5 Contributing Factors and Causes of Drug Addiction

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Across the world, drug addiction is a problem that affects many people, with effects extending to their families and the community. The impacts of addiction are not only on the physical and mental health and relationships of the addicts but also their financial wellbeing. Drug use and addiction are progressive, and there are contributing factors and causes that you should know about. Understanding these factors and causes also influences the decisions and steps an addict or family takes to seek help. 

Mental Health Disorder

People with existing mental disorders have higher chances of engaging in abuse of drugs and developing an addiction. Mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression are more likely to push and turn an individual into an addict. In most cases, an individual with existing mental issues will opt for self-medication and, with time, develop a tolerance leading to addiction. People with existing mental health problems must seek help, especially in the early stages of drug use, before developing an addiction.

Peer pressure

While having friends and loved ones around you is beneficial, some companies can prove harmful to you. If your friends or loved ones engage in drug use, the likelihood of engaging in such activities is higher. With peer pressure, the habits become progressive, meaning that you get hooked and develop an addiction with time. Peer pressure is a significant factor among teens and youth. Individuals who use drugs will also choose to spend time and associate with others with the same behavior. This makes it hard to stop as the pressure and influence are strong. It also becomes hard to seek help when the peer pressure is strong and the need to quit lower.

Prescription Drugs

The risk factor for drug addiction is much higher on prescription drugs because, in most cases, they are addictive. Painkillers, antidepressants, and sedatives are among the prescribed drugs that people use and lead to addiction. Doctors and healthcare practitioners must provide control measures when prescribing addictive drugs to their patients. You should note that when the body develops tolerance to some of these drugs, it becomes easier for an individual to develop an addiction. Prescription drugs can also lead to physical and mental dependence, making it hard for an addict to stop or seek professional help.

Loneliness and Solitude

The relationship you have with your family, friends, and loved ones influences the likelihood of using drugs and developing an addiction. People with reservations and who prefer solitude will consider seeking solace from drugs. If you have a broken relationship with your family or loved ones, the temptation to look for other means of solace, hence engaging in drugs, is there. When you are lonely and out of touch with the social and active world, drugs become your companion, leading to addiction in the process. 

Family and Environment

There is a correlation between family history and drug use. An individual brought up and raised in a family with drug users has a higher chance of emulating that behavior. This is the same when you reside in an environment with drug users. The risk factor is higher in children with drug-addicted parents. If the environment only allows for drug abuse, it is hard for children to see beyond drug use, especially when they don’t go to school or have proper adult guidance. Learn how family and the environment can contribute to drug abuse and addiction and the effective mitigation measures you can take to avoid such cases here https://www.ascendantny.com/.

Drug abuse and addiction is a progressive habit and disease that takes time to exhibit. It also takes time before an individual sees the need to seek help and work towards recovery. Understanding the contributing factors and causes of drug addiction makes it easier to identify, seek, or offer help to individuals struggling with drug addiction.

Understanding Vascular Dementia and Stroke

Vascular dementia is called vascular dementia because it occurs after a cardiovascular event called a stroke. It is not the most common kind of dementia, but it is still a serious disease that often requires an assisted living facility or home care. In one study, between 9.6 percent and 14.4 percent of people with one stroke suffered from vascular dementia. 

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After a recurrent stroke, approximately 29.6 percent to 53.1 percent of people suffered from dementia. This kind of dementia is not any different from other kinds of dementia, other than how it is caused. Learn more about this kind of dementia here.

What Causes Vascular Dementia

Vascular dementia occurs most commonly after the age of 65, with the risk increasing significantly by the age of 90. This disease is caused by a vascular event where blood does not reach the brain in a timely manner. It is an irreversible problem caused by stroke. When a blood vessel has a blockage, blood can not reach the brain. That blockage is often caused by a disease or internal bleeding.

The blood provides important nutrients and oxygen to the brain. When the brain can't get those things, there may be some brain cells that expire. This will cause vascular conditions such as stroke, which will lead to dementia. 

Types of Vascular Dementia

There are two kinds of vascular dementia. They are called cerebral amyloid angiopathy and subcortical dementia. Subcortical dementia is marked by a small vessel problem. In this condition, the small vessels are damaged by stroke and are twisted. This is the problem that will result in less blood flow to the brain.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy is a kind of dementia that is caused by a protein problem. The protein is called amyloid. When that protein blocks vessels in the brain, this results in a plaque buildup which slows down brain activity. This can lead to dementia, and is also seen in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Symptoms of Vascular Dementia

The symptoms of vascular dementia are very similar to the symptoms of other kinds of dementia. The patient has a difficulty in making decisions, with planning and organizing being among the most difficult decisions to make. They may also have large motor movement impairment. Their walk or gait may be impacted, and they have a poor balance.

It is impossible to diagnose vascular dementia on its face. A doctor will perform a variety of tests to determine if brain function is different than what it would normally look like after a stroke. However, if you or a loved one have suffered a stroke, and are experiencing vascular dementia symptoms, it could be very possible that there is vascular dementia.

How to Treat Vascular Dementia

There is no one treatment for vascular dementia. It is treated very much the same as other types of dementia. There are slightly more symptoms of vascular dementia than there are in many other kinds of dementia. An assisted living facility may be the best solution for someone with this disease.

Because there may be mobility issues, exercise is not advised unless a doctor has given the okay. Sitting activities such as entertainment, games, and puzzles can help a vascular dementia client.

Get Information on Vascular Dementia Today

Vascular dementia is a disease that impacts those that have had a stroke. It is irreversible, and a tragedy, every time. Contact someone for support if you or a loved one is suffering from vascular dementia.

Workplace Loneliness: What to Do When It Becomes Too Much

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Being alone in a home office or working in a physically-isolated position at a company can get lonely. While social interaction might not be something that you desire every moment of every day, being isolated at work can be problematic to your health, increasing the chances of a heart attack or stroke by a shocking 30 percent.

For your best health, here’s what to do when feeling overwhelmed by feelings of loneliness.

Start by Saying Hello

If you’re in an office where everyone keeps to themselves, it can sometimes feel like no one likes you. But look around, and that’s probably not the case; instead, it’s far more likely that no one says hello or makes small talk, no matter who it is.

To start being part of a positive change, say hello in the morning to those whom you pass in the hallway or within your department. While it might seem unnatural at first, it will get easier the more you do so. Plus, they’ll likely start to say hi too, and soon it becomes commonplace. That small interaction can help you feel less isolated.

Work from an Office Away from Home

While home-based offices are convenient as there’s no morning commute and you can set your hours, working at a hot desk can provide you with social opportunities and chances to network that might not otherwise be available to you.

It could be that a person you come across in the new environment is someone who can help you to solve a problem you’re having with a project, for example. Or, they might end up being your partner in a new organization one day if you get along well.

Join in Activities

Find out if your company offers any recreational activities, such as a sports team. If so, you could participate, and that’s a great way to get to know others who are in your office, but you haven’t spoken to yet.

Alternatively, if you work alone at home, why not see if there are community groups for entrepreneurs like yourself? Meeting monthly with others who have a similar job environment can stave off feelings of loneliness and provide a common conversational topic as you grow new friendships too.

Add Noise

Finally, if you work on your own, then why not add some background noise to make it feel less alone? There are many options here.

Perhaps you put on a TV show in the background. Alternatively, some music from YouTube. Choose songs with positive messages or fast tempos to energize your workspace.

Social Media Time

Schedule in some social media time too. Sending a message on Facebook or looking at what’s trending at Twitter helps you keep a connection to the outside world.

If you make plans through social media for later that same day, then you have something to look forward to later. And that can help motivate you during the day.

Dealing with Workplace Loneliness

Rather than thinking that you must sit in silence, make the job more interactive by reaching out to coworkers with a “hello” or joining in social activities. If you don’t have coworkers, then get on social media now and then or add background noise. Loneliness doesn’t have to be a constant in your life.

How To Stay Healthy At Your Computer Desk

In business, we spend so much of our time sitting in offices staring at screens. With so much of our day spent working on computers, there are risks to our health. Several factors can contribute to this. Firstly, sitting all day, every day can mean that you are not moving about enough. This can lead to developing heart problems, as well as a risk of obesity and diabetes. Secondly, having poor posture while using a computer can lead to back and neck problems, as well as repetitive strain injuries. Thirdly, your eyesight can be affected by the use of a computer screen, and this in turn can cause headaches and migraines. Lastly, your mental health can suffer as a result of spending too much time on a computer. 

Employers and employees alike should work to diminish the risks involved in working on computers. Often issues may develop gradually over a few years, so a proactive approach is required. Waiting until you see the effects of this on yourself will mean that you have left it too long. 

Get Active

If you spend the majority of your working day sitting down, you need to think of ways to add exercise into your daily routine. If you can walk to work, do so. If you drive, try to park as far away as possible so that you need to walk to and from the car. 

Go out on your lunch break and take a stroll. Time away from the computer will be healthy for you, and you will get fresh air and exercise.  If you can walk around your office during the day, do so. Any time spent moving about is going to benefit your health. 

Posture

When you are using a computer, you need to keep your back and neck straight. Often, when you sit, there may be a tendency to slouch and let your head stoop and drag your shoulders down. Try to stretch your neck regularly, and readjust your posture if you slip. Have a look for the best standing desk. Working standing up can help to improve your posture, stretch your muscles, as well as to make your more mentally alert. 

EyeSight 

Your eyes are important. You may not notice slight changes in your eyes. However, your eyesight can deteriorate gradually over time. Get your eyes tested regularly, and if you need to wear glasses when working on a computer, you should do so. Your company may have a scheme to help with the cost of eye tests, and if they do, you should use this. 

Mental Health

Often, working at a computer can get mundane and tedious. Find ways to break up your day and look for opportunities to engage with other people, either through face-to-face meetings or on the phone. If you notice that you are feeling bored, stressed, or restless, take some time to refocus—a great way of doing this is with some mindful breathing exercises at your desk. 

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Looking After Your Employee's Health Is A Daily Battle

No self-respecting business owner should ever pay less than the most possible attention to the wellbeing of their employees. Of course, as a business leader with many responsibilities to take care of, this can bring up strange images of walking around the office checking anyone isn’t too stressed out, worried, or has any personal difficulty in their lives. This would not be feasible, and likely not effective.

The best thing any business owner can do is understand that this is a daily battle, often helped with the systems put in place to prevent and cure issues when or if they occur. For example, a human resources department, well invested in, can help air the grievances of your staff, and allow them to manage their personal difficulties alongside their work. This truly matters, and in some respects is perhaps one of the most important elements of your departmental management.

If you’re even reading this article, it shows that you care about your employees, or perhaps the future people you may hire. So let us help you to that end:

Consider Office Safety

It’s very easy to view the smaller health risks and consider them over-the-top and worrying. For example, a rucksack in the walkway might signify a trip hazard, and should be removed as soon as possible. That’s normal. Many of these issues will occur like this, and so long as you and your team keep an eye on them, they can often become resolved very quickly.

Long-term rules, such as no open-top beverages near the computing equipment, can be a worthwhile policy to keep. But office safety hardly stops there. It might be that an uneven or cracked floor could lead to some nasty falls and injuries, meaning that using excellent flooring companies to gain a solid, even, level flooring is an essential investment from time to time.

Perhaps a door handle is known for coming off in the hands of your employees, and must be held in just the right way to gain access. Yet the trouble is, this is a fire door, which needs to be moved through quickly in the case of an emergency. Looking around and implementing changes like these can help you avoid any long-term statistical increase in injuries, which are just as essential to root out quickly.

Mental Health Awareness

The physical health of your staff is important, but mental health issues are often much harder to see or identify. This is why a mental health awareness day, or perhaps routine training can help your team identify issues if they occur, or at least have a safe and confidential outlet to talk about their troubles. This might also give you pause when needing to force overtime to complete an order, or coming down too harshly on someone who tried their best yet failed. Your team member aren’t wrapped in cotton wool, of course, but it’s important to ensure that everyone is on the same page regarding mental health, and all feel that they can approach you about this if needed.

A Favorable Working Environment

A solid lunch break, a relaxing and ventilated office environment, anti-bacterial hand gel stations, and a separate room to relax and eat can all lead to a favorable working environment, both in hygiene and working comfort. This can prevent your staff from burning out.

With these tips, you are certain to care for your employee’s health correctly.

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