Stop Smoking

Thanks for your interest in working with Farvision to stop smoking. My approach to smoking cessation is client-centered. Everyone is unique but in general if you really want to quit, one session is sufficient. We will work together to harness the power of your subconscious mind to overcome this nasty habit.  I just love to help people stop smoking!  I offer a special rate of $99 for stop smoking. That includes one two-hour session, a tune-up session (if needed) and a stress management CD. Please download this form smoking_questions, fill it out and bring it to your session.

If you are active duty military,  a police officer or a fireman I offer this service for half price. Anyone who is risking his or her life to protect others should not be risking their life by smoking! Just tell me when you make the appointment. Here is some information that may help you get the motivation you need to make this important change.

The Effects of Nicotine Addiction

Nicotine is one of the most heavily used addictive drugs in the United States. In 2002, 30 percent of the U.S. population 12 and older, or 71.5 million people, used tobacco at least once in the month prior to being interviewed. This figure includes 3.8 million young people age 12 to 17; 14 million people age 18 to 25; and 53.7 million age 26 and older.* Most of them were cigarette smokers. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, causing more than 440,000 deaths each year, and resulting in an annual cost of more than $75 billion in direct medical costs.

Nicotine is highly addictive. Nicotine provides an almost immediate "kick" because it causes a discharge of epinephrine from the adrenal cortex. This stimulates the central nervous system, and other endocrine glands, which causes a sudden release of glucose. Stimulation is then followed by depression and fatigue, leading the smoker to seek more nicotine. Nicotine affects brain chemistry

Nicotine and Adrenaline
When a person inhales cigarette smoke, the nicotine in the smoke is rapidly absorbed into the blood and starts affecting the brain within 7 seconds. The result is the release of the hormone adrenaline, the "fight or flight" hormone. Physically, adrenaline will increase a person's heart rate, blood pressure and restrict flow to the heart muscle. The smoker will experience rapid, shallow breathing. Adrenaline also instructs the body to dump any excess glucose into the bloodstream.

Nicotine and Insulin
Nicotine inhibits the release of the hormone insulin, which is responsible for removing excess sugar from a person's blood. The result can be that the smoker is slightly hyperglycemic, meaning they have more sugar in their blood than usual. High blood sugar acts as an appetite suppressant, which may be why smokers think their cigarettes reduce hunger. In the long run though, nicotine in the bloodstream increases the "bad" LDL cholesterol, which is thought to clog and harden arteries. That in turn will step up the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Nicotine and Dopamine
Nicotine activates the same reward system as do other drugs of abuse such as cocaine or amphetamine. Nicotine increases the level of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is a chemical in the brain responsible for feelings of pleasure and well-being. The acute effects of nicotine wear off within minutes, so people must smoke all day to maintain the pleasurable effects of nicotine and to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

Nicotine and Acetylcholine
The nicotine molecule is very similar in shape to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which affects many bodily functions, including breathing, heart rate, learning and memory. Acetylcholine in turn also affects other neurotransmitters that have influence over appetite, mood, and memory. When nicotine gets into the brain, it attaches to nerve cells in places where acetylcholine would, creating the same effects.

 

Other Effects of Nicotine

Nicotine stimulates the release of the hormone epinephrine, which further stimulates the nervous system and is responsible for part of the "kick" from nicotine.

Nicotine promotes the release of the hormone beta-endorphin, which inhibits pain.

In addition to nicotine, cigarette smoke is primarily composed of a dozen gases (mainly carbon monoxide) and tar. The tar in a cigarette, which varies from about 15 mg for a regular cigarette to 7 mg in a low-tar cigarette, exposed the user to an increased risk of lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchial disorders.

The carbon monoxide in the smoke increases the chance of cardiovascular diseases. The Environmental Protection Agency has concluded that secondhand smoke causes lung cancer and greatly increases the risk of respiratory illnesses in children and sudden infant death.

 

Information for this article obtained from:
http://www.nida.nih.gov/