing an online search for their locations. There are organizations that sponsor these centers so that people will have a place to go to for all their health concerns regarding STD. Some centers are subsidized by the government or by the state or county that they are located in. It will not be difficult to find centers like this. You can also ask for referrals from your local health clinic.
Getting tested in a reputable STD center is easy. It is advisable that you make a list of the symptoms you are feeling. That way, they could recommend the specific test you will need. The tests are done in private and with accuracy. Testing is done by gathering samples of your blood, urine and other body fluids necessary for that kind of test. These samples will be sent to a laboratory to detect what specific bacteria or virus has infected you. They will also be able to determine up to what extent is your infection. From these results they will be able to diagnose the right treatment for the disease. Since the treatment varies according to the type of disease, testing is also disease-specific. Testing centers can provide you with the latest methods of testing, who will conduct the tests and how these tests will be done. These tests are sometimes provided for free or at a cost lower than having it in a private hospital.
Treatment methods of STDs are not usually done on-line unless the center is connected to the health department. Treatments will differ according to the disease and gravity of infection. Not only will they prescribe the right medications, they also provide counseling to the infected person. STD is not only a life-threatening disease. It is also a life changing experience. They can provide over the phone counseling or by personal appointment.
Since STDs sometimes do not manifest symptoms it is quite difficult to detect if you actually have them. By the time you see the actual signs, the disease might have done damage to your system in disastrous proportions. STD testing centers will provide the treatments and counseling needed for you to deal with these concerns. A bit of a warning! Counseling may involve some lifestyle checks. It is a sensitive topic but they will give you counseling about changing some sexual behaviors and practices in order for you to deal with your illness better. They may even recommend that you bring your partner in for testing and counseling as well if you are doubtful about their sexual history. No offense meant but it’s safer to take all the necessary precautions to prevent and cure yourself and others of STD. Having yourself cured and undergoing constant screenings is the best way to avoid contracting STDs!
Cocaine is derived from the coca plant, which is native to South America. The indigenous population had always chewed its leaves, which are full of essential vitamins and proteins, but the pain relieving and mood lifting properties of the plant caught the attention of nineteenth century scientists who managed to isolate the cocaine from the plant.
Cocaine quickly became popular, and was credited as a ‘miracle drug’ for its positive benefits. It was soon prescribed for a whole range of ailments, from being sold over the counter as a cure for toothache to being used by psychiatrists for depression. It is also true that when coca-cola was launched in the late nineteenth century cocaine was one of the key ingredients of the drink.
But like many things which seem to good to be true, the dangers of cocaine eventually emerged. By the twentieth century people were starting to realise how incredibly addictive cocaine is. This realisation came too late as it was already in popular use as a recreational drug, and its popularity has steadily increased. After cannabis, it is now the second most popular illegal drug in America.
The pleasurable experience people get from cocaine is due to increased levels of the pleasure chemicals, dopamine and serotonin, in the brain. The cocaine blocks the transporter proteins which normally remove dopamine and serotonin after their release. This means that the levels of the neurotransmitters rapidly start to rise and the person quickly begins to experience intense euphoria. Understandably, the body quickly becomes addicted to the feel good effect. It is this highly addictive nature which means dealers are able to command a very high price for the drug.
The results of cocaine addiction can be devastating. The risk of a heart failure in the hours following cocaine use increases by an amazing 24 fold, as it triggers a rapid increase in heart rate and blood pressure. It is difficult to give up, and prolonged use will eventually cause mental illness, paranoid delusions, and frightening hallucinations.
Just what is addiction, you asked? Addiction is a physiological dependence on something, and is both physical and psychological in nature. When a person is addicted they literally need to feed that addiction constantly. Addiction is a traitor it sneaks up on you. People who are addicted often do not recognize that they have a problem, they think that the problem is with everyone. Addiction is different from abuse, a person can abuse drugs and not be addicted. The two most vital factors in determining addiction are tolerance and physical dependency. Addiction is very destructive, and most of the time people who are suffering from it end up hurting themselves and their love ones. It is hard to overcome but once the person began to see addiction as a problem in their life they can immediately seek alcoholism treatment or addiction treatment.
Teens partying late at night and imbibing drugs and alcohol for added fun, often dominated the silver screen. Quite a pretty picture isn’t it? Oftentimes teens see it as an epitome. Although Hollywood does its part to show a different side of alcohol and drug addiction with movies like “Trainspotting” and “Girl Interrupted”, the character still ended up being glamorous and ideal in nature and often overshadows the dark side of addiction. It is important to look at this depiction with a cynic eye. Movies are after all for entertainment purposes only, and there is nothing remotely entertaining about the reality of alcohol abuse and drug addiction. Addiction can be hell on earth and life in an Alcohol rehab and Drug Rehab can be a nightmare.
Illegal drugs and alcohol are addicting. Records show that the younger you are when you experiment with illegal drugs or alcohol you are more prone to become an addict in the future. Addiction often runs in families; you do not choose addiction, addiction chooses you. Experimenting with drugs and alcohol is a gamble, and the stake is your life, your personality, and your future.
Individuals often hide their drinking or deny that the fact that they have a problem. Signs of a possible alcoholism include having friends or relatives express concern, being irritated when people comment on their drinking, feeling guilty about their excessive alcohol consumption and thinking that they should moderate it but finds themselves unable to do so, or needs a morning drink to steady their nerves or relieve a hangover.
On the other hand, drug dependence often begins with the misuse of legal drugs like prescription drugs and inhalants. Inhalants are legal substances that becomes illegal when use in a manner that causes a person to get high. These also include aerosol cleaners, gasoline, cleaning fluids, butane, and acetone. These things are legal to sell or buy however, they are not controlled substances and they are relatively cheap when compared with drugs.
People with addiction work hard to resolve them, and with the support of family members and friends they are able to recover on their own. However in most cases, people they usually cannot stop drinking or using drugs by willpower alone. A lot of them require outside help, mostly from Alcohol Rehab or Drug Rehab. Alcoholism treatment and addiction treatment may need medically supervised detoxification to avoid possible life-threatening withdrawal symptoms such as seizures and convulsion. Once they are stabilized, they need help resolving psychological issues associated with their problem drinking.
If you suffer from hay fever, the offending pollen season surely fills you with dread, and your medicine cabinet is probably armed and ready to help you dry up any symptoms at the first sign of a reaction. But wouldn’t it be nice to all but eliminate the source rather than just treat the symptoms of your hay fever? Here are 5 reasons why using an air purifier will give you sustained relief from hay fever all year round.
1. Removes Airborne Pollen
A high efficiency particle arresting (HEPA) air purifier will remove airborne pollen as small as .3 microns (a micron = one millionth of a meter) from the air in your home or office. You need to filter your air to this degree because regardless of how careful you are during pollen season, some pollen is going to come into your home through open doors, on your clothes, your pets, and packages that you bring in from the outside.
2. Removes All Types of Pollen
Whether your hay fever is triggered by tree pollen in the spring, grasses in the summer, weeds in the fall, or mold and mildew in the winter, filtering your air with an effective cleaner will decrease your symptoms and improve your quality of life.
3. Prevents a Build-up
Designed to run 24 hours every day, a HEPA air purifier will prevent pollen from accumulating to such a high level that it causes sneezing, watery eyes, congestion, scratchy throat, sinus infection and all the other symptoms hay fever can trigger.
4. Cleans Efficiently
How efficiently does it clean? If there are 10,000 particles of pollen in the air, 99,997 of them are trapped by the filter making it 99.97% effective. It will also filter pollutants other than pollen-pollutants that are notorious allergy triggers like dust, dust mites, mold and mildew spores, pet dander, and smoke.
5. Creates Physical and Emotional Safe Places
Living through hay fever season can cause great anxiety. You are constantly tense and on-guard about when, how, and why your hay fever symptoms may disrupt your life. Knowing that the air in your home and office are being filtered constantly gives you safe places where you can unwind, relax and let your mind and body rejuvenate, and will help you successfully navigate your way through the season.
Iron is of great importance in human nutrition for healthy blood and vitality. Though it is considered as a trace element, it is responsible for oxygen transport and cellular respiration.
Iron is found in the body
1) as iron porphyrins in haemoglobin, myoglobin
2) as iron enzymes in catalase, cytochrome and peroxidases.
3) as non-iron porphyrins in transferring, ferritin and haemosiderin. The iron content of the body is controlled by its absorption and not by excretion.
The total daily iron loss of an adult is less than 1 mg. During menstruation, the average loss is further 1 mg per day. It is excreted only in traces in urine, bile and faeces. The urinary loss is about 0.2 mg per day and adult. Iron loss occurs due to loss of blood in haemorrhage, loss integumental tissues, during menstrual period, and pregnance/labour. When red blood cells are broken down, the liberated iron is not excreted, but is reutilized in the formation of new red cells.
Whole blood contains about 45-50 mg of iron per 100 ml. All the red cells contain a total quantity of about 3 gm of iron. The rest of the body contains another 1-3 gm of iron. Iron is present in blood in two forms;1) as Plasma iron in the transport form-transferrin. It is in traces (0.10 mg per 100 ml) and keeps fluctuating inversely with decreased/increased rate of red cell information in aplastic/pernicious anaemias respectively.2) as Haemoglobin Iron which is about 50 mg of inorganic iron per 100 ml of blood, that accounts for 92-98% of total iron in blood.
Recommended Daily Allowance: The RDA of 1.0 mg/kg for infants, 20 mg for children, 25 mg for boys, 35 mg for girls, 24 mg for adult men, 32 mg during lactation is suggested. Normal diet provides required need. Adolescent boys/girls, and women during pregnancy and lactation need more of it. Infant lack in it as milk is deficient in Iorn, and foetal liver storage finishes in first 3 months. The body does not produce iorn; it absorbs iron from the food one eats. So the diet is a crucial factor.
Overload of iron occurs when the body can’t get rid of the mineral properly. Iron deficiency brings tiredness, but fatigue is also a common symptom to too much iron. Unchecked it can be responsible for diseases like arthritis. Too much of Iron will give you nausea, cause abdominal pain, constipation, and a damage to liver and heart. It can be toxic in excess, and can lead to cancer (due to cell damage), and heart attack, especially if your LDL level is high. This happens because iron with the help of oxygen oxidizes LDL (already in high level) to clog the arteries. Antioxidants play a role in preventing the disease. Since the need differs with age and gender, always check for iron in multivitamin tablet you take, and look for required mg of ferrous fumarate/sulphate, which is better absorbed.
Dietary Sources: All wholegrain cereals, pulses, legumes, jaggery, fish, and animal foods like egg, liver, meat etc. (except milk, butter), and vegetables like dry lotus stem, cauliflower greens, turnip greens, lentils, peas, green leafy ones and fruits like black currants, water melons, raisins, dried dates are good sources of Iron. The assimilation of iron in the body requires enzymes and gastric acids, for which iron-containing fruits which has own enzymes and acids be encouraged specially for elderly people. The bioavailability of iron in plant foods is low owing to the presence of phytates and oxalates, which interfere with iron absorption. Significant amounts of iron may be derived from cooking in iron vessels.
The iron in the diet is of two types. Heme iron present in red meat, fish and poultry is absorbed better (15-20%) and non-heme iron found in cereals, vegetables, dals, nuts and eggs (1.5%) is said to be absorbed poorly. One needs a lot of vitamin C to counter this. Just add a few drops of lime on leafy vegetables or a glass of orange juice after a meal. The surplus Heme iron when stored in body is more harmful (with higher risk of heart attacks) than a non-Heme iron.
Whole-wheat flour chapatti is better than white flour bread or rice based diet for iron nourishment. Additives in soft drinks are known to be inhibitors or iron absorption. When tea is taken with a meal, it may depress the absorption of iron by as much as 75%. The body has to use its natural resources in trying to throw out the low quality of processed, junk/fast food, cold drinks that we keep consuming. Don’t take iron along with a calcium supplement as it interferes with iron absorption. Know more about Iron Daily Requirements and its Sources
If you went to your doctor and asked him or her about asthma prevention, the advice you would likely get would be to “avoid triggers”. Indeed, this is good advice. People with asthma should try to keep their immediate environment as free as possible from the elements that typically trigger an asthma attack. However, asthma prevention has been shown to be enduring with the Buteyko Breathing Method.
There are many things that trigger asthma and they vary among individuals. A study published in the September, 2009, issue of the Annals of Allergies, Asthma and Immunology found a link between changes in the weather and asthma exacerbation in children. The lead author of the study, Nana A. Mireku MD, reported “a strong relationship between temperature and humidity fluctuations with pediatric asthma exacerbations, but not barometric pressure.” This finding is probably not news to those who suffer from asthma and know that when it gets hot and humid, or even suddenly dry and windy, their asthma takes a turn for the worse.
Asthma prevention strategies, like using hypoallergenic bed linens and removing carpets and drapes, are one thing, but how can we change the weather? We cannot, obviously, and by learning a better breathing pattern we probably do not need to.
The Buteyko Breathing Method has been studied in six clinical trials and has been shown to be an effective asthma prevention strategy. The Buteyko Method is based on the theory that chronic hyperventilation, or over-breathing, leads to asthma in those that are susceptible. People with asthma are known to hyperventilate, even when they are not having an acute episode, and hyperventilation leads to a reduction in blood and alveolar carbon dioxide. Low carbon dioxide (hypocapnia) is a known cause of bronchoconstriction (airway narrowing).
Along with bronchconstriction, asthmatics have inflamed airways, and the Buteyko theory provides that the inflammation and mucus formation typical of asthma is the body’s way of preventing further carbon dioxide loss. It is a protective mechanism to reverse or prevent further hyperventilation which has systemic consequences for the body.
The Buteyko Breathing method is all about learning how to breathe less and reverse chronic hyperventilation. It is not difficult to learn and the results in terms of enduring asthma prevention have been shown to be outstanding in the six trials that have taken place to date. The Mayo Clinic considers breathing exercises, like Buteyko, to be one of the most promising of the complementary therapies for asthma control. The Mayo Clinic website states that “Breathing exercises may improve your quality of life, help reduce asthma symptoms and reduce the amount of medication needed to control your asthma.”
There are certified Buteyko practitioners all over the world, as well as books and DVDs about the Method, and these can all be found on the Web.
Although medical science has evolved significantly in the last decades, the treatment of leukemia is still a major issue in present. Modern medicine doesn’t hold the cure for leukemia and medical treatments available these days provide differentiated results. Survival rates depend on the promptitude of diagnosis, the type of treatment and the patients’ responsiveness to specific cancer therapies and treatments. Although leukemia can’t always be completely overcome, the progression of the disease can be slowed down and its malignant effects can be contained with the help of existent cancer treatments. Thus, the life expectancy of patients with leukemia has risen considerably in the last three decades. By contrast, the mortality rate registered among patients with leukemia has known a pronounced decrease in the last decade.
The treatment of leukemia is focused towards achieving a complete remission with minimal side-effects. Complete remission refers to absence of leukemia traces at cellular level. Patients who present no evidence of malignant cellular activity after completing the treatment of leukemia are considered to be completely cured. By contrast, relapse indicates a recurrence of leukemia specific symptoms and physiological signs.
In the case of patients with acute leukemia, a remission that lasts for more than five years after the treatment suggests a complete recovery. This five-year period is considered to be critical for leukemia sufferers, as it can make the difference between relapse and complete recovery.
In the last few decades, the five-year survival period of patients with leukemia has tripled. While in the 60′s the five-year survival rate was around 15 percent, nowadays it revolves around 50 percent. This five-year survival period is strongly influenced by patients’ age and the type of leukemia. Statistics indicate that the five-year survival rate for patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is around 60 percent, while the five-year survival rate for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is higher, reaching the value of 70 percent. By contrast, the prognosis of patients with myelogenous leukemia is less favorable. The same five-year survival rate for patients diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is around 14 percent, while an estimated 32 percent of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) exceed this five-year survival period.
The five-year survival rate for children diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia revolves around the value of 80 percent, while the overall survival rate of children with acute lymphocytic leukemia is less than 45 percent. This type of leukemia is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in children. Due to the fact that it predominantly affects young patients with ages between 3 and 15, the disease is referred to as childhood leukemia.
In the United States, the mortality rate for children with leukemia has decreased with 60 percent in the last three decades. In spite of this fact, leukemia is still the leading cause of death among young patients with ages under 15.









