Stanford University health psychologist Kelly McGonigal writes that addictive substances, at first, release (or block re-uptake of) substances in the brain that stimulate pleasure, ecstasy, focus, or energy; however, the brain and body are not designed to sustain this state. The physiological function of the body is to maintain the systems in a state called homeostasis and avoid extreme fluctuations, which means the brain and body develop a tolerance to the effects of mind- and mood-altering substances (McGonigal). .
For instance, when ingesting a drug that stimulates the flood of a neurotransmitter (i.e., dopamine), the brain may acclimate to this neurotransmitter by producing less dopamine or reducing receptors to uptake the substance, but as soon as the brain anticipates the body is going to consume the drug again, there is an anticipatory effect where the brain causes the production of dopamine to be reduced even further to counteract the anticipated effects of the drug, which sets the body up for intense cravings for the drug (McGonigal). This adaption process strengthens the addiction cycle with the addict requiring the drug to feel normal, and, now, research indicates that the same process is occurring with sugar (McGonigal). Researchers at Japan's National Institute for Physiological Sciences conducted a study to determine how the brain and body might adapt to the anticipation of consuming sweets and discovered that mice anticipating sweets release a chemical called orexin, which triggers the muscles of the body to uptake sugar that is in the bloodstream circulation and, thus, prepare for the anticipated blood sugar level increase initiated by the brain (Shiuchi et al). If an individual is able to resist the cravings then the blood sugar level drops and results in undesirable side effects of craving the sugar or a decreased ability to resist the temptation, which is comparable to the cigarette addict who craves a smoke or a heroin addict who needs a fix just to feel normal ((Shiuchi et al).
Word Count: 979 A Killer Addiction In many cases the word addiction is linked to drugs or alcohol. ... Some of these addictions may be harmful, or even fatal. ... Someone with this disease develops a resistance to insulin, which regulates the levels of blood sugar. Over time, the resulting high blood sugar can cause serious damage to the body. ... This addiction may even be a fatal. ...
Food addiction, otherwise known as compulsive eating, is a physical and psychological addiction that ensnares the body and the mind. ... Food addiction is similar to drug and alcohol addiction. ... Refined sugar, flour, and fats become what alcohol is to the alcoholic, or cocaine is to the cocaine addict. ... Food addiction is more a psychological addiction than anything else. ... The addiction to food, like other addictions, is very difficult to conquer. ...
Two serious health issues that plague America are drug addiction and Type 1 diabetes. ... Similarly, drug addiction might also result from genetic and environmental factors. Alcohol addiction has been linked to having mothers or fathers who were alcoholics. ... Addiction is usually viewed as a moral failure or as a flaw in one's character. ... Because of ignorance diabetes is viewed to be as a result of wrong eating habits or eating too much sugar when it is not related to sugar intake. ...
Brenda has served on the board of directors of the National Council of Sexual Addictions and Compulsivity. ... This list can include food, exercise, spending money, religious cults, nicotine, psychotherapy, sugar, caffeine, sex, gambling, work, television, pain, parenting, and love objects (Schaeffer 1987). ... Stanton Peele, with Archie Brodsky, authors of Love and Addiction define addiction as "an unstable state of being, marked by a compulsion to deny all that you are or have been in favor of some new and ecstatic experience (Schaeffer 1987)." ... Almost all love relationships contain som...
Much of what has been found to treat Vicodin addiction is learned from the treatment of heroin addiction. ... Vicodin addiction is a growing problem in the United States. ... The first report of Vicodin addiction in the U.S. was published in 1961. ... Opiate addiction is much different than that of other addictions. ... Opiate addiction was once thought of as a condition with no cure. ...
Addiction is one of the common problems in every household in America. ... Sugar is a common product used in all fast food industries. And as we know sugar can cause the same effects on the mind as cocaine and other drugs. ... Addiction is one of the reasons why Americans are guilty of the obesity in America. ...
This non-communicable diseases usually emerge in the middle age after long exposure to an unhealthily lifestyle which could include tobacco use, a lack of physical activity and consumption of diets highly saturated in fats, sugars, and salts e.g. fast foods. ... The lifestyle factors associated with these diseases can be of two types: Modifiable factors (those that can be changed) like food habits, physical activity level, addiction (smoking, drinking), stress, etc, and Non-modifiable factors (those that cannot be changed) like age and heredity. ... Diabetes Referred to by doctors as diabetes ...
He moved to Philadelphia in 1943 after graduating from high school in High Point and lived in a small one-room apartment and worked as a laborer in a sugar-refinery. While working in the sugar-refinery, Coltrane attended Ornstein School of Music. ... However, after two years of playing with Gillespie, he was asked to leave because of his unreliability due to his heroin addiction. ... After finally leaving his room, he was over his addiction and was motivated to chase his musical life in a new approach. ... At this time, Coltrane, fully recovered from his heroine addiction and was stronger than...
Coca-Cola used to put cocaine in their soft drink with the ease of adding sugar. ... Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Marijuana Anonymous and countless others have been developed to treat people and their addictions. ... They are the most success outpatient treatment programs for dealing with addiction. ... And once you"re addicted to something, that addiction will be with you forever. ... Is substance abuse and addiction a growing problem that our society faces? ...