One thousand Americans stop smoking every day - by dying. ~Author Unknown

by Dr. M. LaVelle Hendricks

The statistics about nicotine and its impact on the health of Americans are shocking:

• Every year, tobacco use kills more Americans than World War II and the Vietnam War combined. Tobacco related illnesses kill over 443,000 US citizens per year.
• Tobacco is the only product in the U.S. that causes death and disability when used as intended - the single, most preventable cause of death in the U.S.

Since introduced by Native Americans to European colonists in the 1600's, tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco) continue to have an overall negative impact on health and well-being of the United States. As the first successful cash crop in the United States that helped pay for the American Revolution, tobacco's use is very much ingrained in American history. Tobacco is comprised of over 4,000 chemical compounds.

However, the primary addictive component, nicotine, is the most influential in creating the addictive cycle. According to David Mannino and his article, "Why Won't Our Patients stop smoking? The Power of Nicotine Addiction," nicotine promotes "compulsive use, has psychoactive effects, and reinforces its own use." Numerous studies prove that chemically nicotine alters the brain receptors of its users. Even after just one puff of a cigarette, users experience a change in their brain chemistry's neurotransmitters.

Strangely, this change appears to bring an almost euphoric feeling of pleasure and a temporary reduction of stress. This is partially the reason why so many smokers report feeling better after the first cigarette of the day. Nicotine also increases the production of dopamine, a chemical that produces feelings of happiness in the brain. However, what they don't realize is that the feelings of pleasure are the body's responding to reversal of the nicotine withdrawal symptoms. The body is responding to the craving for nicotine being satisfied after a break of a few hours.The physiological, emotional, and psychological effects of nicotine addiction are chronic and dramatic. Mannino also reports that physiologically, nicotine addicts report "acute symptoms like irritability, depressed mood, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, and craving for tobacco." Remarkably, when a smoker stops, there is often an even greater motivation to begin smoking again. Like other addicts, the nicotine addict is controlled by the compulsive nature of their behavior despite the fact that it leads to negative results. These include coronary disease, lung cancer, emphysema, high blood pressure and stroke.

 

The American Cancer Society reports that nearly half of all Americans who continue smoking will die either directly or indirectly because of the habit. Even more troubling, the ACS website confirms that "smoking cigarettes kills more Americans than alcohol, car accidents, suicide, AIDS, homicide, and illegal drugs combined." The website also lists an eye-opening array of diseases that are linked to long-term tobacco use.

Some of the negative emotional results include destruction of relationships including family, friends and professional, loss of esteem, lack of and loss of stability, impaired decision making, emotional stunting, etc. Feeding the addiction becomes the overwhelming focus of the addict. Other areas of life end up suffering.

To cease smoking is the easiest thing I ever did. I ought to know because I've done it a thousand times. ~Mark Twain

The nicotine addictive cycle slowly overwhelms even the strongest individual. It begins like most addictions with a trigger that is for most it is stress-related. It could be the loss of something or someone valuable like a job or relationship. Fear also plays a part in the trigger. Being fearful of change (real or imagined) can begin the cycle. Unresolved emotional issues like regret, shame, and anger are also powerful triggers. The anxiety that builds from not dealing with these issues can be almost insurmountable. A sudden change in circumstances or a similarly life-changing event can be triggers as well.

The next step in the addictive cycle is the introduction of the substance. For nicotine addicts, this can be in the form of a cigarette, cigar, chewing tobacco, etc. A temporary feeling of relief follows. But this feeling is deceptive. According to an April 2006 article of the Journal of Family Practice, "As more nicotine is consumed, and more receptors become desensitized, the user experiences a diminished pleasure effect with each subsequent cigarette smoked. As the response decreases, increasing levels of nicotine are required to achieve a consistent, desired effect." This temporary relief is then followed by an even more intense craving for nicotine.

The cycle continues with a troubling and confusing mixture of ecstasy and relief. To the addict, there is a perception that the nicotine causes a reduction in the original anxiety that triggered the desire to smoke. Because of this, the addict makes the connection between the use of nicotine and the reduction in stress. This assumption then makes the addict more inclined to believe that using nicotine is helping when in actuality the opposite is true. The struggle with the process of addiction becomes more evident at this stage because addicts no longer can reduce the use of nicotine even though they know it will have negative consequences to their overall health.

The next phase of the addiction cycle will lead the addict to believe that nicotine is necessary to maintain their social status. In other words, they like to smoke with their friends or family as a part of their social behaviors. At this phase they are fooled into believing that they have a certain amount of control or power over their behavior which is not the case. Along with this renewed sense of power comes a certain risk taking behavior. In some cases, that behavior leads to the use of other more strongly addictive substances.

Eventually these feelings fade and the addict then returns back to point that triggered the addiction in the first place: stress and powerlessness. The cycle then begins all over again. (From http://www.addiction-recovery-help-and-support.com/cycle-of-addiction.html). What started as more than likely a simple act of rebellion is now a difficult to break cycle.

Nicotine patches are great. Stick one over each eye and you can't find your cigarettes. ~Author Unknown

Once the choice has been made to break the cycle of nicotine addiction, the hard part begins. Some studies show that it may take up to 6 months for nicotine cravings to subside. McKeeson Health Systems explains that there are a number of symptoms of nicotine withdrawal: irritability, shakiness, trouble concentrating, trouble sleeping, increased appetite, increased craving for nicotine.

Relay Health has also published a list of ways to ease a nicotine addiction: Set a quit date, Throw your cigarettes away, Exercise 30 minutes 3 times a week, Eat a healthy diet, Get 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night, Practice deep breathing exercises when you feel stressed. For more infomation contact: American Lung Assoc.Toll-free number: 1-800-548-8252 Web site: www.lungusa.org