SMOKING AND THE IRRATIONAL SIDE
OF THE BRAIN
The human brain has
two hemispheres which are separated by a bundle of nerves that allows them to
communicate. The right side of the brain is associated with our emotion and
subconscious desires. It is totally irrational and sponsored you taking up
smoking in the beginning. - It unreservedly accepts smoking as a necessity to
your survival. The right side of the brain and the mid-brain are related to our
unconscious mind. (Visualization techniques log into the right brain). The left
side of the brain is associated with conscious wishes. - It is realistic and
logical. When we make a conscious decision it is only the left side of the brain that is drawn in. The central
nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord. The spinal cord branches
out into countless offshoots of nerves that cover the entire body).
The brain can be
thought of as a computer - it processes and stores an immeasurable amount of
data. The nerve cells – which are at their highest concentration in the brain
(but found all over the body), do most of the work. This is via their trillions
of branches which act as a brain-body communication and transport network
(operated via electric signals).
Nerve cells give us the ability to reason,
learn and remember, and act a ‘mood control centers’ which affect the different
ways we feel. When confronted by new experiences, nerve cells are able to
change their firing pattern and response. – This means that the brain has
‘plasticity’ - one factor which is very relevant to successful cessation.
CHEMICAL MESSENGERS
(NEUROTRANSMITTERS)
These are
messengers in the form of natural body chemicals which carry information over a
tiny space from one nerve cell to: another nerve, muscle or gland, cell. - If
one or more of these chemicals are not readily available in the correct amount,
then the body will crave a ‘substitute’ (such as nicotine), to satisfy its
needs.
Hormones are also
chemical messengers, but they are secreted by the glands and other sources of
secretion into the bloodstream where they travel a much longer distance to reach target cells.
Note: the same
chemical substances can be transported by both neurotransmitters and hormones.
(The endocrine system which is often mentioned in biology, refers to glands that
secrete hormones).
Survival of the
human species has always meant striving after ‘must-have’ natural rewards such
as food drink and sex - But the brain also craves unnatural rewards such as
chemicals from smoking. - This is because the body’s biological functions do
not always differentiate between natural and unnatural substances.
CHEMICAL MESSENGER
IMBALANCE
Nicotine changes
the effect of chemical messengers. - This is a factor that should be very
clearly understood as it will help you to appreciate why you have the compulsion
to keep on smoking, and make it easier for you become a born-again non-smoker.
- I have tried to explain it as clearly as possible in easy to understand terms.
MIMICKING THE
CHEMICAL MESSENGERS
Stimulants perform
by imitating the discharge of three key feel-good, energizing chemical
messengers. When there is an addiction to a stimulant such as nicotine or
caffeine, the high level of stimulation generates regulatory changes in the
brain cell receptor sites for dopamine, epinephrine (adrenalin), and nor
epinephrine (noradrenalin). - Effectively, they begin to close down - and as a
result, the addictee’ (that is you), yearns for more of the nicotine or caffeine etc., just
to feel normal.
"Following chronic
nicotine exposure, nicotine receptors increase in number, an up regulation that
contributes to nicotine’s addictive properties..."
Within a cell or on
the cell surface, there are various types of receptors - tiny sites which have
controlled pores that can recognize and bind with particular substances. - These
receptors act as ‘connecting points’ which allow individual cells to
communicate with other cells. Both substances which are natural and unnatural
to the body can activate receptors – in the latter case it is chemicals from your
cigarettes.
There is one common
chemical messenger (neurotransmitter) in the body known as ‘acetylcholine’
(pronounced: a-cee-til-coline). - This connects with specific receptors in the
cell membranes named ‘acetylcholine receptors. These are commonly
referred to as ‘cholinergic receptors’ - the name that I will use in the book.
They are very widely spread throughout the body, and are of great importance as
they are connected to numerous vital functions including: respiration,
maintenance of heart rate, muscle movement, memory, learning, alertness and
arousal. In a normal chain of events these cholinergic receptors are stimulated
by the chemical messenger acetylcholine, which is active at the tiny gaps
(synapses) between nerve cells, and in the stimulation of muscle cells and
gland secretion.
NICOTINIC
CHOLINERGIC RECEPTORS
Now, as the
chemical make-up of the active form of nicotine is very close to the chemical
messenger acetylcholine, the cholinergic receptors are stimulated when they
pick up nicotine molecules - hence the name which is sometimes used: ‘nicotinic
cholinergic receptors’. Effectively, nicotine mimics and hijacks the place of
the chemical acetylcholine, by landing on its receptor sites and changing cell
activity. - Because of all the vital functions that acetylcholine is connect
to, you can imagine the dramatic effect. So, just as a wrong key can sometimes
open a lock, nicotine copies the actions of the chemical messenger acetylcholine.
When nicotine
enters the bloodstream it is dispersed throughout the brain and body where it
activates some of the cholinergic receptors. This disruption to brain chemistry
has a very negative effect on normal functioning including: increased heart
rate and blood pressure, increases in the concentrations of various hormones,
and an increase in the excitability of nerves cells - one outcome is that a
smoker’s body and brain are given some za-za-zoom - a power thrust to begin or
get through whatever they are doing.
With a constant
influx of nicotine, the body reacts to what it senses as additional
acetylcholine - and in an effort to re-establish normal functioning, one
adjustment it makes is to grow more cholinergic receptors. - This is one reason which may explain
the body’s acceptance of nicotine.
Cholinergic
receptors are found in both nerve cells, and non-nerve cells (such as those in
the lungs). Critically, if nicotine fuses with cholinergic receptors on the
surfaces of lung cancer cells, they are nourished to go on to divide and
spread. (There is a profound impact of this scenario on non-small cell lung
cancer cells).
CHEMICAL ACTIONS
AND REACTIONS
If we examine the
chain of chemical actions and reactions that smoking creates, we can easily
comprehend why smokers absolutely insist that cigarettes give them the stamina to
work more intensely, have a better attention span, and improve reaction time. -
They are completely right – trials have shown that individuals who have been
given doses of nicotine perform better on intricate academic tasks when matched
up to their performance without nicotine. (One reason is that
smoking triggers extra cholinergic receptors in the region of the brain which
is connected with short term memory).
When the body
absorbs nicotine in small doses, the nicotine promotes the discharge of two
chemical messengers: acetylcholine and norepinephrine (noradrenalin). - This
brings on a state of arousal. Conversely, when the body receives nicotine in
high doses, the nicotine begins to suppress acetylcholine while at the same
time escalating endorphin concentrations. - As endorphins are chemical messengers
which affect emotions and de-sensitize pain, this brings on tranquility. So in
a nutshell, small doses of nicotine = arousal, and high doses of nicotine =
tranquility.
Nicotine influences
the rate at which the body burns calories (metabolism), the regulation of body
temperature, muscle tension, and various hormone levels. It activates the reward
centres within the brain - and the impact is almost immediate as the levels of
the chemical messenger dopamine (which helps produce hormones involved in the
‘fight or flight’ response), rocket up the stress hormones.
It seems probable
that a number of chemical messengers and their networks affect the need to keep
smoking and some people’s failure to permanently quit. – Dopamine ranks high on
this list.
DOPAMINE AND THE
FEEL GOOD FACTOR
Dopamine is a
chemical messenger (a hormone and neurotransmitter) that is connected to the
brain’s reward circuits. It is associated with feeling good, and is responsible
for pleasure and sentiment. It controls body movement, stimulates metabolism,
supports the circulatory system, and governs the information flow to the brain.
It can either increase or decrease nerve cell activity, and has a long term
influence on brain chemistry. Smoking alters dopamine in various ways: Firstly,
it decreases the levels of two forms of a principle enzyme (‘biological
assistant’) which is responsible for breaking down dopamine. - This means that
dopamine levels, and hence smokers’ feelings of pleasure and reward, are elevated.
Secondly, nicotine
binds to numerous receptor sites on the dopamine nerve cells in the brain. -This
is thought to activate the release of dopamine which brings on a ‘high’ due to
feelings of pleasure and reward. And when there is too much dopamine the
body ‘down regulates’ dopamine production - hence the need for more nicotine to
attain the same level of satisfaction.
Note: An enzyme is
an extremely important substance which can speed up the rate of reactions in
the body. There are hundreds of different ones in each cell, each with their
own specific functions.
On the subject of
the long-lasting effects that nicotine has on the signaling of nerve cells in
the dopamine system, in 2006, Marina Picciotto Ph.D. of Yale University,
commented: "We believe that these changes in signaling may explain why people
who quit smoking can continue to experience cravings for many years later or
even start smoking again".
SEROTONIN -THE
STRESS-BUSTER
Serotonin is a
chemical messenger (hormone and neurotransmitter) that acts as a natural
stress-buster and affects how we act and feel. It influences hormonal,
temperature, and appetite regulation; cardiovascular function, sleep, memory, and
learning. Nicotine increases the amount of serotonin released by the brain and
generates a serotonin deficiency. - This means that smokers have to bear high stress
levels. (Note: there is a genetic variability in both serotonin and dopamine
function which can account for individual differences).
GABA is a chemical
messenger (neurotransmitter) which prevents the release of dopamine (the ‘feel
good’ hormone), by acting as a regulator. However, after an initial exposure to
nicotine, a further nicotine influx throws the regulation out of balance, and
dopamine is released – so now smokers experience a ‘feel good’ sensation for up
to an hour.
Glutamate is a
chemical messenger (neurotransmitter) involved in memory and learning. - It is
capable of enhancing the links between groups of nerve cells. The use of
nicotine can stimulate glutamate to produce a ‘memory’ of ecstatic feelings
which can keep you firmly in a nicotine straight jacket.
Glutamate has been
shown to aid smokers’ satisfaction. When nicotine molecules fuse with cell
receptors on the top of the brain stem, the cells release glutamate. - This has
a knock-on effect which generates the release of dopamine by other cells in the
region - this produces ‘the feel good factor’.
Dr Athina Markou
and colleagues at the Scripps Research Institute in California, reasoned that
‘just as glutamate surges caused by nicotine give rise to smoking pleasure, glutamate
depletion related to nicotine abstinence might underlie the
displeasure of withdrawal.’
(Accessed September
21st, 2011).
Researchers have
demonstrated that the chemical acetaldehyde found in tobacco smoke,
‘dramatically increases the reinforcing properties of nicotine, and may also
contribute to tobacco addiction’.
Ref: ‘Is Nicotine
Addictive?’ The National Institute of Drug Abuse [online]
http://www.nida.nih.gov/researchreports/nicotine/addictive.html (Accessed November
24th 2011).
GETTING THE RIGHT
BALANCE
People who are
anxious, impulsive or frail are often overshadowed by their smoking addiction,
and there is a strong link between the need to smoke and sufferers of clinical depression. Clinical
depression and negative personality traits are high risk factors for both
smoking, and not being able to quit. To that end, it is absolutely crucial that
sufferers opt for a holistic integrative approach. And if it is
financially possible, I suggest having professional support in some of the
modalities suggested in my book, as long as it is approved by and regularly
monitored by a medical physician. A low budget is no barrier.
REINFORCED
ADDICTION—THE NICOTINE-ALCOHOL BOND
‘Amongst smokers,
drinking alcohol increases motivation to smoke, the craving for a cigarette,
and the pleasure derived from smoking’ Ref: Field et al.,
(2005) ‘Alcohol increases cognitive biases for smoking cues in
smokers’, Psychopharmacology, vol.180, pp.63-72.
The fatal link
between nicotine and alcohol is unwavering. - Smoking and drinking tend to set
off a pattern of activity in the dopamine (‘feel good’) nerve cells in the brain.
In addition, alcohol has a sharp effect on cholinergic receptors -
indicating that it could well account for smokers needing to smoke more. And of
course, heavy drinking brings on biological imbalance and nutrient
deficiencies, just adding to the general dilemma. And unfortunately, cessation
is thwarted by the power boost of alcohol in the body, which makes cues such as
the site of a packet of cigarettes, more irresistible. Anyone who has
suffered themselves, or like myself, has had a close relationship with a double
addict will understand this unyielding dual cycle very well.
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