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Council on Family Health Offers Medicine Use Information for Seniors
Educational booklet distributed in cooperation with FDA, AoA
As many people age, they are faced with health problems that may need to be treated with the regular use of medicine. And with the normal body changes caused by aging, the likelihood...
Healthy Aging - Surviving In Today's World
(NC)-The older we get, the faster life moves. Unfortunately, as our body ages, we take on the strain of our years. Keeping pace in a hectic world can take its toll. Elderly people need to use extra care to ensure their safety.
When...
Juggling Your Way Into Balance - Part 1 - Where We've Been
Copyright 2005 So-lu'shunz Management Services Let's take a brief look at the journey of American women through the last 100 years. Throughout this period, we have proved ourselves to be resilient and flexible, persistent and determined, dedicated,...
Natural and Dietary Therapies for Acne
The typical modern medicine answer to outbreaks of acne include antibiotics, drying agents, skin peelers and in some cases a very toxic and strong drug Accutane TM. All of these will normally work for a short period of time, but eventually, if the...
Seniors at a Disadvantage When Purchasing Prescription Drugs Online
A recent national survey done by the Kaiser Family Foundation in association with Princeton Survey Research Associates (PSRA) discovered that the digital world is still divided when it comes to seniors purchasing prescription drugs online. The...
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Can a Neurotransmitter imbalance be causing your mood problems??
Neurotransmitters are powerful chemicals that regulate numerous
physical and emotional processes such as cognitive and mental
performance, emotional states and pain response. Virtually all
functions in life are controlled by neurotransmitters.
Interactions between neurotransmitters, hormones, and the brain
chemicals have a profound influence on overall health and
well-being. When our concentration and focus is good, we feel
more directed, motivated, and vibrant. Unfortunately, if
neurotransmitter levels are inadequate these energizing and
motivating signals are absent and we feel more stressed,
sluggish, and out-of-control. Disrupted communication between
the brain and the body can have serious effects to ones health
both physically and mentally. Depression, anxiety and other mood
disorders are thought to be directly related to imbalances with
neurotransmitters.Some of the more common neurotransmitters that
regulate mood are Serotonin, Dopamine, and Norepinephrine.
Serotonin imbalance is one of the most common contributors to
mood problems. Some feel it is a virtual epidemic in the United
States. Serotonin is key to our feelings of happiness and very
important for our emotions because it helps defend against both
anxiety and depression. You may have a shortage of serotonin if
you have a sad depressed mood, anxiety, panic attacks, low
energy, migraines, sleeping problems, obsession or compulsions,
feel tense and irritable, crave sweets, and have a reduced
interest in sex. Additionally, your hormones and Estrogen levels
can affect serotonin levels and this may explain why some women
have pre-menstrual and menopausal mood problems. Moreover,
stress can greatly reduce your serotonin supplies. Dopamine and
Norepinephrine are responsible for motivation, energy, interest,
and drive. They are associated with positive stress states such
as being in love, exercising, listening to music, and sex. These
neurotransmitters are the one's that make you feel good. When we
don't have enough of them we don't feel alive, we have
difficulty initiating or completing tasks, poor concentration,
no energy, and lack of motivation. Low neurotransmitter levels
drive us to use drugs (self medicate) or alcohol, smoke
cigarettes, gamble, and overeat. For many years, it has been
known in medicine that low levels of these neurotransmitters can
cause many diseases and illnesses. A neurotransmitter imbalance
can cause Depression, anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia,
irritable bowel, hormone dysfunction, eating disorders,
Fibromyalgia, obsessions, compulsions, adrenal dysfunction,
chronic pain, migraine headaches, and even early death. What
causes neurotransmitter dysfunction? * Prolonged periods of
stress can deplete neurotransmitters levels. Our fast paced,
fast food society greatly contributes to these imbalances. *
Poor Diet. Neurotransmitters are made in the body from proteins.
Also required are certain vitamins and minerals called
"cofactors" If your nutrition is poor and you do not take in
enough protein, vitamins, or minerals to build the
neurotransmitters, a neurotransmitter imbalance develops. We
really do think and feel what we eat. * Genetic factors, faulty
metabolism, and digestive issues can impair absorption and
breakdown of our food which reduces are ability to build
neurotransmitters. * Toxic substances like heavy metals,
pesticides, drug use, and some prescription drugs can
cause
permanent damage to the nerves that make neurotransmitters. *
Certain drugs and substances such as caffeine, alcohol,
nicotine, NutraSweet, antidepressants, and some cholesterol
lowering medications deplete neurotransmitter levels leading to
neurotransmitter imbalances. * Hormone changes cause
neurotransmitter imbalances
Testing is now available to detect Neurotransmitter Imbalances.
Basing a treatment on symptoms alone (traditional medicine)
will not provide the information needed to address the
underlying imbalance. A visit to a doctor or practitioners
office for depression involves telling them how you have been
feeling emotionally. The typical depressed person leaves the
office with a prescription for an antidepressant without ever
having any conclusive laboratory evidence of what is causing
their symptoms. New sophisticated equipment and tests are now
available to evaluate neurotransmitter imbalances using a urine
or blood sample. This provides a neurotransmitter baseline
assessment and is useful in determining the root causes for
diseases and illnesses such as those mentioned above. Laboratory
analysis can now provide precise information on neurotransmitter
deficiencies or overloads, as well as detect hormonal and
nutrient co-factor imbalances which influence neurotransmitter
production. Individuals require individual solutions. Testing
helps to determine exactly which neurotransmitters are out of
balance and helps to determine which therapies are needed for an
individualized treatment plan. It also helps in monitoring the
effectiveness of an individual's treatment. Treatment
Nutrient therapies greatly increase the levels of
neurotransmitters that a person has been found to be deficient
in. Studies have shown that it is both safe and effective. These
nutrients will cross the blood brain barrier into the brain
where they will be synthesized into neurotransmitters and this
will raise the number of neurotransmitter molecules needed by
the brain. They are prescribed according to the results of
laboratory testing giving the imbalanced person a more
individualized plan of treatment. Prescription drugs such as
antidepressants do not increase the overall number of
neurotransmitter molecules in your brain, they merely move them
around or stop the breakdown. If your levels are too low to
start with, medication may work initially, then "poop out" or
not work from the beginning. There is also the issue of
side-effects and more recently the FDA warning that SSRI
antidepressants could cause suicidal thoughts in some children,
teens and adults. There are specialized nutrient formulas
which help antidepressant medications work more effectively.
Under the supervision of a trained practitioner these treatments
may be used in addition to the persons existing medication to
boost their effectiveness or to target another neurotransmitter
that is also causing symptoms. Many antidepressant or
anti-anxiety medications just target one neurotransmitter but
many mental health disorders involve multiple neurotransmitters.
About the author:
Valerie Balandra is a board certified psychiatric nurse
practitioner and holistic health practitioner. Her integrative
psychiatry practice focuses on identifying the cause of the
chemical imbalance and provides natural treatments for
depression and anxiety. http://www.integrativepsychiatry.net
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