Diving into Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) & Treatment
Do you want to know what Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, known as CLL is? Well, CLL is considered the most common form of leukemia that mostly occurs in adults. It is considered a type of cancer that highly affects the lymphocytes or white blood cells. It mainly accumulates in the bone marrow or blood, leading to different symptoms.
If we could say that Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia is a slow-growing cancer then, it wouldn’t be wrong. It slowly and gradually affects the whole immune system of the human body and causes a lot of complications. In the article below, we will discuss everything about CLL. We will also target how to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia and different common treatments that can be considered for this condition.
What is Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia?
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia or a CLL, is a type of leukemia that mostly occurs due to the abnormal accumulation of lymphocytes in the blood. The accumulation of lymphocytes in blood, bone marrow, or lymph nodes led up to the condition known as Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.
This condition of accumulation of cells is a slow-growing disease and does not cause any major symptoms for years. However, it is important to know that at the progression stages the disease can cause many complications such as anemia, bleeding, or infections.
What Are The Types of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia?
There are different types of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. It is mainly divided into two main types:
- The very first is chronic lymphocytic leukemia, also known as CLL. It is the first and most common type of CLL and occurs by the gradual accumulation of mature B lymphocytes in the blood or bone marrow.
- Another type is T cell PLL. It mainly affects the T lymphocyte nodes, which is responsible for the white blood cell coordination with the immune system response against infections or abnormal cells. Moreover, T cell PLL mostly show symptoms quickly as compared with people with B cell CLL.
What Are The Causes of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia?
According to research, it usually occurs in individuals who have gone through the chromosomal or Gene mutation in their lifetime. Additionally, there are different factors that also contribute a lot to the development of Chronic Lymphocytic leukemia. Below, we have mentioned certain factors:
- The very first is Age. On average, adults over the age of 60, or nearly 70, are diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.
- Family history also contributes a lot. The individuals who have a close family history of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Development in their biological parents, siblings, or children are more likely to develop CLL.
- Sexuality also contributes. According to research, men are more likely to develop CLL in comparison to women at birth.
- The exposure to Agent Orange also led to the development of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Agent Orange is a chemical that was previously used, especially during the Vietnam War.
What Are The Symptoms of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia?
There are different symptoms that you can find at the progression stages. It is important to know that CLL often does not cause any major symptoms in the early initial phases. However, it shows up as the disease progresses into the oldest stage. It might take months before showing any symptoms.
However, there are some common symptoms that you should know. Below, we have mentioned that all.
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Frequent infections
- Easy bleeding or bruising
- Night sweats
- Fever
How to Diagnose Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia?
- The diagnosis procedure of CLL is quite simple. It typically involves a physical examination, blood test, or bone marrow biopsy. By conducting the blood test, you can help identify the abnormality in the lymphocyte B. Additionally, you can also detect the stage of the disease.
- Moreover, conducting the blood test will also help you get the complete blood count of your RBC and WBC. This helps you understand how much haemoglobin your red cells have as it holds great importance.
- You can also consider a pathologist who can help you examine your blood through microscopic activity.
- Bone marrow biopsy is another way to diagnose, it is mainly performed to consider and confirm the extent of the disease
- Last but not least is the genetic test. These genetic tests include fluorescent in situ hybridization, often known as FISH. It plays a crucial role and helps in understanding the chromosomal and gene mutation activity.
What Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatments are Available?
Treatment for Chronic Lymphocytic disease completely varies and depends on the type and the stage of the disease the patient is standing on. However, it is important to know that in some cases, the only way to treat Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia is to observe and keep the individual under the monitoring.
However, if your disease has progressed then the treatment may become the necessary expectation yet there are different common treatment options available nowadays. Below we have mentioned all the common treatment options.
Common Treatment Options for CLL Include
- The very first is observation and monitoring. Regular monitoring and blood tests during physical examination will help a lot in keeping the disease under control and reducing the risk of progression.
- Chemotherapy is another major option that needs to be considered. Chemotherapy uses the drugs that help kill the cancer cells in the blood.
- Target therapy is also a popular treatment used for Chronic Lymphocytic leukemia. It mainly targets the specific molecules that are most involved in the survival of cancer cells. There are many popular target therapy drugs available in the market. However, the most common and effective ones are ibrutinib and acalabrutinib.
- Immunotherapy can also be considered to treat Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, protecting your immune system and assisting your system in fighting the cancer cells. Thus, Immunotherapy is like a simulating therapy.
- Last but not least, treatment that you can consider for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia is stem cell transplant. This includes the replacement of the damaged bone marrow with healthy stem cells.
Ibrutinib and Acalabrutinib The Target Therapy to Treat Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
There are the two major target therapy drugs that are considered as an approved treatment for CLL. These drug target therapy includes Ibrutinib and Acalabrutinib. Ibrutinib known as Imbruvica & Acalabrutinib known as Calquence. However, Calquence cost is more budget friendly if we compare to Ibrutinib. These two drug therapies respectively are considered highly effective treatments as they work by blocking a protein called Bruton’s tyrosine kinase of BTK. The blockage works greatly as it involves the survival of CLL cell growth in your body.
Well, Calquence may be the best option for CLL patients who are struggling with the high cost of Ibrutinib. However, the price of ibrutinib and calquence depends widely on several factors. These factors vary from insurance coverage to pharmacy and location to the brand you consider. Yet there are nowadays different generic versions of medicines available in the market as well.
These generic medicines are highly effective and are also known as affordable solutions. However, it is important to remember that before taking any medicine always consult your health professional or consultant.
Conclusion
Overall, we have discussed all the basic details about Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and how Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia is treated, the different types of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, and the symptoms that can be caused due to this disease. However, there are different effective solutions available to treat Chronic Lymphocytic. So, if you are also one of those who have been diagnosed, then there is no need to worry about it as now a professional treatment is available. All you need is to consult your healthcare provider.
What are the Symptoms of NAD+ Deficiency?
NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) is one of the most critical molecules in the body, playing a role in numerous biological processes essential for health.
NAD+ is known as a necessary coenzyme in crucial metabolic processes, including cellular energy production through the Krebs cycle and cellular respiration. It plays a key role in maintaining cellular health and regulating enzyme activity. High NAD+ levels help improve overall health, protect the body from premature aging, and reduce the risk of related diseases.
However, when NAD+ levels decline, cells lose their ability to repair and regenerate. This can lead to serious consequences such as reduced metabolic efficiency and increased risk of age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions.
In this article, we will explore the causes of NAD+ deficiency, common symptoms, and how to improve NAD+ levels to maintain optimal health.
Why Does NAD+ Deficiency Occur?
There are several reasons for NAD+ deficiency in the body. The first is natural aging. Over time, the body’s production of NAD+ decreases, leading to weakened energy metabolism and reduced cellular repair capacity. This is why older individuals often experience fatigue and memory decline.
Secondly, an inadequate diet lacking in essential nutrients, especially foods rich in NAD+ precursors, can lead to NAD+ deficiency. Foods like lean meats, fish, eggs, and leafy greens are important sources of NAD+ precursors necessary for the body’s NAD+ synthesis.
Therefore, it’s essential to include these types of foods in your diet to ensure sufficient NAD+ levels.
Additionally, prolonged stress, environmental pollution, and unhealthy lifestyle choices—such as excessive alcohol and tobacco consumption—can significantly deplete NAD+ levels. These factors trigger oxidative processes in the body, reducing its ability to maintain balanced NAD+ levels.
Symptoms of NAD+ Deficiency
Fatigue and Weakness
NAD+ is a crucial component of the Krebs cycle, where it plays a key role in converting nutrients from food into energy in the form of ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate). When NAD+ levels drop in the body, energy production is severely impacted.
As a result, NAD+ deficiency often leads to prolonged fatigue and weakness, even if you’ve had sufficient sleep or haven’t engaged in physically demanding activities. This is because the cells are not generating enough energy to meet basic needs, leaving you feeling exhausted and drained without an obvious cause.
Additionally, low NAD+ levels can affect recovery after exercise or physical activity, leading to prolonged fatigue and a slower ability to regain strength after daily tasks.
Cognitive Decline
NAD+ is not only essential for physical health but also plays a significant role in brain function. When NAD+ levels decrease, neural signaling processes are disrupted, leading to issues with memory retention, concentration, and information processing.
Notably, research has shown that NAD+ deficiency may increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression, can also be linked to low NAD+ levels, as the nervous system struggles to function efficiently.
Cardiovascular Health Issues
NAD+ plays a critical role in supporting normal blood pressure by improving the health of endothelial cells. When NAD+ levels decline, blood vessels become weaker, less elastic, and more prone to damage.
NAD+ deficiency can lead to high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and poor blood circulation. These issues may not be noticeable at first, but over time, the risk of cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and heart attack increases. People with low NAD+ levels may experience shortness of breath during physical activity, chest pain, or a feeling of heaviness in the heart.
A lack of NAD+ also reduces the heart’s ability to recover from damage, increasing the risk of heart disease. When the body cannot regenerate enough NAD+ to repair heart cells, the heart’s overall efficiency declines, weakening the entire cardiovascular system.
Increased Insulin Sensitivity
NAD+ is also involved in biological processes that regulate insulin function—the hormone responsible for managing blood sugar levels. When NAD+ levels decrease, these processes become disrupted, leading to increased insulin sensitivity. The body becomes less efficient at using glucose, setting the stage for insulin resistance—a precursor to type 2 diabetes.
Individuals with NAD+ deficiency may experience symptoms like elevated blood sugar, constant hunger, fatigue after meals, and uncontrolled weight gain.
These are the early signs of insulin resistance and diabetes. If left untreated, these conditions can lead to serious complications such as kidney damage, nerve damage, and vision loss. Low NAD+ levels also impair the metabolism of fats and sugars, causing the body to accumulate excess fat, especially around the abdomen.
Skin Aging
NAD+ also plays a role in maintaining youthful and elastic skin. It is involved in the skin cell regeneration process. When NAD+ levels decrease, the skin’s ability to repair itself diminishes, leading to rapid aging.
Signs of this include dry, tight skin that flakes easily and the appearance of more wrinkles due to weakened collagen production. As NAD+ decreases, the skin loses its ability to retain moisture, resulting in visibly less smooth and supple skin.
The skin also becomes more prone to damage and irritation from external factors like UV rays, pollution, and chemicals present in the environment.
Ways to Improve NAD+ Levels in the Body
Incorporate NAD+ Supplements
NAD+ supplements such as nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) have been shown by experts to effectively and quickly boost NAD+ levels in the body.
NR and NMN are NAD+ precursors that, once absorbed by the body, help stimulate NAD+ synthesis, improving cellular metabolism and energy functions.
Before taking NAD+ supplements, it’s important to consult a doctor to ensure safety and effectiveness. While these supplements have proven benefits, the dosage and product quality are crucial to ensuring positive effects without harming the body.
Additionally, you may consider trying a Vinatura NAD supplement, produced in the USA. VINATURA is known for providing one of the best NAD+ supplements available today, effectively and safely boosting NAD+ levels to promote a healthy lifestyle.
In addition, you can explore top-rated NAD+ supplements available on the market, including:
- Tru Niagen
- Elysium Basis
- NADGold by Quicksilver Scientific
- Thorne Research ResveraCel
- HPN NAD3
Adopt a Nutritious Diet
One of the safest and most effective natural ways to boost NAD+ levels is by consuming foods rich in NAD+ precursors. These precursors include niacin (vitamin B3), nicotinamide, and tryptophan, which are essential for the body’s synthesis of NAD+. Food sources rich in NAD+ precursors include:
- Lean meats: Beef, chicken, and pork are excellent sources of niacin, a key precursor in NAD+ production.
- Fish and seafood: Salmon, mackerel, and other omega-3-rich seafood are not only heart-healthy but also help increase NAD+ levels.
- Eggs: Eggs are high in tryptophan, an amino acid essential for the body to convert into NAD+.
- Leafy green vegetables: Spinach, kale, and broccoli contain compounds that support the NAD+ metabolism process.
- Nuts and whole grains: Almonds, chia seeds, and whole grains are not only rich in fiber but also contain niacin, which helps boost NAD+ production.
Maintaining a balanced, fiber-rich, and nutrient-dense diet allows the body to absorb the necessary compounds to synthesize NAD+. Additionally, supplements like nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) have been clinically proven to enhance NAD+ levels, so consider adding them to your routine.
Engage in Regular Physical Activity
In addition to consuming nutrient-rich foods, regular exercise has been proven to be one of the most effective natural ways to boost NAD+ levels.
When you exercise, your body needs to produce more energy to sustain activity, which stimulates an increase in NAD+ production in cells. Physical activity also increases the amount of sirtuins, a group of proteins that regulate longevity-related processes and the utilization of NAD+.
Exercises beneficial for increasing NAD+ levels include:
- Cardio exercises
- Weight training and strength exercises
- Yoga and Pilates
Maintaining a regular exercise routine for at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, will help improve NAD+ levels over time. In addition to enhancing NAD+, exercise also supports mental health, improves sleep, and slows down the aging process. All of these factors are closely related to NAD+ levels in the body.
Prioritize Quality Sleep
To maintain NAD+ levels in the body, achieving quality sleep is extremely important. During sleep, the body carries out various cell regeneration functions, including the re-synthesis of NAD+. Lack of sleep or poor-quality sleep reduces the body’s ability to regenerate NAD+ and affects energy metabolism.
Healthy Sleep Habits to Boost NAD+ Levels:
- Get enough sleep: The body requires 7-9 hours of sleep each night to recover and ensure metabolic processes function effectively.
- Avoid using electronic devices before bed: Blue light from phones and computers can disrupt melatonin production, a hormone that regulates sleep.
- Create a quiet, comfortable, and cool sleeping environment: A conducive sleep setting promotes deep, restorative sleep.
Manage Stress Effectively
Chronic stress doesn’t just lead to mental health issues but also negatively impacts physical health. Stress increases the production of free radicals, which consume more NAD+ to repair cell damage, leading to a rapid decline in NAD+ levels.
Stress Management Techniques:
- Meditation: Meditation helps reduce stress and enhances the body’s self-regulation by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which lowers cortisol (the stress hormone) and protects NAD+ levels.
- Yoga: Yoga not only stretches muscles but also relaxes the mind, balances the nervous system, regulates hormones, and reduces stress levels.
- Deep breathing exercises: Controlled deep breathing relaxes the body and alleviates stress immediately. When stress decreases, the body requires less NAD+ to cope with cell damage caused by stress.
In addition to these techniques, taking 10-15 minutes daily to unwind can significantly reduce stress and improve NAD+ regeneration.
Limit Alcohol and Tobacco Use
Stimulants such as alcohol and tobacco cause significant cell damage and deplete NAD+ levels in the body. Alcohol damages the liver and decreases the ability to metabolize NAD+. Tobacco contains harmful toxins that trigger inflammation and reduce cell regeneration, thereby lowering the necessary NAD+ for recovery.
Reducing harmful substances like alcohol and tobacco not only boosts NAD+ levels but also lowers the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will help the body utilize energy more effectively and regenerate NAD+ optimally.
How to Diagnose NAD+ Deficiency
Check NAD+ Levels in the Body
With today’s advanced technology, checking NAD+ levels can be done through blood tests and specialized biochemical analysis methods. For individuals experiencing symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive decline, or cardiovascular issues, checking NAD+ levels is essential to accurately identify the cause.
Consult a Doctor and Schedule Regular Checkups
If you’re concerned about your NAD+ levels, it’s recommended to visit a healthcare facility to consult with a specialist. Regular checkups and tests can help detect NAD+ deficiency early and guide you towards suitable treatment options.
Conclusion
NAD+ deficiency can lead to serious health issues, including fatigue, memory loss, cardiovascular diseases, and premature aging. Early recognition of symptoms and taking measures to improve NAD+ levels can help you maintain long-term health and enhance your quality of life.
Always pay attention to your diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management to maintain stable NAD+ levels in the body. Thank you for reading this article! If you found it helpful, feel free to share it with your friends and family for their benefit!
