Niacin Deficiency in Alcoholics Can Cause DementiaAlcohol AbuseBy Promises AustinFebruary 27, 2014Alcoholism produces a range of possible harms in the brains and bodies of affected individuals. One of these potential harms is the onset of a condition called pellagra, which occurs as a result of a deficiency of a B vitamin called niacin (B3). The presence of pellagra can cause changes in several important body systems,…
Are Doctors to Blame for the Prescription Drug Addiction Crisis?Prescription DrugsBy Promises AustinFebruary 27, 2014Every year, U.S. doctors prescribe more opiate painkillers and other prescription medications than any other country in the world, by far. In fact, eight out of 10 prescription painkillers made worldwide are consumed by Americans. As the prescription drug addiction epidemic has continued to spiral out of control, many are pointing fingers at doctors. A…
Preventing Heroin Overdose – Do You Have a Drug Buddy?HeroinBy Promises AustinFebruary 25, 2014The most dangerous drug for relapse is heroin. The greatest risk to a person who is in early treatment and who relapses is the threat of overdose. This is because they have no tolerance but also because they often have poor judgment in how much they should be using. Heroin use and heroin overdoses have…
How to Treat PTSD and Alcohol Dependence TogetherPTSD & TraumaBy Promises AustinFebruary 18, 2014Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition involving flashbacks, difficulty sleeping and a variety of emotional responses when faced with subsequent stressful situations. Complicating treatment is PTSD’s tendency to appear in combination with other mental disorders like anxiety, depression or substance abuse. In the case of the latter, experts believe that patients are…
Can You Lose Your Job for Smoking Legal Marijuana?MarijuanaBy Promises AustinFebruary 17, 2014All around the United States, policies and public opinion surrounding marijuana are shifting. To date, 22 states allow medical marijuana use, six states have medical marijuana laws pending legislation, and two states, Washington and Colorado, have legalized it outright. However, this substance is still illegal according to federal law, and many employers in these states…
Is Alcohol to Blame for High Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels?Alcohol AbuseBy Promises AustinFebruary 14, 2014Cholesterol and triglycerides are two forms of blood-borne fat that appear in the human circulatory system. People with too much LDL (“bad”) cholesterol or triglycerides in their bloodstreams can develop substantially increased risks for serious forms of heart disease. In a study published in December 2013 in the journal Alcohol, a team of Japanese researchers…
How to Explain Depression to Your KidsDepressionBy Promises AustinFebruary 13, 2014Depression affects a significant number of Americans, occurring in as many as one in 10 homes. It may be tempting for a parent to hide their depression from young children, but the fact is kids know something is not quite right whether you choose to explain it or not. One expert has seven suggested comments…
The Dangers of Drinking Amplify with AgeAlcohol AbuseBy Promises AustinFebruary 10, 2014When you hit your 40s you may need bigger print to read comfortably, a bigger belt size and even a bigger size shoe. But what you definitely do not need is a bigger serving of alcohol. In fact, medical experts say that as you age your aging body simply cannot handle alcohol consumption as it…
The Problem of Reliance on Opioid Painkillers for Chronic PainPrescription DrugsBy Promises AustinFebruary 9, 2014It all seems so easy; if something hurts, you just take a pill and soon your pain will fade away as if by magic. And even if your pain is severe or chronic, no problem—prescription painkillers are built to handle these heavier loads, and if you pay a visit to your family doctor he or…
Could Eating Tomatoes Help Ward Off Depression?DepressionBy Promises AustinFebruary 7, 2014For sufferers of depression and similar mood disorders, there’s a good reason to take a closer look at the humble tomato. A recent study led by researcher Kaijun Niu of China’s Tianjin Medical University in 2012 found that eating tomatoes a few times per week can go a long way in warding off depression. Researchers…
