Tag: Treating

  • Drug Rehab Centers – Treatments Offered

    Drug Rehab Centers – Treatments Offered

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    Many treatments are offered in drug rehab centers. Most of the treatments start with detoxification and progress from there. Some may be prescribed medication to help them as they work through other different forms of treatment. This can include counseling and behavioral therapy. What treatment is offered in drug rehab centers will depend on the training of the personnel, the facilities the center has, and the center itself. For drug-addicted patients, no one treatment is effective for all of them. The treatment that they receive is not based on the drug they are addicted to but based on the capacity and needs of the patient.

    Detoxification

    Generally, this is the first step, which involves cleansing their body of all toxins, especially the substance or substances they are addicted to. When in detoxification, there is a withdrawal phase from what they are addicted to and it is unpleasant. In some instances, it can be fatal. When the patient is undergoing detoxification, they are closely observed and may be prescribed certain medications to help them during the toughest parts. This process of detoxification can take as long as three weeks but may take longer. It depends on the individual.

    Formal assessment

    After detoxification, the drug rehab centers will do a formal assessment. The assessment includes recommendations about other treatment that will be needed. It is often a complex process. Substance abuse will often involve treating both psychological and physical illnesses and symptoms. In addition to being weaned off the substance that the patient was addicted to, if they use drugs to deal with the symptoms of a psychological disorder must also receive treatment for that disorder. This is necessary if they want to have a chance of not having a relapse into substance abuse.

    Group therapy and individual counseling

    Both of these can play a role in treating psychological illnesses. These illnesses may also be helped by legal prescription medications. One type of counseling that is usually offered in drug rehab centers is behavioral therapy. Those that are addicted may have developed a habit of taking these drugs in a certain setting or at a certain time of day. With behavioral therapy, the counselors attempt to help the patient realize that they can break these habits and function without the drug they are addicted to.

    Along with the different treatment options these centers offer various treatment settings and lengths of time spent in the drug rehab centers. The drug rehab centers also need to have the capacity to treat withdrawal symptoms while the patients go through detoxification so they may provide hospital-level care. The treatment they receive can be done as an outpatient, inpatient, or on a residential level, long term of a year or more, or short term of six weeks or so.

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    Source by Lora Davis

    Views: 0

  • CBD Oil for Dogs: A Miracle Medicine for All the Dogs Out There

    CBD Oil for Dogs: A Miracle Medicine for All the Dogs Out There

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    Having a sick pet at home can be very stressful for their owners, as one spends all their time searching for the medicines and treatments for them. There are several treatments and medicines available, but it is not necessary that they will be effective on all kinds of dogs. Also, these medicines usually have a lot of side effects too which can lead to reduced functionality in a dog.

    But in recent times, there is one medicine that is doing rounds in the pet world and that is CBD. There are several benefits of CBD on a pet’s health, especially it helps in promoting homeostasis which is important for balancing temperature and gives a therapeutic effect.

    What is CBD?

    Before understanding all the benefits of the best CBD treats for dogs, let’s know what CBD is.

    • CBD is cannabidiol and is extracted from the cannabis plant.
    • The species of the cannabis plant that is used to extract CBD is hemp.
    • There are several cannabinoids that can be extracted from the cannabis plant and this is one of them.
    • Cannabidiol will not get pet high.
    • Lower amounts of THC.
    • It is non-psychoactive in nature.
    • It has no known toxicity level, which means no overdose.

    How does CBD help?

    Every mammal has an endocannabinoid system which handles various processes like immunity, sleep cycle, memory and other functions of a body. Dogs also have the same endocannabinoid system which can interact with endocannabinoids which are released by the brain. But to supplement this supply of endocannabinoid from the brain, one can introduce it externally. This is why it is effective in dogs too, and one can use CBD oil for dogs without any side effects.

    What are the benefits of the CBD?

    There are several benefits of using CBD for dogs. Let’s list some of the very effective ones:

    • Anti-inflammatory

    Cbd helps in evoking immune responses and that is why it can reduce any kind of inflammation. It can help in reducing pain caused due to any kind of arthritis, bowel irritation etc.

    • Pain-killer

    Cbd helps in stopping the absorption of anandamide, which is the natural pain killer. With increased levels of anandamide in blood it helps in reducing the pain sensations.

    • Anti-convulsant

    It helps in restoring abnormal working of neurons. Abnormal working of the neurons usually leads to seizures and tremors, thus CBD helps in reducing seizures.

    • Anti-anxiety

    CBD has an anti-anxiety effect and reduces stress and various phobias. Cbd targets serotonin receptors which helps in increasing the serotonin level which curbs any kind of anxiety and fear in all kinds of organisms and in this case dogs.

    • Anti-emetic

    CBD is helpful in controlling vomiting and nausea in dogs. As it is very common to have nausea while undergoing certain treatments like chemotherapy, CBD can help in this situation and also curb loss appetite.

    • Anti-cancer

    Malicious tumors are common in pets and it means the dog needs to undergo chemotherapy, which leads to various side-effects. Now it is proven that CBD also has anti-cancerous properties that it can slow the growth of the tumor and even reduce its size in some cases.

    All in all, one can say that CBD is a miracle medicine for pets all around. They show exemplary effectiveness among dogs in treating their problems which otherwise would take a lot of medicines and hours with a veterinary. So do not think before choosing the best CBD dog treats to help them in their health troubles.

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    Source by Shalini M

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  • Things to Keep in Mind While Looking Out for an Eye Doctor

    Things to Keep in Mind While Looking Out for an Eye Doctor

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    An eye is the most beautiful part of our bodies and also is one of the sensory organs. Therefore, it should always be in proper condition and be taken care of. One cannot afford any harm or injury to the eye. Hence, finding a good eye doctor is always a task.

    So, here are some points one must keep in mind while looking for an eye doctor.

    1. Types of doctor

    The very first step while choosing an eye doctor is to understand the difference between the various types of eye doctors. Majorly there are two main types of an eye doctor.

    – Optometrist- this is the doctor that looks for treating the vision problems and the conditions related to it. These doctors prescribe the contact lenses and glasses to treat the vision of an individual. Laser surgeries are also taken up by an optometrist.

    – Ophthalmologist- an ophthalmologist deals with providing the treatment for any eye injuries and infections. The eye surgeries such as repairing retinal detachments, removing cataracts, and performing lens implants and LASIK surgeries are treated by an ophthalmologist.

    Therefore, according to your need and requirement, look for the one that can treat in the most appropriate way.

    2. Insurance plan

    One good way to find an eye doctor is by checking your insurance plan. The list of the doctors mentioned there can help a lot by simplifying the task. All the doctor treatments require a huge amount of money. And, the insurance can help you a lot in this way by choosing the one that is covered under your plan.

    3. Have recommendations

    Talk with your friends and family to get information about the doctors they have visited and note down their experience. This can help you a lot by getting the personal feedback from the trusted people.

    4. Research

    After following the above steps, just do a little bit of research yourself about the eye doctors in order to check for any malpractices if they've ever been accused of. Go for the experienced ones. You want a good treatment for your eyesight, for it an experienced doctor is always recommended.

    5. Check the office

    Also, one should be comfortable with the doctor and the way he treats his patients. For this, you have to meet the doctor in person. Also, you would be able to meet some more patients to get the feedback from them. You would be able to have a look at the certificates and the diplomas the doctor has achieved as they are mostly hung on the walls of the clinic.

    Always keep in mind, to choose the doctor that is near to your house. Traveling during the emergency is not always possible. And, by being near to the clinic, one can visit the doctor whenever they need and can get the treatment at earliest.

    Conclusion

    Follow the above given points to find the best doctor for your eyesight and get the most appropriate treatment.

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    Source by Aman Tumukur Khanna

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  • An Insight Into the Different Sectors of the Healthcare Industry

    An Insight Into the Different Sectors of the Healthcare Industry

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    Health has always been one of the major factors determining the growth magnitudes of the economy of any country. The margin between a developing and a developed country is often drawn based on the progress in the fields of healthcare. A strong healthcare sector refers to a lower death rate and a higher level of life expectancy, which largely influences the growth and development of any economy. Hence, it is critical that a country takes good care of its healthcare sector to cater to its populace in an effective manner and to contribute to the country’s growth index in a positive way.

    As far as India is concerned, it has one of the largest and most diverse population frame comprising of individuals belonging to different social and economic conditions. To cater to the multiple needs arising out of the diverse living conditions in India, we have a healthcare sector that upholds a bunch of services ensuring good health and effective prevention. Though if we segregate the sector based on its functioning, you will find a lot of distinct sectors attached to the main industry. However, if we take a brief insight into the broad categories that serve as the backbone to the industry, we would have four major domains as described in the article below.

    Hospital Services and Facilities

    Hospitals are the primary lifeline of the health sector and the core of the health industry. Comprising of general medical hospitals, surgical hospitals, substance abuse and psychiatric hospitals, specialty hospitals, hospices and palliative care centers, family planning and abortion clinics, emergency and other outpatient care centers, dental laboratories, blood and organ banks, sleep disorder clinics, and more, hospitals form a long chain that binds the entire landscape together in terms of serving health to the people. There are residential and nursing care facilities available as well. Nursing, supervisory, residential care are some of the services that are available through this vertical. The other facilities extended through the hospital services are Urgent Care Centers, In-Home Senior Care, Mental Health and Residential Developmental Handicap Facilities, Community Care for the elderly, and so on. Besides, since it is critical that patients receive ambulance services in time, there are direct and indirect services available for ambulatory patients as well. The outpatient care centers, diagnostic centers, hospitals, and some private players in the field also provide this facility to guarantee uninterrupted health service.

    Healthcare Equipment and Diagnostic Tools

    The present-day advancement in science and technology has rendered the healthcare industry with some of the most innovative and effective equipment and processes to diagnose and treat the ailments as critical as cellular malignancy. There are multiple companies who cater to the rising demand of this equipment. In-Vitro diagnostic substances, ophthalmic goods, surgical appliances and supplies, Mammography Machine, Robotic Surgery Equipment, Venous Access Device, and Glucose Meter are some of the examples that help the healthcare professionals in treating and detecting the diseases in a streamlined manner. To manufacture and supply these, there is a huge industry involved that ensures smooth operations and timely delivery of the equipment and tools.

    Medical/Health Insurance

    Apart from the direct health care industry, there are services attached to it that render value to its being. Medical insurance and other organizations that back up the entire process of operations for the healthcare industry have a major impact on the existence and growth of this industry. With active participation and spontaneous service, medical insurance has become primary support for the majority of the treatments that involve considerable expenses. With facilities like TPA and cashless treatments, the patients can now enjoy a hassle-free treatment at best-facilitated hospitals.

    Pharmaceuticals Sector

    The pharmaceutical industry manufactures, markets, and innovates licensed drugs that are effective and integral for better healthcare facilities. This is a huge sector employing a large percentage of population to cater to the market requirements. From drug wholesalers to over the counter stores, the pharmaceutical industry is a major player in this domain. With the rise in the health consciousness in the general public, nutritional supplements have also taken a major share of the healthcare industry, which are again the products of the pharmaceutical sector only.

    As the days have walked into modern times, the increasing level of dependency on technology along with the rising pollution levels have worked to make the diseases even more complicated and varied. Hence, it is imperative that there exists an equally strong healthcare sector guiding the mass to cure. With government interventions and private sector initiatives, the number of hospitals has increased over the years catering to a larger crowd. The other sectors like pharma, insurance, and medical equipment have also grown in parallel to support this emerging sector in every possible way. Covering a large landscape encompassing villages as well as the urban corners of the country, the healthcare sector promises high to keep up with the upcoming challenges and demands of the time.

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    Source by Alok Mishra

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  • Top Reasons Why Athletes Should See a Sports Medicine Doctor

    Top Reasons Why Athletes Should See a Sports Medicine Doctor

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    The life of professional athletes isn’t easy. They have to participate in intensive exercises and training activities constantly to deliver maximum performance in front of an audience.

    While these activities are crucial for athletes to stay in shape, they can also damage their body.

    Sports medicine is a growing healthcare field dedicated for treatment of injuries related to sports and exercise like fractures, dislocations, sprains and strains, tendonitis, overtraining syndrome and degenerative diseases.

    Besides injury treatment, it also focuses on helping the athletes improve their performance prevent future injuries.

    Despite being a relatively new medical specialty, it has become essential for athletes thanks to its ability to address their specific needs and concerns.

    Who is a Sports Medicine Doctor?

    A sports medicine doctor is a licensed and trained individual who focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of injuries related to athletic activities.

    These specialists treat their patients using physical therapy, orthopedic surgery, massage therapy, exercises, and other techniques so that they can return to their desired activity level quickly, safely and successfully.

    They also teach the athletes on nutrition to help them maintain an optimal level of health and fitness and achieve their sports performance goals.

    The sports medicine team includes sports physiotherapists, sports massage therapists, sports orthopaedic surgeons, sports podiatrists, athletic trainers, sports dieticians, exercise physiologists and sports biomechanists.

    Common Sports Injuries:

    Some common sports injuries athletes suffer on the filed include ankle sprain, groin pull, hamstring strain, knee injury, tennis elbow, Achilles tendinitis, concussion, shoulder injury, hip bursitis, quadriceps strain and shin splints.

    They can also experience the exacerbation of pre-existing health problems like diabetes, asthma, allergies and arthritis.

    Reasons to Visit a Sports Medicine Doctor:

    There are many reasons for an athlete to see a sports physician.

    Let’s take a look at some of them.

    (1) Customized Care:

    Sports medicine doctors are specially trained healthcare professionals who have an in-depth understanding of what could be the impacts of an exercise on their patient’s body. They collaborate with physical therapists and orthopedic surgeons to develop a customized treatment for their patient.

    (2) Injury Prevention:

    Sports physicians can provide the athletes with expert advice on the how to prevent injuries during the practice or play and how to reduce the likelihood of resurfacing a previous injury. They also conduct pre-participation physical exams of their patients to determine whether they are fit enough to resume sports activities.

    (3) Pain Management:

    Sports injuries may lead to several orthopedic issues that often cause chronic pain, making it difficult for the athletes to return to the game and carry out their activities.

    While the primary aim of sports physicians is always to diagnose, treat and resolve the injury, they also use pain management therapies like electrical stimulation, spinal decompression, prescription medications and injected medications, to help their patients prevent or defer the need for surgery and continue their daily activities without any hindrance.

    (4) Rehabilitation:

    For an athlete, a return from an injury can be a complicated and lengthy process. If you find yourself sidelined by an injury, a sports physician can help you restore your movement and function and return to same or higher level of fitness quickly.

    (5) Improving Athletic Performance:

    Sports physicians diagnose and treat uncomfortable conditions to help you deliver your maximum performance, both on and off the field.

    They also suggest you exercises and techniques to improve your strength and balance that contribute to your success as an athlete.

    (6) Improving overall Fitness:

    Sports physicians help athletes prevent muscle sprains, strains and tears to keep their bodies in shape.

    They also conduct full body and musculoskeletal examinations to help them maintain their overall fitness.

    (7) Non-Surgical Treatment:

    Sports physicians try to avoid surgery in less severe cases and instead focus on treating injuries with non-surgical methods like physical therapy and acupuncture.

    These treatments are often non-invasive and require shorter recovery time.

    (8) State-of-the-Art Surgical Treatment:

    In the cases where surgery is indispensable, sports physicians use advanced surgical procedures, like arthroscopic ACL repair, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, hip arthroscopy, stem cell therapy and rotator cuff repair to restore the function of injured areas.

    (9) Education & Nutrition:

    Sports medicine doctors teach you how to fuel your body properly to deliver greater performance consistency.They also focus on each athlete’s dietary needs depending on his/her general health and athletic goals.

    (10) Rehabilitated Mobility:

    Sports injuries can impair your mobility and flexibility, thus preventing you from conducting your athletic activities. Sports physicians help you restore function, increase strength and flexibility, improve range of motion, and prevent injuries from occurring.

    (11) Improving Confidence:

    An athlete fights with different type of injuries on the field that could make him/her self-conscious. Sports physicians address their specific needs, thus helping them regain their confidence and enjoy their game.

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    Source by Jexy Rodriguez

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  • The Psychotherapy for Drug Addicts

    The Psychotherapy for Drug Addicts

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    The field of research and psychoanalysis and the behavioral modification is considered one of the most important methods of treatment of drug addiction, in addition to the other two elements 1- the medical element, 2- social element, and it is known that there are multiple methods of The psychotherapy for various types of addiction.

    It is a basic principle in this field that the treatment that suits a patient and leads to the improvement of his condition may not be suitable for another patient suffering from the same illness, that means that the therapist can choose between several therapeutic alternatives to suit the patient, and it increases the chance of the treatment, more importantly, more treatment methods are being invented in the present time, which will raise more hopes for the foreseeable future. One of the most famous psychological treatments in this field is the group of behavioral treatments for addiction and it is considered among the main applications of modern psychological science in the field of the psychological disorders.

    It is based on the essentials that indicate that all forms of behavior (including drug abuse and addiction) of the individual are acquired and grow under certain living conditions (psychosocial and social) and thus ratified by the laws of the acquisition of the habits and its growth, all the differences must be taken into account in the categories of the different habits in terms of levels of support and installation available to them.

    Since the practices of the drugs abuse when taking over the abuser and it managed to lead to dependence or addiction, it means that it has reached the formation of the habits, meaning that the treatment (any attempt to get rid of the set of habits that serve the continuation of the drug abuse) will not be easy, However, it will not be impossible. It requires a high degree of cooperation between the addicts and the therapist with some remedial measures, in addition to perseverance to receive this procedure for a several months, followed by another period of follow-up and integrity.

    One of the method psychotherapy is Boudin HM `s method and it is based on three main elements:

    1. To train the addict to self-observation;

    2. To train the addict on self-assessment;

    3. Then programming behavior modification based on the data reached from the previous two items.

    Training on self-observation is considered one of the most important methods used in modern psychotherapy (ie, self-observation and monitoring). There are three functions under these treatments as follows:

    1. Monitoring specific types of behaviors of the individual related to the subject of the required treatment, before therapeutic intervention;

    2. Monitoring these types of behavior at intervals during and after the therapeutic intervention to assess the impact of this intervention.

    3. Sometimes it is used to facilitate the desired changes, and there are multiple ways to perform this self-observation and conduct the monitoring resulting in the methods taught by the therapist to the addict.

    The objective of training the addict on this self-observation is to achieve the capture and monitoring of the "functional patterns" that reveal his or her addictive behavior.

    The functional pattern in this case is the sequence that begins with the occurrence of an event or chain of events that will raise the motivation to use the drug, Then the act of abuse itself, and thereafter the feelings and behavioral events that support the behavior of the addict.

    In other words, the functional pattern is the set of behavioral precedents that precede the occurrence of the act of abuse, then the act of abuse itself, and then the act of the direct drug abuse.

    The therapist evaluates these patterns in terms of the appropriate ways of modifying or changing the behavior according to the case that he is handling, in order to choose these methods that he deems appropriate and avoids their masculinity. If the patient showed a relative improvement, and then to a new stage in which he teaches him how to evaluate his functional patterns, as he teaches him a ways of changing his behavior.

    One point remains to indicate that the therapist does not end up treating the case except by assessing the effect of the treatment on the basis of four important elements: the level of performance of the addict in his work, the level of his personal and social dealings and the number of times he may be involved during (and despite) the therapeutic program and, finally, the number of times it conflicted with the law throughout the treatment period.

    The implementation of this program takes a few months, and can be applied to the addicts who are held in sanatoriums, and can be applied on the basis of the outpatient clinic system, which is considered to be flexible and thus maximizing its benefits.

    It is worth noting that this therapeutic system has already experienced a number of heroin addicts who have been sentenced to obligatory treatment, and their results have been highly efficient. However, there are many other behavioral treatments, and some therapists prefer to do some of these treatments combined with CBMTS at the same time. The field here allows for many scientific differences that ultimately aim at more efficient treatment service.

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    Source by Mohamed Al Marzooqi

    Views: 0

  • Shamanism – An Alternative to Modern Medicine?

    Shamanism – An Alternative to Modern Medicine?

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    The internet, television, and other news sources are sounding the alarm announcing new protocols for the treatment of diseases. These diseases range from Alzheimer, cancer, diabetes, MS, to Parkinson’s. Within this shout-out is near condemnation of pharmaceuticals and praise for other approaches. The intent here is not to list these approaches or to specifically discuss all of them. One among the many does require attention.

    There is a proliferation of shamanic healers and practitioners within the United States. Dozens of organizations offering advice, membership, seminars, and certification abound. A bulging gold mine lights up the horizon of possible candidates for healing.

    At this point, it is helpful to define shamanism. There is no need to trace the etymological history of the word. Shamanism is not a cult nor is it a religion even though there is an abundance of evidence that suggests a belief in a divine power circumnavigating the universe. Shamanism is an ancient form of healing. A shaman, despite some attempt to label them as a priest, is simply a healer, that is, one who knows remedies for certain physical issues.

    One of several significant markers that distinguish a shaman from a doctor is the recognition that illness may not be just physical, but emotion based. Treating the whole patient is a 40,000 year old approach that is catching on in the 21st Century. Another difference between a shaman and a modern physician is the division of reality into three realms: upper, middle, and lower. And that leads to a third difference: A shaman uses spirit guides as he or she treats a client.

    The shaman has a wide knowledge of herbs; whereas, the modern doctor has a depth in what drugs to use. The shaman is nature based and the physician is most likely man-made chemically based. There is a sound movement to make more “drugs” natural based which from some quarters is praise worthy.

    A fundamental issue arises from a cleverly clothed advertisement or testimonials praising the marvelous wonder of shamanic healing. Whenever a practitioner proposes a “cure” be very cautious. If you have a pain in your side a shaman may not know that it is appendicitis, indigestion, blocked bowel, or cancer. Accepting shamanic healing as an alternative to modern medicine is a grave mistake. And no pun is intended.

    Alternative leaves a bad taste. It implies that there is a better way and that may not be the case. Supportive and interrogative medicine suggests treatment along with current medical practices.

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    Source by Norman W. Wilson, Ph.D

    Views: 0

  • What Is Relationship Coaching Really Like?

    What Is Relationship Coaching Really Like?

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    People often wonder what Relationship Coaching is really like? Because each person has different issues and goals for coaching, it will be different depending on the individual. In general, you can expect to discuss with your Relationship Coach such things as the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the previous session. Depending on your specific needs, coaching can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your coach (usually weekly).

    TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP COACHING FOR THE BEST RESULTS

    It is important to understand that you will get more results from coaching if you actively participate in the process. The ultimate purpose of coaching is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life. Therefore, beyond the work you do in coaching sessions, your coach may suggest some things you can do outside of sessions to support your process – such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals. People seeking coaching are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their lives.

    WHAT ABOUT MEDICATION VS. RELATIONSHIP COACHING?

    It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, coaching addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness. Working with your medical doctor you can determine what’s best for you, and in some cases a combination of medication and coaching is the right course of action.

    DOES WHAT WE TALK ABOUT IN SESSION REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL?

    Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and coach. Successful Relationship Coaching requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the coach’s office. Every coach should provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement, and you can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone. Sometimes, however, you may want your coach to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (your Physician, Naturopath, Attorney), but your Relationship Coach will never release this information without obtaining your written permission.

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    Source by Roxanna Teeling

    Views: 0

  • Study Links Drug Use to High Rates of Syphilis

    Study Links Drug Use to High Rates of Syphilis

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    A connection between drug use and high syphilis rates in the United States was established by a recent report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Sarah Kidd, lead author of the report, pointed out that two major health issues, namely addiction and syphilis, seemed to be colliding with each other.

    The report displayed a connection between drug use and instances of syphilis in heterosexual men and women. As per the report, the usage of heroin, methamphetamine, and other injection drugs by the aforementioned group almost doubled from 2013 to 2017.

    The report however, did not display a similar increase in drug abuse in gay men suffering from syphilis. According to the researchers, the results of the study indicated that risky sexual behaviors associated with drug abuse may be one of the key driving factors for this increase in syphilis among the heterosexual population.

    People using drugs more likely to engage in unsafe sexual activities

    According to experts, people abusing drugs are more likely to engage in unsafe sexual activities, thereby making them more susceptible to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Syphilis significantly increased among heterosexuals especially during the ‘crack cocaine epidemic’ prevalent during the 1980s and 1990s. It was observed that during this particular time period, the usage of drugs was connected with the higher transmission rates of syphilis.

    According to Patricia Kissinger, professor epidemiology at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, it is common tendency among people abusing drugs to indulge in unprotected sex, exchange sex in lieu of money or drugs, and have multiple sex partners. All these are considered as significant risk factors contributing to the spread of the disease.

    Syphilis rates are setting new records

    At the national level, the occurrences of syphilis jumped by around 73 percent at an overall level and 156 percent in case of women patients between 2013 and 2017. While syphilis had been almost eradicated, of late, the highest resurgence of the disease was reported in California, Louisiana, and Nevada. Syphilis can be treated with antibiotics, but if left untreated, it can cause organ damage and even death in some cases. In women, congenital syphilis typically occurs when a mother transmits the disease to her unborn baby, leading to cases of premature birth and newborn fatalities.

    Analyzing the syphilis cases that occurred between 2013 and 2017, the researchers discovered that methamphetamine abuse was the biggest contributor. The report revealed that more than one-third of women and a quarter of heterosexual men suffering from syphilis were reported to be abusing methamphetamine within the last year. The California Department of Public Health reported that methamphetamine use by people suffering from syphilis, doubled in case of heterosexual men and women between 2013 and 2017.

    Why is it difficult to treat sexually transmitted infections?

    Owing to the overlapping instances of substance abuse and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), it becomes challenging to identify and treat people suffering from syphilis. That is because, typically, people using drugs are less likely to visit a doctor or report their sexual activities or partners.

    Likewise, pregnant women may refrain from seeking prenatal care and get themselves tested for syphilis owing to concerns such as their gynecologists reporting their drug abuse. To combat this issue, the CDC urges to bring about more collaboration between programs treating substance abuse and programs addressing STIs.

    Fresno County reported highest rate of congenital syphilis

    According to the report, the highest rate of congenital syphilis was reported in Fresno County in California. The county’s community health division manager, Joe Prado, said that the California Health Department analyzed around 25 congenital syphilis cases in 2017 and more than two-thirds of these women were abusing drugs.

    To address this issue, the country took proactive measures such as offering STD testing for patients getting admitted into inpatient drug treatment centers. Patients coming back for reports were provided incentives including gift cards. Apart from this, for patients undergoing drug treatment, the county offered a care package comprising of contraceptives and education materials about STIs.

    Challenges faced

    While it is significant to have an increased collaboration between STD clinics and drug treatment providers, it is not always that simple, since these two entities have not worked together previously. Usually both these units tend to focus only on their relevant specialties and often fail to screen people for associated ailments like syphilis or other forms of STIs or for drug abuse.

    According to Jeffrey Kalusner, professor of medicine and public health at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in order to fight the rising rates of syphilis more resources are needed. He added that though policies can be implemented towards syphilis testing, these policies need to be accompanied with appropriate resources.

    Seeking treatment for drug abuse

    Drug abuse is often associated with the development of physical ailments like hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis and other STDs. These infections can be severe and result in rapid deterioration of overall health. The best way to avoid the contraction of these diseases is to avoid taking drugs or if addicted, to seek addiction treatment help at the earliest.

    The drug rehab centers of Hillside Mission offer comprehensive evidence-based treatment plans for substance abuse. Whether selecting an inpatient, outpatient, or a residential plan, the detox process at Hillside Mission is designed to minimize the patient’s discomfort and result in a shorter treatment cycle.

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    Source by Susan Navarez

    Views: 0

  • Why Treating Symptoms Alone Won't Heal Discomfort, Pain or Illness

    Why Treating Symptoms Alone Won't Heal Discomfort, Pain or Illness

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    The human body is simply the vessel for emotional and spiritual beings that we are. And you cannot possibly heal your physical body alone from symptoms of pain, illness or disease, without also healing your mind and spirit. Balance; it's always about balance. Our well-being or dis-ease is a direct result of the flow of energy of each of these parts equally. This is why treating your symptoms of discomfort or pain doesn't work. You need to heal the part of you that created the symptom of discomfort in the first place.

    Our physical bodies were designed to be self-correcting with numerous healing systems of checks and balances. The autonomic nervous system is just one of the systems in our body that shows us this. This is the system in our bodies that is responsible for control of the bodily functions not consciously directed, such as breathing, the heartbeat, and digestive processes. This system includes the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system.

    The parasympathetic nervous system, also known as the rest and digest system, is what conserves energy as it slows the heart rate and increases intestinal and gland activity when necessary. The sympathetic nervous system's primary function is to stimulate the body's fight-or-flight response. Fight-or-flight is a physiological response to a perceived harmful even, attack or a threat to survival. This entire autonomic system's design helps prepare the body to cope with stress and threats, as well as returning the body to a resting state afterwards.

    Bear in mind that times of the past generations were much simpler. Most families back then consisted of two parents, one of which was usually taking care of the children. Times of today are very different and the challenges of two working parents or in many cases, single parent families are many. Oftentimes, most of us run around scattered most of the time trying to get all of the necessary things accomplished in a day with no time for rest.

    Due to this consistent stresses of life during these times, we are generally living most of our days within the sympathetic nervous system. Understand that our bodies were not meant to be in a constant state of fight-or-flight response system. When our bodies don't regularly return to a period of rest afterwards, it wreaks havoc on our organs and systems with all of the hormones being released on a constant basis. Hence, creating aches and pains, illness or even disease. This is our bodies way of telling us to stop, listen and slow down, of which, most of us rarely do.

    This is only one of the physical systems of checks and balances our bodies were designed with. Now let's think about our emotions. When you live in a constant state of fight-or-flight, your emotions tend to get scattered and less than positive. The negative emotions of ongoing stress, depression, anxiety, constant excitement and even possible emotional pains of our past are all traumatic emotional energy.

    The negative emotional energy also gets channeled into the physical body, showing too, as the aches and pains in our daily lives. This is our bodies way of trying to dispel this energy and in most cases, if you stop and listen to your body, these symptoms ease and your body recovers naturally. It's when you continue to ignore your body, that it creates longer lasting effects such as illness and disease.

    So stop treating your symptoms of pain and listen to your body. Take the time to rest. We all need a reset button for ourselves every day to stay healthy. I'm not saying that you can't be Superman / woman and get it all done in a day, because you probably can and most likely do. Most of us have grown accustomed to this daily way of life, but at what cost? Is it worth your health? This is such a difficult lesson for most but think of your loved ones around you. Don't you want to be there for them in a healthy and balanced state for years to come? Because I'm pretty positive that they want that for both of you.

    When your feeling imbalanced, not well, or have aches and pains, remember your body is trying to tell you something. And oftentimes, physical issues manifested from a less than positive emotional place. So treat your entire being with balance and rest to help you to determine the root cause, which you can then deal with and heal fully. Throwing medication at a symptom will simply mask it, while the core issue is still very much alive. Core issues grow and fester, and at a certain point, they make you stop and listen.

    I'm living proof of that, having had thyroid cancer at the age of 37. My symptoms started when I was 27 but I didn't stop to listen to my body. I send you these healing tips from a place of love in the hopes that you may not have to go through a life altering disease like I did. Again, it's so important to understand that you cannot heal the whole of you, without healing each of the parts.

    Take time to do things that are relaxing to you every day. Even if 15 minutes a day is all the time you can spare, aren't you worth it? The correct answer here is yes. Do something just for you, that you love, that makes you happy and whole. Balance and center with some quiet and calm time for you. You'll be amazed what a little you time can do for you. You will slowly but surly start to notice those aches and pains slowly fading away, or maybe you start sleeping better at night. Ah, the magic!

    If you would like help in easing the aches and pains of life that is possibly of a deeper emotional energy that needs released, please reach out for a 15 minute consultation. See if Reiki Healing Energy is right for you. Or if someone you know could benefit from this article, please share it so that everyone has the opportunity to heal their life.

    Love and light,
    Nicole

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    Source by Nicole Lawler

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