A1AA Logo
“Our mission is to improve the health and well being of those affected by Alpha-1 through support to patients,
educating healthcare professionals and advancing public policy for the Alpha-1 Community.”

Won’t you sign up for membership? Simply click HERE

Be the First to know
sign up for our
TWITTER

Home
A1AA Donation Shoppe
Mission Statement
What is Alpha-1
Need Help Now !
Informational Resources
  • Support
  • Medicine Support
  • Personal Advocacy
  • Education
  • Public Policy
  • Alpha-1 Vets
    Health Tips
    FAQs
    Lending Library
    Caregivers
    Membership
    Management Team
    A1AA Published Archive
  • The Register - newsltr
  • Press Room
    Our Partners and Links
    Alpha-1 Advocacy Summary

    Our Partner's
    in the Alpha
    Community



    Testing for AAT Deficiency
    Simply click HERE
    Alpha One International Registry
    provides AAT Deficiency Testing. This AAT Deficiency Testing is a
    COMPLETE CONFIDENCIAL TESTING SERVICE
    and WITHOUT COST TO YOU.
    Please read the detail at: AAT Deficiency Detection Center

    Ask Patpat

    Group Therapy for
    The Alpha-1 Patients and Family


    Addiction to Food, Tobacco and other Drugs of Abuse
    Pre & Post Transplant


    Addiction is a brain disease. What causes the brain to become diseased? Food, tobacco, and drugs of abuse (legal or illegal) activate the brains pleasure center thus, activating a reward circuit that produces a feel-good sensation. Addiction is a primary disease and not a symptom of an underlying psychiatric disorder. It is a multidimensional biopsychosocial disease. Meaning there is a biogenetic predisposition, motivational and personality factors as well as cultural, environmental and familial influences. Even medications such as Prednisone increase your desire to eat more food.

    The term craving describes an intense desire. This could be for both foods and a variety of drugs of abuse. Through research, we have learned that the common pathways affected by most addictive drugs share some of the same pathways for food. The common mechanism: Opioid peptides influence palatability with mounting evidence that excessive cravings or likings for sweets share co morbidity with alcohol/drug abuse. The pleasure center communicates in the chemical language of dopamine that produces feelings from mild happiness to euphoria for both foods and drugs. Drugs that block dopamine receptors and drugs that stimulate dopamine receptors have been considered as potential medications for addiction, but these drugs affect the reward system too strongly causing depression. Good News, elderly individuals tend to age-out of drug abuse and have fewer food cravings as they age.

    Addiction to Food

    What Are the Signs of Food Addiction?

    The following are questions that potential food addicts may ask themselves:
      1. Have I tried but failed to control my eating?
      2. Do I find myself hiding food or secretly bingeing?
      3. Do I have feelings of guilt or remorse after eating?
      4. Do I eat over emotions?
      5. Is my weight affecting my way of life?

    The characteristics of food addicts can include:

      1. Being obsessed and/or preoccupied with food
      2. Having a lack of self-control when it comes to food
      3. Having a compulsion about food in which eating results in a cycle of bingeing despite negative consequences
      4. Remembering a sense of pleasure and/or comfort with food and being unable to stop using food to create a sense of pleasure and comfort
      5. Having a need to eat which results in a physical craving.
    The signs and characteristics listed above and symptoms listed below may also be found in persons addicted to drugs and/or alcohol, including headaches, insomnia, irritability, mood changes, and depression.

    How Is Food Addiction Treated?

    Several options are available in the treatment of food addiction. These include consulting a nutritionist, doctor, psychologist, counselor, or eating disorder specialist. In addition, 12-step groups such Overeaters Anonymous (OA) have meetings in many regions or online. Some tips for avoiding bouts of compulsive eating include:
      1. Knowing which situations trigger your cravings, and avoiding them if possible
      2. Drinking at least 64 ounces of water per day
      3. Exercising
      4. Relaxing with deep breathing exercises or meditation
      5. Trying to distract yourself until the compulsion to eat passes


    Addiction to Smoking/Alcohol and their influence on Food Consumption

    Research done at the Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC in 2005 reports the following. Of 219 patients evaluated for lung transplant and 45 patients from 1 to 7 years post transplant lung recipients, 72% had a prior history of tobacco use and majority had consumed alcohol. Post transplant 100% of the recipients reported abstinence from tobacco, over 60% reported abstinence from alcohol. The transplant coordinator corroborated that no transplant recipients were using tobacco products and/or consuming alcohol in an excessive or problematic manner. Those that consumed alcohol after transplant had a lower level of social support. Therefore, smoking and drinking behaviors can relate to demographic variables, depression, and low social support. Inhibition of dopamine may influence weight gain after smoking cessation and can reduce energy intake in obese adults. Obesity was also associated with alcohol consumption and smoking history.

    With just over 30 % of recipients continuing to consume alcohol, a look at the affect on food intake will be helpful. Use of alcohol at mealtime appears to have multiple effects on appetite. Alcohol produces energy that stimulates one to eat. In short, the use of alcohol stimulates the neuro-chemicals that usually maintain appetite-control and by failing to reduce food intake, even recipients with moderate alcohol intake consumption are at risk for obesity. Conclusions: A physically active lifestyle with abstention from smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, and consumption of healthy foods maximizes the chances of maintaining a normal weight.



    Disclaimer:  The information presented on
    Ask Pat is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or to replace your relationship with a physician. For all medical concerns, you should always consult your doctor. 

    Lking for More Information... Need Help Now! Click Here

    Return Home | Return to Personal Support | Return to Informational Resources


    Alpha-1 Advocacy Alliance, PO Box 202, 103 Rapidan Church Lane, Wolftown, VA 22748
    Telephone: 540-948-6777 or 1-866-FOR-A1AA   (1-866-367-2122) Fax # 540-948-6763

    Copyright © 2009 Alpha-1 Advocacy Alliance, All Rights Reserved

    Home | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy