Category: Health

Alpha Lipoic Acid

Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA; thioctic acid; lipoic acid) is a coenzyme that is a very potent antioxidant. A body exposed to free radicals becomes more susceptible to diseases such as diabetes and liver damage. ALA, sometimes called the “universal” antioxidant, holds the capacity to neutralize the effects of free radicals in both fatty and water-based environments. The prevention and cure achieved by ALA, by virtue of neutralizing free radicals, is worth the credit it has gained in the therapeutic market. The human body holds the positive ability to produce small amounts of ALA. The benefits of additional supplementation can be gained from the natural sources of ALA, which include tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, beef, yeast, and kidney.

ALA has its benefits revealed in a number of diseases and disorders. Its usage slows the aging process, helps the liver to remove the toxins, and decreases the adverse effects associated with some analgesic drugs. It also holds the efficiency of effectively removing glucose from the blood. ALA shows its therapeutic benefit in complications associated with diabetes, such as macular degeneration, neuropathy, and cataracts. It has been found to be capable of reducing the symptoms associated with nerve damage (i.e. burning, pain, numbness) in diabetic patients. Because of its efficiency to cross the blood-brain barrier, the benefit of ALA in stroke and other brain disorders is probable.

ALA is also of benefit in the treatment of HIV-AIDS, cancer, cognitive decline, and cardiovascular disease. A daily dose of 20 mg to 50 mg of ALA is the requirement of healthy person. In diabetics, for antioxidant protection it is essential to administer a dose of 100mg twice a day to help prevent further complications. No adverse effects were observed on administration of 1,200 mg/day (600mg, 2 times/day) for 2 years and 1,800 mg/day (600 mg, 3 times / day) for 3 weeks in diabetic neuropathy patients under medical supervision. However, because of a lack of long-term safety studies, ALA should not be administered to pregnant and lactating women.

Alpha Lipoic Acid For Asthma

Asthma is a disease that affects the human respiratory system. It causes the airways to narrow down. Asthma often occurs in response to a trigger of the likes of exposure to allergens like pollen, stress, cold air etc. It causes symptoms like coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.

Alpha lipoic acid is yet again beneficial in combating this disease too. It has been suggested in a number of remarkable studies that oxidative stress plays an important role in asthmatic airways inflammation. Alpha lipoic acid being the powerful antioxidant that it is can be most useful in therapy for bronchial asthma. It is also responsible for recycling vitamins E and C. Now, the relevance of this lays in the fact that vitamin C is an extreme aid in alleviating asthma and vitamin E has a major role in preventing bronchitis. The two vitamins are beneficial to the respiratory system, which is what needs protection against asthma in the first place.

Studies also indicate that free radical damage occurs excessively in people who suffer from asthma. The implications of this are that they may benefit immensely from antioxidant supplements like ALA. In the study, scientists in India determined the blood levels of antioxidants and oxidants in 38 men and women with bronchial asthma compared to levels found in 23 healthy subjects. Looking further into the relevance of these vitamins- C and E, they are known to quench free radicals formed during the oxidation process and render them harmless. Thus there is a direct link between alpha lipoic acid and its benefit to asthma patients. In fact it can also be used to prevent the onset of the disease and it is a well known and hackneyed fact that prevention is better than cure.

Allergy Medication

Allergy is the reaction of a body to an intolerable allergen. Individuals use various medications to treat allergy and its symptoms. It is also advisable to avoid these allergens if identified. Antihistamines are the major group of chemicals that are used as medication in case of allergy. Histamine, a type of chemical is released at some stage in an allergic reaction and anti histamine is used to curb their effect.

Anticholinergics, mast cell stabilizers, and decongestants are other classes of medications that are used to prevent or take care of allergy symptoms. Corticosteroids are also used as anti allergic medications. Each medication is found in different forms, such as pills, eye drops, and nasal sprays.

In case the source of allergy is known, it is advisable to stick with the tried and tested formula of the usual anti-allergen, as they are known to be repetitive in their effect. However if the source is not known, it is recommended to take advice from medical professionals regarding the medication. Allergy medications at times have a number of different products and hence it is necessary to read the labels on these medications thoroughly, before using them.

It is important to give due thought to side effects, while deciding on an allergy medication. Drowsiness is a common side effect of anti histamines. There are however newer antihistamines that are non-sedative by nature and hence do not affect the mental alertness. Cetirizine is one of the anti-allergens known to cause high levels of drowsiness and hence can be a potential hazard.

vAllergy medications are usually safe for most people. However if an individual suffers from high blood pressure, diabetes or any such ailment, it is advisable to ask the medical practitioner regarding the safest anti allergen that can be consumed. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are also recommended not to take any medication for allergy without consulting their medical practitioner.

Allergy Asthma

Of all the diseases related to the respiratory system, asthma allergy is the most prevalent. This condition is usually visible in children and young adults, but the process may progress throughout their lives. Asthma allergy is a lung disease characterized by difficulty in breathing, wheezing, coughing, and the increase in production of mucus during an attack. The symptoms may bring simple discomfort or they may eventually lead to death, depending on the number allergens that affect the patient, causing blockages in the airways.

Cause of Asthma Allergies

The cause of asthma allergy is similar to the causes of an allergic reaction in a person. Allergens include dust, chemicals, scents, odors and changes in temperature. The actual reactions vary from patient to patient. In some cases of asthma allergy, symptoms are triggered by exercise or the emotional state of a person. These symptoms are quite unique.

Smoke is the most recognized cause of allergy asthma, especially for children. Statistics show that a ratio of eight out of 10 children are at risk of developing asthmatic conditions when exposed to smoke. It is believed that as the city becomes more industrialized, people may develop symptoms that are similar to asthma.

Risk Factors

Asthma allergy is not distinct to certain types of people. Anyone of any age, race, weight, height or gender is at risk of acquiring the disease. People who are involved in industries that deal with heavy emissions are at a higher risk of developing asthma.

It is also believed that asthma allergy is a hereditary disorder. A person who has a history of asthma allergy in the family is also at risk.

Treatments

Treatment starts with managing asthma attacks. To do this, a person needs to stay away from allergens that trigger asthma allergy. There are also medicines that can be prescribed by a physician to alleviate some symptoms.

Alcoholism Treatments

Alcoholism is a disease, and as such, it needs to be treated as soon as possible and it needs to be treated effectively to reduce the chances of relapse. Given this, rehabilitation centers have formulated ways by which it can be treated based on the nature of the disease. These treatments, although having some slight differences, usually consist of three steps, which are intervention, detoxification, and rehabilitation.

Intervention

Intervention is the step in which the drinking problem is recognized and acknowledged by the drinker or other people such his family or co-workers. In cases wherein the drinker is having a hard time recognizing that he has a problem, family members and co-workers may choose to get together to communicate their concern about the drinker’s behavior. In cases where the drinker is not yet physically dependent on alcohol and if the intervention is done correctly, steps like going to AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings would be enough to solve the drinking problem. However, for drinkers who have developed dependence on alcohol, more ‘drastic’ steps need to be taken to treat the person.

Detoxification

For alcoholics who have developed dependence on alcohol, one of the most effective modes of treatment is to undergo a rehabilitation program in a rehabilitation center. However, alcoholics cannot just go to a rehabilitation center to start treatment because he needs to prepare for it by undergoing detoxification. To do this, a patient, for a period of three to fourteen days depending on his alcohol dependence history, must undergo a medical-supervised period by which the addictive substances in his body are ‘purged’ by completely stopping drinking alcohol. During this period, the patient will exhibit various withdrawal symptoms that need to be treated, which is why detox should be done in a facility with medical capabilities.

Rehabilitation

After detoxification, the patient can now undergo rehabilitation treatment. Rehabilitation includes undergoing therapy, counseling, and nursing for any medical condition that resulted from the addiction. In addition to this, patients are also provided with education on alcohol related diseases, relapse prevention, medication management. Some rehabilitation centers also provide family therapy, which help mend relationships that have been affected by the alcoholism.

Alcoholism is a serious and life-threatening disease and as such, it needs to be treated immediately and effectively. Treatment of this disease consists of three steps, which are intervention, detoxification and rehabilitation, which patients must undergo to start the process towards achieving long-term sobriety.

Alcohol Treatment Programs

In the United States, around seventy thousand Americans receive alcohol rehabilitation treatment on any given day. Due to the fact that alcoholism affects a large number of people, rehabilitation centers are constantly developing modes of treatment that will ensure long-term sobriety for their patients. These treatments are usually combinations of medication and therapy, which help alcoholics to stop drinking and prevent a relapse in the future. However, the effectiveness of these treatments vary for different people as some alcoholics may have specific needs that only certain types of treatment can address.

Common treatments

The type of alcohol treatment that alcoholics receive will depend on their alcohol dependence history and the severity of their dependence. However, there are a few treatments that have been proven to work for most alcohol dependents. Two of the most common and more effective modes of treatment are the three-step process of intervention, detoxification, and rehabilitation and the AA program, both of which have been proven to significantly reduce the chances for relapse.

Another common treatment is the motivation enhancement therapy, wherein the focus is to give patient the motivation to stop drinking by showing patients how their lives would be better if the were alcohol-free. Another common type of treatment is the cognitive-behavior therapy, wherein patients are encouraged to modify their behavior and how they perceive stresses so that they would be able to avoid instances where they would be tempted to drink alcohol. Another popular therapy is the 12-step facilitation therapy, wherein patients are given a ‘checklist’ of things they need to accomplish on the road to sobriety. These treatments have also been proven to reduce the chances of relapse for the patients that receive them.

The high incidence of alcoholism has prompted experts to formulate different new treatment programs that can help alcoholics achieve long-term sobriety. However, the success and the effectiveness of these new programs have not been fully determined and more studies need to be done to assess their long-term effects. Given this, employing proven modes of treatment would be the best route that alcoholics can take.

Alcohol Treatment Centers

Alcoholism is a disease that needs immediate and effective treatment because the longer a person is addicted, the more chronic the disease will become and the use of inappropriate treatment increases the chances of relapse. Given this, there is a need for rehabilitation centers to employ proven and effective methods at rehabilitation. However, given that the ultimate objective of these treatment centers is long-term sobriety, there is a need to examine and assess the effectiveness of their programs in the long term. The information from these assessments can be very helpful to the personnel of rehabilitation centers because they would be able to address and gaps that they may find in their programs.

Studies done

To test the long term effectiveness of the programs being used by various treatment centers such as psychotherapy, a study was done on to determine the changes in stresses that former alcoholics encounter when they go back to their lives in the immediate three years after they received the treatment. In determining the stress levels that the subjects experience, the people who did the study were able to determine whether the treatment was effective in reducing the stress levels of the subjects. In the study, the two modes of treatment that were compared were that of attending AA meetings and undergoing relaxation training. Certain groups of people who received these two types of therapy were selected and studied and certain instruments were used to measure the stress levels they experienced as they went back to their families and their work.

Results

The results of the study showed that although both treatments were effective in reducing the stress levels of the people who received them, it was found that attending AA meetings was the superior mode of treatment. This is because the study showed that the people who went to these meetings exhibited lower stress levels and they were better at managing the different stresses they faced.

The objective of rehabilitation programs is long-term sobriety for former alcoholics. However, the long-term effectiveness of these programs can only be determined a few years after they have been administered. Given this, the few studies that have been able to determine the long-term effectiveness of programs, such as attending AA meetings, serve as the very important first steps for further studies that will be able to assess the effectiveness of other programs.

Alcohol Treatment Center Employment

The best of alcohol treatment centers require the best of employees to distribute the best of the services. In this respect, these centers employ individuals with specific qualifications for various posts.

There is a hierarchy of employees functioning in these centers. It starts from clerks, goes on to patient care assistants, to supervisors and to counselors, who are on their toes 24/7 providing full time services to patients.

The basic requirement for an employee at any post is at least high school graduation. Other than this, an advanced education or training in the field of alcohol or chemical dependency or behavioral sciences may be welcome at some posts, while for posts like patient care assistant it may be compulsory.

Dealing with the management, is the drug and alcohol treatment specialist supervisor. This is a highly professional supervisory post in care, treatment and rehabilitation of inmates with a history of alcohol abuse or dependence.

The task of management in any post requires the employee to plan, organize and implement patient specific alcohol treatment programmes. They are required to conduct one to one or group counseling for inmates. At the same time they are required to keep a record of the patient’s progress throughout the treatment and prepare performance evaluation.

A program counselor has the responsibility for care management. This post definitely gives preference to a Bachelors or Masters in Human Services. A written test for most professional employment options in such treatment centers is a mandatory requirement.

A treatment center, gives due credit for experience of the applicant to any post. In case of nursing care, a general nursing care degree along with psychiatric or substance abuse nursing experience receives preference, while in case of a counselor a minimum of two to four years of counseling individuals, particularly dealing with substance abuse, is not only preferred but compulsory in many cases.

All in all, the better the relevant qualifications and experience, the better the chance for the applicant to find employment. A treatment center staffed with employees of an excellent cadre is bound to render excellent services to its patients.

Alcohol Rehabilitation Centers

Rehabilitation is the term used to refer to the restoration of lost capabilities or the treatment used to heal a body from ailments. Alcohol addicts are usually admitted to an alcohol rehabilitation center. Alcohol addiction begins with a casual curiosity or peer pressure. It affects the brain and creates a desire to consume more alcohol resulting into addiction. Typically, a person starts consuming alcohol to obtain relief from his problems. Alcohol addiction affects a person’s life in all spheres.

A rehabilitation center begins treatment by studying all the psychological factors of the patient, including their social background and the degree of addiction of a patient, to decide a course of treatment. A patient is counseled, and sometimes given medication. There is a whole range of treatments to choose from. The time required for recovery varies from one person to another. Money can be a major constraint for treatment. Apart from a few charitable centers, most treatment programs are expensive.

While choosing a rehabilitation center, it is of prime importance that the patient is kept away from the people or surroundings where this addiction began. In the initial stage of addiction, an outpatient treatment program may be sufficient. Patients with an acute history of alcohol addiction may require an inpatient treatment program wherein a patient is supervised and his progress is monitored 24 hours a day. This treatment may be in a hospital or a residential surrounding which offers supervision like a hospital.

Almost all major cities have well-equipped rehabilitation centers. Rehab centers not only work towards treating a patient, but also towards ensuring that the patients do not revert back to the addiction. They restore the addict’s lost faith and confidence. These patients come out as confident individuals ready to face life with renewed vigor.

Alcohol Rehab

Alcohol abuse refers to the chronic consumption and craving for alcohol, so that it interferes in the normal social and economic functioning of the person. Alcohol Rehab tries to treat and bring back to normal victims of this condition.

The alcoholic is unable to stop his craving for drinking. He fails to complete his obligations at work or home. He undertakes activities that are dangerous in his condition, including drunk driving. He may encounter legal problems, and cannot and will not stop drinking despite personal, official and medical problems.

Alcoholism can be fatal. It affects the addict’s health in many ways. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is an irreversible condition associated with excessive consumption of alcohol by pregnant women. It leads to physical and mental deficiencies and even fetal death. Another killer condition is Cirrhosis, caused by alcoholism and leading to liver failure and death.

Alcohol Rehab must be done carefully by trained medical professionals. It involves evaluation and management of acute alcohol withdrawal, treatment of nutritional deficiencies, detoxification and the maintenance of abstinence.

Medical treatment of alcoholism involves initially the management of alcohol withdrawal. Treatment includes the use of thiamine and folate fed intravenously to prevent Wernicke Kosakoff syndrome (an eye disorder). Seizures must be treated with Benzodiazepines.

After medical management is over, a psychosocial Rehabilitation program must be undertaken. This includes educating the entire family of the patient, individual or group therapy, or even a spiritual ‘12 steps to sobriety’ program given by Alcoholics Anonymous.

There are some important points to remember. Supervised withdrawal is the first step and must not be hurried. Hurry can be fatal. A medically supervised detox program is the first step. Next step is to choose a Rehab center. Find a treatment center that deals not only with addiction but the holistic picture of psychosocial and legal problems.

The program must involve a major amount of therapy–counseling and occupational. Therapy or counseling is critical for alcohol treatment. Patients learn to resist alcohol use, replace drug-using activities with constructive and rewarding activities. They are asked to shun alcohol abusing company. They also relearn normal family and social living patterns.

Treatment involves continuous monitoring for alcohol use. Some people may require medication for their treatment, and this too must be monitored. Some may be suffering from mental problems that need special treatment. The treatment duration may vary with each case, but 3 months is a safe period for most treatment.

The main point is that there is no singular Rehab formula. The success of treatment depends on finding the right program and methods. Effective treatment must address the patient’s drug use and also related medical, social, psychological, vocational and legal problems.

The treatment may be long-term, involving periods of relapse. The crucial point is not to give up hope, but work patiently till you reach complete abstinence.