Why is it so difficult to stop smoking

Nicotine addiction

Nicotine in the smoker’s body constantly stimulates the brain’s primary motivation neurotransmitter, dopamine. This creates the craving for additional nicotine (and re-enforces the behaviour of wanting the calm and satisfaction feeling provided by the nicotine – like wanting food when you are very hungry).  The brain makes more endorphins in response to nicotine, which provides  the euphoric feeling.  Smoking a cigarette when the body-mind gets agitated, calms and satisfies. The nicotine addiction makes this an ongoing continuing process that can last over 40 years. 

Most smoker’s  realize that their lungs and body are being destroyed from the cigarettes smoked with nicotine and hundreds of poisonous chemicals. And the high risk of getting cancer or heart disease that can result in a stroke.  Plus the cost of supporting this addiction (Over $2,160 a year or $21,600 for 10 years – for smoking a pack/day). All these are not strong enough reasons for them to make the extra efforts to quit. 

Many nicotine addicts allow themselves to be falsely convinced that continuing use is important to their survival as it provides them the stimulant to calm themselves, stay focused and energized to work better. Taking strong initiatives and make solid attempts to give up smoking requires a lot more than will power. The nature of the nicotine addiction is not about strength or weakness. It requires a process that can help smokers work through the mental disorder that attracts attention to the addiction. 

Recovery from nicotine addiction requires  a detox process of 72 hours (Three continuous days of not smoking). 

Nicotine Replacement Products (nicotine patch, gum, lozenges) require six months of usage and provide a higher dose of nicotine. Studies show their success rate to be around 7%.  For Chantix as of May 19, 2011 the US Food and Drug Administration had received 272 reports of completed suicides by Chantix users. And  Chantix was ranked first among all prescription drugs in reported deaths (more than twice any other drug), and the total number of U.S. reported adverse drug events of all severity surpassed 35,000, with roughly 10,000 of those being serious, disabling or fatal.

Laser therapy to stop smoking is safe, pain free and an effective way to ease the cravings and withdrawal episodes. The laser treatment stimulates energy points on the body. The stimulation of these energy points calms and relaxes the body-mind. The procedure helps to promote the release of endorphins, natural chemicals in the body associated with the spontaneous relief of pain and stress. Laser therapy has been used successfully to help people stop smoking  in Europe for over 20 years.

How does Laser Therapy help stop smoking?

 The smoker feels a strong urge to smoke when the body-mind is agitated. Nicotine response makes the brain increase the endorphins. The endorphins satisfy and calms the mind. After a few hours the endophin levels drop. The body-mind gets agitated and frustrated, the attention span to accomplish any work is not there. The craving for a cigarette becomes very strong. Once a cigarette is smoked the endorphins level is high, the body-mind system calms down. This is an ongoing process that can last a lifetime. The nicotine enforces this pattern. The chart below shows the high and low endorphin patterns from the nicotine addiction.

 The laser treatment stabilizes the endorphin level. The body-mind is in a calmer relaxed state. The cravings are no longer as strong and manageable. The more stable endorphin flow helps the smoker reduce or eliminate the desire to smoke. The 72 hours detox required for nicotine recovery is more easily accomplished with the detox procedures provided with the laser treatment.