Saturday 24 February 2007

Alcoholism Requires Recognition And Treatment

He was only about fifty-eight years old when he died. My former
boss was an alcoholic. In fact, I doubt he could function
without a drink. He was in the restaurant business and he could
be seen mixing it up with patrons always obviously drunk. Yet,
he was a highly 'functional' alcoholic. He made a flaming
dessert drink for the customers.

Alcoholism hurts people, it damages lives and the addiction is a
leech that controls and dominates the person it is attached to.
Alcohol treatment can help, but it can only help if the person
wants to change.

My former boss was a really nice guy. He had a really nice
family, lived in a nice place and was successful in his field. I
liked him, I liked his family. Maybe one of the lessons he
taught me was to never take up his bad habit.

Not too long ago, I ran into a young woman. She was very
beautiful. When I saw her 6 months later her face had been
scarred by an automobile accident. Her boyfriend was driving
drunk. He felt so guilty about it that he agreed to go to a
rehab center to get his drug and alcohol problem under control.
Unfortunately, this kind of tragedy had to happen for them to
wake up to the reality of their problem.

I knew another guy when I served in the Navy, he was one of the
funniest people I'd ever met. But he had to have a drink all of
the time. To me, one of the worst things in the world is to be
so dependent on a substance that you can't function without it.
He was young then. Many years have passed and I wonder what kind
of shape he is in today.

A former high school classmate was the president of S.A.D.D.
(Students Against Drunk Driving). Just two months or so before
graduation she was struck and killed by a drunk driver. She
didn't get to see her own graduation except maybe from above.

The list goes on and on. I'm sure you have your own list of
alcohol related situations and problems to draw from. Everyone
does, because the problem of alcohol abuse and addiction is wide
spread.

Is it possible to break an addiction to alcohol? The answer is
yes, but the addicted person needs to be willing to do so. If he
or she is not willing, not much can be done. Unfortunately,
before a person can be willing to do so, he needs to admit to
himself and others that he actually has a problem.

Our society and culture make it far too easy to explain away an
alcohol problem or to hide the fact from others or worse, from
one's self. The critical factor to getting help and removing the
addiction or at least controlling it is the person himself. The
willingness to change has to be there coupled with recognition
that the problem exists.

Growing up in an environment littered with alcoholics makes it
even more difficult to recognize alcoholism as a problem. This
person may have grown up thinking that excessive alcohol use is
normal.

The health of the physical body can be seriously damaged. The
liver is very important to a person's survival and alcohol abuse
can damage that vital organ.

Finding a good alcohol treatment program can help immensely.
Getting away from the enabling environment that contributes to
alcoholism can be very beneficial to the alcoholic's recovery.

If you have an addiction or any kind of health problem or think
you might, please contact your physician for proper diagnosis
and treatment.

About the author:
David Snape writes for To Be Informed. Read more about <a
href="
http://tobeinformed.com/8/" > addiction </a> there.

Sunday 18 February 2007

Teens Drugs Rehab Programs

Drug abuse by teenagers is very common problem of Today that can lead to terrible consequences in the future. A large percentage of deaths in public between 15 and 25 are apparently associated in some way or the other to drug or alcohol abuse. Such abuse also direct to violent criminal acts, such as stabbing, murder or rape. Some teenagers also take drugs to conquer depression and nervousness.

One main goal of any drug rehab is to create and atmosphere where a patient can feel relaxed enough to be honest and not feel judged. Forty percent of teens say they expect to use a drug in the future. One out of every five kids in eighth grade has already tried marijuana.

If a teenager unexpectedly starts behaving in an abnormal manner or tries to keep detached from others, it means you have reasons to be doubtful. Physical signs such as red eyes, niggling cough, and changes in eating and sleeping behavior should also serve as warning signals.

A teen with a family background of drug use and short of societal skills can turn quickly from the level of trailing to grave abuse or enslavement. Some other teenagers, who have no family history of such abuse, may also arrive at the level of absolute dependency. Although any guess is almost not possible, teenagers with a family history of alcohol or drug abuse should specially abstain and exhortation from experimenting.

The user's concern with drugs, plus its effects on mood and presentation, can lead to poor presentation in schools, colleges or workplaces, resultant in firing. A teen's drug abuse can ravage parents and other family members, and spoil family life. According to a Survey on Substance Abuse teens and their parents view drugs as their biggest concern.

The effects of different types of drugs on teens include tetchiness, insomnia, seizures, anxiety, paranoia, antagonism, memory loss, learning problems, increased heart rate, lethargy, panic attacks, symptoms of continual bronchitis, daily coughs and phlegm, more common chest colds, muscle tension, teeth clenching, dehydration, hypothermia, brain damage, and death.

There are also a number of considerations to ponder when choosing a facility for your or your loved one's treatment

· Complete Continuum of Care
· Detoxification through Extended Care
· Post-Residential Care
· Availability of Medical Staff
· Program Flexibility

For help go to following:

http://www.restoringtroubledteens.com/

http://www.troubledteens4jesus.com/

http://www.restoretroubledteens.com/

Restoring Troubled Teens is a Directory Listing of Schools and Articles specifically designed to support the parents of Troubled Teens. Restore Troubled Teens are worked for teens based on teens suicide, teens violence, adolescence, etc.

About Author: Nivea David
For listings please visit http://www.troubledteens4jesus.com/ Teens Drugs Rehab.You can also visit http://www.restoringtroubledteens.com/ for Gang Involvement. And http://www.restoretroubledteens.com/ for Self Abuse .

Saturday 17 February 2007

Stroke Rehab

In the U.S. around 70,000 people suffer a Stroke each year. Rehab is crucial to help the victims of Strokes cope with the effects of a Stroke and recover to a normal and healthy life.


How well a patient recovers from a Stroke depends on many factors. Minimizing brain damage during the Stroke will make Rehab faster and more effective. Rehab cannot cure the Stroke but can help in long-term recovery of the aftereffects of brain damage.


The first step would be to diagnose a Stroke. A number of tests may be done on the patient to diagnose the type of Stroke so that the professionals can determine a treatment and Rehab plan. This includes blood pressure, blood sampling, X-ray, E.C.G., Echocardiogram, brain scans such as MRI and CT scans, and Carotid Ultrasound scanning.


After the diagnosis the medical treatment begins. During a Stroke brain tissue is damaged by blood clots (ischemic Stroke) and /or internal bleeding (hemorrhagic Stroke). Various drug treatments must be started immediately to treat this condition. If used soon enough, they can help prevent damage to the brain.


These include-Anti-platelet drugs, such as aspirin, to prevent clotting, anti-coagulant drugs, cholesterol lowering drugs, and antihypertensive drugs. Some patients may go in for surgical procedures like stenting to clear the clogs and reduce the intensity of the Stroke.


Rehabilitation therapy begins in the emergency care hospital within 24-48 hours after the Stroke, once the patient has stabilized. Rehabilitation of Stroke victims is a difficult and time-consuming task. It helps the Stroke survivors to relearn skills that are lost by brain damage during the Stroke.


It also teaches new skills to make up for any disabilities and to practice and relearn communication, memory, and vocational and physical skills. Commonly people have a surge of recovery in the weeks following the Stroke, followed by a slower recovery in the next year or so.


Stroke can cause five types of disabilities: Paralysis, problems controlling movement, sensory disturbances including pain, problems using or understanding language, and emotional disturbances.


Paralysis is the most common result of Stroke. It causes problems of movement, posture and swallowing. Left-brain damage causes right-limb paralysis. Stroke victims may also experience sensory problems like pain, numbness and loss of feeling. Some may have aphasia, problems using or understanding language. People with Global aphasia may lose all their linguistic abilities.


Stroke can also cause damage to the parts of the brain related to memory, learning and awareness. Some also experience severe emotional trauma involving fear, anxiety, frustration and suicidal thoughts.


During the Rehabilitation process, physicians are responsible for the long-term care of the Stroke survivors, including neurologists who look after acute care and physiatrists who look after the Rehab program. Physical therapists help patients with mobility issues like walking, climbing stairs and maintaining balance. Occupational therapists teach them daily living activities like feeding, grooming and using the toilet. Speech therapists help with language skills and swallowing problems. Rehab nurses care for the patient and educate the family concerning how to care for them. Social workers help Stroke survivors and their families with counseling and community resources.


Stroke is a serious disease, rendering the survivor in a weak and delicate position. The need for aftercare and Rehab is high, as the aftereffects of a Stroke are numerous and interfere with normal life function in an unmanageable way. It is only with the help of this team of doctors, nurses and therapists that the patient can be Rehabilitated.



Rehab provides detailed information about rehab, alcohol rehab, cardiac rehab, drug rehab and more. Rehab is the sister site of Medical Alert Bracelets.


Author: Jason Gluckman