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  The Alpha-1 Patients and Family 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:
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:
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.
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