Medical Advice Guru

So the cigarettes chemicals have left your bloodstream, you start to feel a bit better about having a drink in your hand and not smoking a cigarette, but you still have cravings for cigarettes.

The hardest part of stopping smoking is getting past the mental cravings, these tend to be at their worst when you are bored or stressed, you will feel a longing for the relaxation that smoking once afforded.

Unfortunately there are not many products that can truly help with the mental aspects of smoking, however things like hypnotism have been known to significantly reduce cigarette cravings.

Apart from hypnotism the only real true way of getting past the mental cravings for cigarettes is pure strong willpower. If you do not feel like you have this I strongly suggest buying an Hypnosis CD or DVD to help you combat your addiction.

Paul McKenna is one of the worlds foremost hypnotists and has released a DVD and CD which are aimed to reduce your mental cravings for cigarettes, whether you are at the office, in the pub or waking up first thing on a morning, these products should greatly reduce your desire for a cigarette and help you significantly ni your quest to stop smoking.

written by admin \\ tags: Addiction, Hypnosis, Mental Issues, Quit Smoking, Smoking, Stop Smoking

After the Chemical withdrawal symptoms have faded you will be left with mental and physical cravings for cigarettes. These can be the hardest phases when you decide to stop smoking and cause many people to start again.

The Physical Cravings of Cigarettes usually fade after a few months, but slight twinges will most likely be felt forever. Many people find sitting in a pub or bar, with a drink in one hand and nothing in the other the most stretching, others simply find themselves bringing their fingers to their lips.

One of the oldest and surprisingly effective methods is infact carrot sticks. Chewing these when craving can infact subdue cigarette cravings and help you to quit smoking cheaply.

Other methods include Nicotine inhalers, which copy the motion and suction of the cigarette and release a small puff of nicotine into the bloodstream, these should not however be used if you decided to go cold turkey.

There are many other things to do, though not many suitable for the pub, but all of them have one thing in common, they mimic the movement of your arm, they involve chewing or sucking and they have some pleasurable response, usually a nice taste.

Some people find slightly melted icecream, liquorice root or even the sherbert filled straws particularly effective.

The fact of the matter is though that whatever you do here you will be replacing one habit with another, though the differences in cost and health risks are massively different!

written by admin \\ tags: , Physical, Quit Smoking, Smoking, Stop Smoking

The first step in stopping smoking is beating the chemical dependence you have on cigarettes.  Nicotine is a highly addictive substance that can stay in the body for upto two weeks, although it only has a half life of around 2 1/2 hours n the body.

Nicotine has been clinically proven to be as addictive as heroin and cocaine, with subjects finding nicotine the hardest to come off and stay off.

When Bracing yourself to deal with the intense chemical effects there are several things that can be used to ‘ween’ yourself off the drug. These have various Pros and Cons that can vary in intensity depending on the individual smoker
Nicotine Lozenges/Gum - These are designed to give a short burst of nicotine, similar in level to that of a cigarette to begin with then lower dosages for when you begin to bring yourself off the drug.  While these are effective at helping most people stop smoking some may find that since they only take it when they really want a cigarette the lower dosages are ineffective.

Nicotine Patches - These are the most effective way to quit smoking and getting past the chemical element of nicotine.  the patch releases nicotine through the skin over a 24 hour period.   This makes them very effective for completely repressing the chemical craving for a cigarette, and allows lower dosages of nicotine to be implemented with ease.   However some people have complained that nicotine patches leave them with vivid or nightmarish dreams, though some can sleep through these many find them intolerable and instead opt for 16 hour release patches.  These however are not quite as effective as they are not active during the sleeping period users may find morning cravings particularly intense.

Nicotine Inhalers - Nicotine Inhalers are useful because not only do they release nicotine but they also duplicate the intake motion of a cigarette.  These can be fairly expensive but are a fantastic way to quit smoking as they help bring remove your desire for smoking both Chemically and Mentally.

Of course even with any of these you will find quitting difficult.  Getting through the chemical stage of quitting smoking can be an immensely difficult and challenging task, but once you have got there you are a major step towards stopping smoking.

written by Oli \\ tags: Chemical Addiction, Quit Smoking, Smoking, Stop Smoking

Whilee there are three major types of insomnia there are also three patterns for insomnia.  The three types are Transient, Acute and Chronic, but those only describe the condition they do not show when or for how long each night it can affect a persons sleep.

The thres patternsof insomnia are often incredibly useful in helping find out the root cause of the sleep disorder, making the three patterns of insomnia vital in diagnosis and treatment of insomnia.

The pattern of insomnia often is related to a specific type of sleeping disorder.

1. Initial insomnia - You may have trouble falling asleep at the start of the sleeping period, this is often associated with anxiety and minor stress disorders.
2. Middle insomnia - You may find yourself waking up in the middle of the night, you may find it difficult to maintain your sleep, regulalry waking. Often associated with physical pain or medical illness.
3. Terminal/Late insomnia - Waking up very early in the morning, this is often associated with clinical depression.

Of course as with a lot of the things to do with insomnia nothing is 100% certain, just because you find yourself waking early does not instantly make you clinically depressed, but it is a classic cause.

written by Oli \\ tags: Insomnia, Patterns

Smoking is one of the worlds most common addictions, with nearly all people over the age of 16 having at least tried a cigarette at some point in their lives it is not surprising to see why. Quitting smoking can be hard, especially since nicotine is one of the most socially acceptable addictions you can find the world over. Over the coming months I hope I can help you stop smoking without suffering.

It is important to remember that a persons addiction to cigarettes and nicotine is both Physical, Mental and Chemical. you will not stop smoking unless you conquer all three areas.

The chemical element is surprisingly the easiest to beat, this only takes a matter of day, once around a week has passed there sould no longer be any chemical cravings for nicotine in your body.

The physical element is a little harder, your body likes routine and you will find your hands fidgetting for something to do!

The mental element is probably the hardest thing to get over, you find yourself at the office a little depressed and you remember how calm and relaxed the old cigarette made you feel. The mental stage is where most people lose the battle of giving up smoking. The mental stage never goes away for some smokers, and has often started people smoking again when they hit a stressful patch.

Once you have mastered each of these you will no longer be a smoker, though even after you have managed to give up smoking you will still find yourself wanting them, remember, dont give in to temptation To help you along with this we will be listing all the medication, treatment and tips and tricks to help you quit smoking!

written by Oli \\ tags: Addiction, Advice, Give up Smoking, Help, Quit Smoking, Smoking, Smoking Advice, Stop Smoking

While most treatment for insomnia is psychological, dealing with insomnia as a symptom of some other root cause, disease of medical condition there is treatment available in the form of medication. A lot of these do tend to be sedatives or sleeping tablets, however there is a danger of users becoming addicted to these, sometimes exaggerating the insomnia by suggesting to the person that they cannot sleep without drugs. There are several classes of medication that insomnia sufferers may find useful, these are,

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazpines, included in drugs such as temazepam, flunitrazepam, triazolam, flurazepam, midazolam and nitrazepam are commonly used hypnotics prescribed by doctors for insomnia. Regular use of these can develop both a tolerance and a dependence, particularly if they are used consistently for a long period.

Non-benzodiazepines

Non-benzodiazepine medication such as zolpidem and zopiclone are much more selective drugs and tend to have less side effects on a user. Their is however controversy as to how effective they are compared to Banzodiazepine based drugs. Nonbenzodiazpine medication can cause physical and mental dependence, so their use does have top be monitored.

Antidepressants

Some antidepressants have a sedative effect such as doxepin and trazodone, these are occasionally prescribed to treat insomnia however they do have some major drawbacks.on-top of several minor side effects. These do tend to be specific to each drug so please do read the label.

Melatonin

Melatonin has been proven effective in many cases by regulating the sleep/wake cycle in its users. There is however little in the way of data supporting its case and is still being trialled by several institutes. Chemicals and drugs that affect Melatonin such as Rozerem do not have much potential for abuse or dependence. They also have very little in the way of side effects making them an ideal starting point for treatment of insomniacs.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines are used regularly as non prescription sleeping drugs. While it is readily available its begins to lose its effectiveness very quickly and users may find themselves feeling very groggy the next day.

Herbal Remedies.

Several herbal solutions to insomnia have been proven to be effective, such as Valerian, Chamomile, Lavender and Cannabis. Valerian has undergone multiple studies and does seem to be fairly effective. Cannabis has been proven to be a very effective treatment of insomnia, though it is illegal in many countries and can carry several minor side effects.

Alcohol is often used to help sleep, it does however prevent a person from having a restful nights sleep and large quantities may result in a hangover, leaving the sufferer unable to function effectively the next day.

Magnesium tablets can also sometimes help alleviate insomnia, magnesium deficiency is a common cause of low level insomnia.

Complementary and Alternative Remedies for Insomnia

There are a lot of traditional ‘old wives tales’ that contain remedies for sleeping problems, and do tend to be fairly effective. These included half an hours exercise every afternoon, warm milk before bed, a warm bath or having a large lunch and a light dinner. There are also several other suggestions such as avoiding mentally stimulating activity before bed times, going to bed and waking up early and avoiding bright light for an hour or two before bed time.

Relaxation techniques such as aromatherapy, mediation and yoga have been proven to help people sleep, along with other relaxation techniques such as self hypnosis.

written by Oli \\ tags: Antidepressants, Antihistamines, Benzodiazepines, Complimentary, Drugs, Herbal, Insomnia, Medication, Treatment

Two separate studies, one in the USA and one In Holland have confirmed a fairly worrying trend. Alzheimer’s is upto 2.5 times more likely in people who have a history of suffering from depression. The worst parts of this are twofold, first depression is on the increase in the western world, helped along by the recession. Secondly depression is incredibly difficult to treat effectively, and in many cases people may not realise they are infact depressed. Depression is however a serious problem, and can lead to many other problems, not to mention dietary and metabolic problems, as well as insomnia as mentioned int he previous article.

The important question to ask though is “Is this news useful?”

The answer I think is a resounding yes, since we have found one link to a degenerative illness that is barely understood by our scientists. Discovering the significant correlation between depression and Alzheimer’s could help us understand more about how it effects the brain, and how the may contribute to one another. There is however a chicken or the egg problem posed now. Does Depression help cause Alzheimer’s or the other way around?

written by Oli \\ tags: Alzheimer's, Depression, Insomnia, Research

The causes of Insomnia vary greatly, the more common occurrences being stress, hormonal, psychoactive drugs, lack of exercise, medical conditions or changes in sleeping patterns.  The two main categories this falls under however are Mental and Physical.

Physical insomnia can usually be solved with painkillers, exercise or certain drugs, it usually occurs after injuries, lack of exercise or changes to your metabolism.

Mental Insomnia can be caused by stress, worry or even just thinking too much.  Treatment here can involve psychotherapy drugs and, again, exercise!

With Insomnia the varying types (Transient Insomnia, Acute Insomnia, Chronic Insomnia) tend to be associated with different causes.

Transient Insomnia tends to be over short term things such as Injury or something mentally shocking.   These can cause short term effects but tend to disappear over the course of several days to a few weeks.

Intermittent Transient Insomnia is similar but can usually be found with people who suffer under continually stressful environments, such as the financial sector or jobs which require regular flight across timezones.  It is also a symptom caused by periods of hormonal change, such as the menopause.

Acute Insomnia is more often associated with a large emotion or severe injury, this can be found regularly with people who have lost a loved one or a limb.

Chronic insomnia is surprisingly caused by similar things to Acute insomnia.  Chronic insomnia is regularly found in amputees and people who have had trouble grieving over lost loved ones. It can usually indicate severe psychological trauma, and may be helped by psychiatric care and even hypnotism.

The important thing to remember though is that Insomnia can be very Non-specific.  Many sufferers are unable to find a cause, or have one that is not listed there.  If you suffer from Insomnia though it is vital that you consult a Doctor for professional medical advice.

written by Oli \\ tags: Acute Insomnia, Causes of Insomnia, Chronic Insomnia, Insomnia, Transient Insmonia

Insomnia is an illness which has the main symptom of sleep deprivation. People who suffer from insomnia can often find themselves laying in bed for hours with their eyes closed but are unable to ’switch off’ their mind. While Insomnia is not often regarded as a real problem it affects 64 million Americans alone every year, and that is only the reported cases. The majority of people with Insomnia will never actually consult a doctor for it and tend to suffer for several weeks before their sleep patterns regain normality.

Insomnia is not just characterised by the lack of sleep however. The majority of insomnia sufferers will find their ability to function while awake severely impaired and may have trouble performing simple tasks aswell as finding themselves suffering from frequent short term memory loss.

There are three main types of insomnia, though around each one there are several grey areas. These types are Transient, Acute and Chronic.

Transient Insomnia tends to last from several days to weeks, and tends to be caused by an external problem, be it stress or a change in sleeping patterns. If this re-occurs consistently it becomes known as Intermittent Transient Insomnia.  Intermittent Transient Insomnia often occurs in people who regularly travel long distances, work in alternating factory shifts or in other areas where a good sleep pattern is unable to form.

Acute Insomnia is similar to Transient Insomnia, however it lasts from 3 weeks to 6 months. Some of the side effects such as memory loss and impaired motor functions that may become apparent in lesser forms of insomnia become much more pronounced with sufferers of Acute Insomnia.

Chronic Insomnia is often characterised by the sleep deprivation lasting from several months to years. It can be a secondary or primary disorder, meaning it can be caused by an illness or could just be ‘he problem’ Sufferers of Chronic insomnia may show signs of mental and muscular fatigue, however they tend to show a high degree of alertness, something not apparent in Acute or Transient Insomnia.

written by Oli \\ tags: Acute Insomnia, Chronic Insomnia, Insomnia, Sleep Deprivation, Transient Insomnia

Vitamins and Minerals are the most basic of our bodies needs. Some are more important than others, some are vital and some vitamins and minerals are just complimentary. However there is no doubt that leading a poor diet with poor nutrition can cause trouble. Sometimes it is the lack of a certain mineral in your diet, or even too much of a vitamin that is causing you trouble. Either way it is very important that you balance out what you eat to fulfill your dietary requirements. Minerals can be found in several different food types and perform a host of vital things to keep your body functioning correctly, these include major minerals such as,

• Calcium - Helps to build and repair bones and teeth, also important for the health of your muscles, heart and digestive system. It also neutralizes acidity, supports synthesis and operation of your blood cells
• Chloride - Used int he production of things such as stomach acid within your body!
• Magnesium is required for processing Adenosine triphosphate (ATP - the chemical that transfers energy within your body) and related reactions.
• Phosphorus - Required with calcium to help build and strengthen bones and helps with other boodily functions such as energy processing
• Potassium - a systemic electrolyte and is essential in ATP regulation which also requires sodium
• Sodium - another systemic electrolyte that works with, and is required for  coregulating ATP with potassium

There are also a large amount of trace minerals your body needs, these include,

• Cobalt - required for biosynthesis of vitamin B12
• Copper - required component of many redox enzymes.
• Fluorine - Usedin the creation of tooth enamel
• Iodine - Needed for the biosynthesis of thyroxin
• Iron - required for a large number of proteins and enzymes, most commonly associated with blood, specifically hemoglobin
• Manganese - a used in the functioning of antioxidant enzymes
• Molybdenum - Used by xanthine oxidase and related oxidases
• Selenium - required for peroxidase, commonly known as antioxidant proteins
• Sulfur- a component of cysteine and methionine amino acids and participates as an enzyme cofactor
• Zinc - required for several enzymes such as carboxypeptidase, liver alcohol dehydrogenase, carbonic anhydrase. It is also required by your body to process vitamin C

Of course I dont expect you to understand what half of this means straight off, but in upcoming articles I will go over the details of what they do, why they do it and how you should get these into your diet.

Vitamins tend to be much easier, everyone knows that Vitamin C is good for your immune system, cod liver oil helps your joints and so forth, but here is a quick run down of what you find in what!

As with the Minerals in the near future I will go through each one and highlight the Pro’s and Cons’ of each vitamin!

Lack of vitamins can lead to a host of illnesses, it is highly recommended that you provide your body with an intake of some sort of each of these regularly.

written by Oli \\ tags: Diet, Food, Healthy, Healthy Eating, Minerals, Nutrition, Vitamins