Welcome to another edition of Common Ground Online. Here's what's in this week's edition:
- Truehope Conference Call this Thursday September 14
- Tobacco and Its Effects
In this month’s conference call, Truehope co-founders David Hardy and Anthony Stephan will discuss the subject of Apoptosis – what it is and how it relates to mental disorders. There is strong evidence supporting the idea that EMPowerplus may help to better regulate the natural process of Apoptosis in the body thus improving the overall health of the mind and body.
Mr. John C. Reed makes the following statement in his book titled "Apoptosis-Based Therapies": "Many of today's medical illnesses can be attributed directly or indirectly to problems with apoptosis – a programmed cell-suicide mechanism...each second, nearly one million cells 'commit suicide' in the adult human body...which represents a mass of cells equivalent to an entire body weight on an annual basis. A reasonable estimate is that either too little or too much cell death contributes to half of the main medical illnesses for which adequate therapy or prevention is lacking."
Don’t miss this opportunity to listen to these two passionate men share their knowledge and experience on the subject of Apoptosis. Space on the call is limited so we encourage you to RSVP now if you would like to listen in.
We often have participants ask us how the use of tobacco could have a negative impact on the effectiveness of EMPowerplus. The answer is that tobacco is a Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulant and its effects on the health of the mind and body are the same as with other stimulants that Truehope advises against using. Any substance that stimulates the CNS will have a negative impact on CNS function and EMPowerplus effectiveness to some degree or another. Stimulants affect the operation of the CNS system by disrupting the bio-chemical state of the individual.
If you are using tobacco and are trying to quit or would like to quit, here are some facts about tobacco and nicotine that you should be aware of. The source of the following information was taken from The Alcohol/Drug 24-Hour Help Line (ADHL) and the Easter Michigan University website.
----------Tobacco Facts----------
CLASSIFICATION: CNS Stimulant
PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS: Nicotine produces a feeling of relaxation and mental alertness, but below the surface the opposite is happening.
PHYSICAL EFFECTS: Nicotine stimulates the adrenal glands. The excess adrenaline prepares the body for the characteristic fight or flight response. It increases the blood pressure and pulse rate, and increases tension in the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract. In reality it acts as an environmental stressor (like being chased by a predator etc.), but it is invisible.
WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS: Headache, stomach pain, irritability, insomnia and cravings to smoke. Duration of withdrawal is 6 months to over a year. Nicotine is as addictive as other drugs such as heroin or cocaine and just as difficult to stop using. Medical aids to help one stop smoking are: Nicorette gum and Nicoderm patches. Follow your physician's directions carefully. Deaths have occurred due to heart attacks for those using Nicoderm patches who continued to smoke.
OVERDOSE SYMPTOMS: Low levels of nicotine poisoning are nausea, dizziness, and general weakness. High levels can cause tremors, convulsions, heart attack and death.
- Nicotine is a powerful CNS stimulant
- Nicotine causes many physiological reactions
- It produces an aroused state (subconscious stressor)
- It stimulates production of adrenaline (subconscious stressor)
- It causes an increase in heart rate and blood pressure
- It decreases the stomach contractions that signal hunger, and decreases sensation in the taste buds, reducing hunger (reduced nutrition)
- Tolerance to nicotine occurs rapidly, after just a few cigarettes
- Addiction to nicotine also occurs rapidly
- There are many negative health effects of tobacco
- Nicotine is the major psychoactive substance in tobacco
- Smoking is the most common form of tobacco use and delivers nicotine and other chemical substances to the user and anyone who breathes in the environmental tobacco smoke
- Tar is the thick, brownish sludge from particulate matter that condenses in the lungs (impairs gas exchange, and reduces metabolic efficiency)
- Nicotine and hydrogen cyanide impair the action of cilia cells in the lungs, making it nearly impossible for the lungs to clear and contributing to "smokers cough"
- Many other gasses and chemicals are found in tobacco; one of the most dangerous is carbon monoxide
- Carbon monoxide is present at levels about 800 times higher than considered safe by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- This can cause oxygen deprivation in many body tissues (impairs gas exchange, and reduces metabolic efficiency)
Help us to serve you better. Send your questions, comments, or concerns about the Truehope Program, EMPowerplus, or our support resources to feedback@truehope.com or call 1-888-878-3467 to speak to a Truehope Support Specialist.
We want to provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date program information so that you can continue to make informed decisions regarding your health. Our hope is that you will find hope, healing, and health through education and continued support.
Yours in health,
The Truehope Support Staff
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