Drug Detox Rehab

September 4th, 2011 by

People suffering from addiction need medical and therapeutic interventions. Though most of the people think they can get off the habit by themselves, drug addiction rehabilitation requires professional help.

The first step in drug rehabilitation comes with detoxification. This is the process of cleaning the body off toxins left by drug abuse. And for most patients, it is the most difficult phase of treatment.

Detoxification causes painful symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and uncontrollable shaking. The body in this phase is craving for the substance and is reacting to its absence.

Detox Rehabilitation

Dealing with addiction needs to be immediate. The abrupt withdrawal from drugs can cause sweats, cramping, and constipation, with extreme cases resulting in possible seizures and delirium. With long-term drug abuse, detoxification can be dangerous without proper medical supervision.

A patient who wants to be rid of his addiction must choose the right detox center and program. For quality services, a center must be able to provide a controlled setting where proper medical intervention can be administered. And it must be capable of crafting programs that will help the patient sustain his recovery even after his release from the facility. The center must also adhere to principles that preserve the dignity of patients under their care.

Detox Procedures

Centers differ from each other in terms of the programs they offer. Some offer rapid detoxification. Others require long-term processes.

Rapid detoxification is a medical procedure that puts a patient under general anesthesia. A doctor purges the toxins from the body by administering other drugs. Immediately, the patient undergoes withdrawal. The anesthesia prevents the patient from suffering the symptoms. This procedure contracts the withdrawal period from six days to six hours. This procedure is generally done to deal with heroin, oxycontin, methadone, codeine addictions. As the patient recovers, craving for the addictive drug diminishes.

But while results are immediate, studies show that a patient still needs to undergo continued therapy and counseling. Without follow through support, it is easy for patients to go back to old habits.

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5 Reasons Why You Should Never Use Drugs Or Alcohol to Cure Your Fear of Flying

February 10th, 2011 by

1. Developing a dependency
So you’re getting that promotion, great! But now you need to travel, often. Taking a pill to get over a 2 hour flight may seem like a good idea, but if you are flying more than 4 times a year this option may not be for you, as many anti-anxiety medications are habit forming and addictive. Dependence can be built up in as little as four weeks of use.

2. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, over the age of 65, or are taking medication
There is a marked increase in falls and injuries while taking anti-anxiety medication as well as a risk of the drug passing from mother to the child through the placenta. Alcohol and anti-anxiety drugs like Xanax, Valium, or Klonopin are harmful when taken in conjunction with certain medications. Antihistamines, pain-killers, sleeping pills, and anti-depressants can all increase the toxicity of anti-anxiety medication.

Did you know?
Did you know that Anti-anxiety medications are a drug family called benzodiazepines or tranquilizers. They work by slowing down the body’s central nervous system and reducing brain activity, thereby cutting down the effects of a panic attack.

3. The side effects…
You’ve finally made it on the plane but after a few drinks or a few pills you become irritable, belligerent, and/or nauseous. Each airline carrier has their own rules about removing a passenger, and ultimately your ejection from the plane is at the discretion of the flight crew.
The side effects associated with anti-anxiety medication and alcohol are (but not limited to):

Drowsiness
Irritability
Nausea
Slowed reflexes
Impaired judgment
Distorted/Blurry vision
Increased anger
Disorientation
Dizziness

Did you know?
Did you know that when taken over long periods of time tranquilizers build up in the human body? Benzodiazepines metabolize (get used up by the body) very slowly, accumulating over time resulting in withdrawal symptoms and a “medication hangover”

4. Medication may make it worse
The whole point of the anti-depressants is to help reduce your fear of flying, however in some people benzodiazepines actually increase symptoms of anxiety. A study conducted by the Stanford University School of Medicine actually found that Xanax produced a tenfold increase in anxiety symptoms when taken during a flight.

5. The fear comes back
Taking medication or alcohol is not a permanent solution. They can only suppress some of the physical symptoms but the psychological experiences, phobias, and thoughts are what triggered your anxiety in the first place. If you don’t take care of these first, then the old fears will always return. There are quick, natural ways to cure your fear without using anti-anxiety medication.

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The Effects Of Smoking And Alcohol On Your Skin

June 13th, 2011 by

Although smoking is best known for causing lung cancer, this habit is also among the biggest threats to your skin. Next to sun and chemicals, tobacco is one of the major accelerators of your skin natural aging process, and it is thought to be one of the fastest acting threats. Young people start showing signs of early skin aging after as little as 10 years of smoking. If you think this is a long period of time, you should keep in mind that many young people start smoking in their teen years (16-19 year olds) and are still below 30 when the first signs appear.

Smoking causes the narrowing of blood vessels throughout your body, including those that supply the outermost layers of the skin with oxygen and nutrients. Thus, your skin is slowly starved of vital oxygen and other substances, such as immunity-boosting Vitamin A. Alcohol has a similar effect by destroying the body supply of Vitamin A. This will lower the role of skin as the first line of defense against bacteria and infections.

The same Vitamin A is used in the skin turnover process to help generate the new cells that replace the dead ones. The vitamin provides a temporary boost in the production of collagen and can lend the skin a more youthful appearance for a while.

Over time, the lack of oxygen and nutrients would allow the formation of harmful free radicals that slowly damage the elastic fibers and collagen, which keep the skin strong and flexible. The result is usually the appearance of premature wrinkles. It is also thought likely that the repeated pursing of lips when inhaling smoke helps build wrinkles around the mouth, while the heat of the burning cigarette tip is also damaging the skin.

Seven Tips For Healthy Skin

Healthy skin is a sign of good health. The skin is the largest vital organ in our body, which is comprised of about two billion cells and has a surface area of around two square meters. Although only very few people can actually have the perfect skin and complexion, we can do something to bring out the best in our skin.

Here are quick and simple ways that we can care for our skin.

Nourish your skin by eating the proper foods. This means a healthy and balanced diet. A healthy and balanced diet promotes general well-being and optimizes the body to function at its best. To have healthy skin, eat plenty of seed food, i.e. fruits that contain seeds, and vegetables – organic is better as it contains additional nutrients.
Drink plenty of water. The recommended eight glasses of water a day is essential in maintaining the elasticity and suppleness of skin. Water also clears your skin and aids in the proper elimination of waste. Remember, less waste products in your body, more beautiful skin you would have.
Exercise regularly. Exercise is good for our hearts and bodies. Even our skin benefits from exercise since blood circulation is increased, thus bringing enough oxygen and nutrients to the rest of our bodies. Exercise also triggers the body to produce more sebum which is natural moisturizer for body.
Be smoke- and alcohol-free. Smoking tends to destroy the Vitamin C in your body and damage the elastic tissues that keep the skin tight. Drinking liquor on the other hand tends to expand your blood vessels causing red spots and itchiness on your skin.
Cleanse it. Cleaning plays an important part in the overall wellness of your skin. Experts agree that we should gently clean our skin, tone it, moisturize it, and exfoliate it.
Protect your skin. Harsh elements can severely damage your skin and can lead to irritation and infection. Wear sunscreen with at least SPF 15 every time you go out in the sun. For higher levels of activities, use SPF 45 because you will be perspiring, which dilutes the sunscreen. For those who are very fair, have red hair, blue eyes and freckles, add a total block that contains titanium or zinc.
Rest. Get plenty of rest. You are giving your skin a time to rejuvenate and heal while you rest. Stress is extremely bad for your skin and body. It indirectly creates instability in your hormonal system, which in turn leads to more skin problems like breakouts and acne.

The bottom line is that every person who wants to enjoy healthy skin for as long as possible should refrain from alcohol and tobacco consumption and should also take the basic steps in skin protection. There is no reason to harm yourself with unhealthy smoking and drinking and to damage your face with premature wrinkles. It is so simple to stay healthy.

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