CIGARETTES – ONCE AND ALWAYS!

This week, in continuation to my previous post about “Alcohol and its effects on brain”, this time I am going to be talking about another social evil – Cigarettes. Anybody who is in India and a person who regularly visits a cinema theatre cannot possibly claim that they do not know the harmful effects of smoking on our health as well as the health of the people around us. But, those infomercials only talk about the effect of cigarettes on our physical health such as its role in causing cancer, lung diseases, strokes, etc. But , one fact that is always ignored or not given much importance is that Cigarette as it contains nicotine and other “drugs” has a profound effect on our brain which is ever lasting and takes a lot of pain to reverse. 

Whenever, we talk about cigarettes, we talk about how “addictive” they are and that how one puff taken due to peer pressure can lead you to become a slave to the habit. While people generally say these things in an offhand fashion, I think they don’t know how true their words are because this is exactly the most dangerous ingredient is cigarette acts. Let’s first get to know what exactly the term “addiction” signifies.

Addiction is a behavior that comes about in our physical or mental actions , when we need a particular act or object to function normally. Brain communicates with the rest of the body by means of neurotransmitters, that work like small chemicals carrying simple messages according to the command of the brain. They are like small locks and keys functioning to release and stop the secretion of appropriate hormones, in response to the various chemical and physical signals that generate in our nerve endings. For example, when somebody tickles you, it generates a signal in a nerve ending, and according to your brain structure, a particular receptor gets activated and a hormones like dopamine(pleasure) or adrenaline (excitement) gets released. Addiction is when, instead of the receptor our body needs another chemicals to release the hormone required.

So, coming back to nicotine, it makes one to be addictive towards cigarettes is by changing the way brain functions in such a way that without nicotine in our blood, the brain cannot carry out its functions properly. That is, in order to release the pleasure hormone dopamine, instead of the conventional receptor, the brain is sensitized to need nicotine to do so. 

Basically, whenever one takes a puff of cigarette, they inhale about 1-2 milligram of nicotine, which is in its free form and hence gets easily absorbed in our blood levels. The brain now has a large amount of nicotine, and due to which one experiences the presence of large amount of dopamine in one’s system leading to the feeling of being high. But, chain smokers after a while, get desensitized and start experiencing irritation, anxiety due to the cut of the hormone supply, which leads to the craving of one cigarette after the other. Once a huge amount of nicotine is mixed in the blood level, it starts imitating the responses one feels after getting the “kick” of adrenaline or dopamine, which leads them to feel that they are happy again. This is a psychological feeling, caused by the chemical tricking our senses.

It is generally very difficult to quit smoking because nicotine , due to its high concentration in the brain, becomes highly necessary for the brain to function even in a very normal and ordinary way and also , withdrawal of this chemical from the brain leads to a temporary shutdown of some parts of the brain leading to a highly disordered functioning the entire body.

Another note-worthy fact about the cigarette is that research is beginning to show that nicotine may not be the only harmful ingredient in cigarettes. Scientists can see the dramatic effect of cigarette smoking on the brain and are finding a marked decrease in the levels of monoamineoxidase (MAO), an enzyme responsible for breaking down dopamine. The change in MAO must be caused by some tobacco smoke ingredient other than nicotine, since nicotine itself does not dramatically alter MAO levels. The decrease in two forms of MAO, A and B, results in higher dopamine levels. The need to sustain the high dopamine levels results in the desire for repeated drug use.

The above mentioned affects are the one that occur when one starts smoking regularly and is addicted and the reasons behind it. But what happens to the brain structure, when you keep smoking and the nicotine level keeps increasing in your blood?

The result is that while the pleasure and excitement controlling areas in your brain remain highly active (sometimes more than required) throughout, the other areas that control cognitive functions, motor abilities, speech , etc keep declining and at the end, these areas become almost 20-40% less active than of the non-smokers at old age. Also, the earlier you start smoking, the more you become addicted and the more rapidly your brain ages. This eventually puts you at a higher risk of aging related diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, etc.

One of the highly feared disease that comes in old age is the one that completely addles your brain – dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers have found that chain smokers have a high difficulty in remembering names, events and also at associating memories properly with the real events. All these are indications of a high risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Though no research has yet confirmed the exact cause for dementia, smoking can definitely shorten the odds of you getting it.  

Bottom line is that you want to get out, get out soon before either your brain gives out or your body does, because then it would be too late to do anything except regret.

-Wanna-be-Savant

ELECTION – MIND GAMES ALL THE WAY!

Right now, in India its summer but this summer is very special. It is the election time, and it is now the time for the youth to step up and ink their fingers so that their passion, anger and rebellious feelings give way to change, by them and for them! Sounds like an ideal democratic setting right? But how much of this election fever, and Desh jag gaya hai is coming from the heart , and how much of it is actually a by-product of the million mind games being played all around the nation today? Come, lets explore it this week on Psyche-Aware!

First of all, its been said so many times by everybody right from the newspaper people to my own fellow writers on Eccentrix, but it cant be said enough! The number of new eligible voters this election is staggering, and all of them are the younger generation , the Gen-X and Y are all grown up and ready to participate in the democratic process to chose their Messiah, and the biggest question that stumped all the politicians this time was, what will they vote for? Government benefits or revolutionary new age models? And, I think they almost got it right!

The biggest decider in this time’s election is going to be the younger generation’s vote and you know what is their basis and motivation for voting? It’s a) They want to feel that they are making a difference and b) they are highly influenced by their social and peer group interactions. So, as I said these people have figured it out right. That is the reason we saw Modi having his own blog, Rahul Gandhi having one-on-one sessions with the youth of the country and the Election Commission telling the political parties to show their expenses related to their social media accounts. According to a survey by An American Political Research Agency, people (especially the younger population) vote because they want to fit in, and if they don’t have a particularly enthusiastic group like family, friends who are interested in the electoral process, chances are they too won’t vote.

Okay this is as far as the Gen-X and Y is concerned. What about the middle aged people? The working class, the one who watch these campaigns 24x7 on TV even while feigning indifference and distrust on the entire political system? What will make them go out there and cast their vote? Well, simply saying it is nothing else but “Drama”. Yes, my readers I get it you are shocked to think our voters can be so shallow but again, research shows that if there is a villain and a hero, people are more likely to vote to see the bad guy go down than to make the good guy win. Also, the mud-slinging that takes place daily also is a very crucial deciding factor. People tend to vote more for the person who lets the common man decide on their own about who the bad guy, than thrusting the conclusion on them. Again, I think our dear old politicians have figured it out.

But, there is one small thing that goes beyond all these theories. It is the individual’s power and desire to make an impact on nation’s fate. Even in peer groups, an individual always tries to retain their own opinion on who to vote for, despite the fact that he/she are voting just to basically fit in the group. 

So, lets hope that how much ever all the people are working on getting the people vote for them, by hook or crook , individuals will weigh in their own pros and cons for each candidate so that in the end, the spirit of democracy is retained. 

-         -Wanna-be-Savant

ALCOHOL CAN MAKE YOU CRAZY! (LITERALLY)

Whenever we talk about social evils, I am pretty sure alcohol would definitely be in everybody’s top 10 at least. There is nobody here that does not know that alcohol is bad for health. It can lead to serious diseases such as liver failure, sometimes kidney failure also. Young people who start drinking are always warned that they are going to spoil their health, fall sick, and get into accidents and what not! It is supposed to scare them off of the drinking habit. I have a new bit of information that might actually succeed in scaring such people if at all, they care about having a fulfilling life.   

This is to all you people having regular drink sessions with your buddies, knocking back more than a few as a regular party custom or having more than four drinks a day to “relieve” yourself from your daily stressful lives . I have news for you, soon, hangovers and liver failure is going to sound very pleasant when the alcohol you consume actually starts affecting the most important organ of your body – the brain!! 

ALCOHOL AND THE BRAIN

Anybody who has seen a drunken person cannot argue with the opinion that the consumption of alcohol seriously impairs the brain functions. Slurred speech, wobbling stance, unable to articulate thoughts properly are the normal indicators of a heavily drunk person. Some people even have blackouts when they consume more than 5 drinks in 2 hours (men) and 4 drinks in 2 hours (women).

Hangovers, blackouts or severe headache that occurs the day after the drinking episode are just small time effects of alcohol on one’s brain activity.

Our brain functions as the central information and command center of our body by constantly obtaining information on everything we come into contact, storing them and using them later to help us make decisions, recall incidents , etc. These are called as the cognitive functions of the brain. A bigger explanation on them has been given in the “Stereotype” article. Now, these functions are enabled by the help of a set of chemicals called neurotransmitters. They carry the information around and deliver them wherever and whenever needed. Alcohol affects the brain functions by altering the levels of neurotransmitters, so that important messages involving thought processes, emotions and behavior do not get delivered to the sense organs. In layman terms, your brain functions but does not co ordinate with your sensory organs making it impossible for you to express yourself, form a coherent thought and take decisions even about small things like which door to use for exiting!! Imagine how difficult your life would become then, not only for you but for your family too!

 LONG TERM EFFECTS

The above stated effects are about the short-term effect of alcohol on brain. So what happens when you continue drinking daily at a rate of 5 drinks per day? Each and every part of your brain gets affected, resulting in a great impact on your memory-related faculties, co ordination abilities and also other organ related diseases. We all know that liver, the organ that is responsible for breaking down alcohol into smaller substances, is the worst affected by it. But, brain cells are now being considered as being affected as much as liver does in the long run. While you can undergo liver transplant to restore your body to normal conditions, growing brain cells or restoring functions is a very lengthy and often an unsuccessful process. 

Cognitive thinking

The white matter in our brain, responsible for cognitive functions and transmission of messages to cognitive areas, are also highly damaged due to prolonged consumption of alcohol. Loss of memory, slowed thinking, impaired problem solving and decision making are especially vulnerable to damage caused by alcohol consumption, because it disrupts white matter connections to the cerebral cortex and deep brain structures necessary for these mental functions.

Brain Shrinkage

Long-term drinking can leave permanent damage, causing the brain to shrink and leading to ­deficiencies in the fibers (nerve like structures) that carry information between brain cells. Many alcoholics develop a condition called Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which is caused by a deficiency of thiamine (a B vitamin type). This deficiency occurs because alcohol interferes with the way the body absorbs B vitamins. People with Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome experience mental confusion and lack of coordination, and they may also have memory and learning problems. Alcohol makes it very difficult for the body to absorb Vitamin B, hence people who consume it on a daily basis have high risks of being affected by mental illnesses such as memory problems, anxiety, depression, schizophrenic disorders, etc. 

EFFECTS ON MEMORY

Our brain stores information about a multitude of things, hence our memory is divided into three main categories based on the type of information stored, for easy understanding and analysis. They are explicit memory, implicit memory and work-process memory.

Explicit memory is responsible for recalling incidents and information that require conscious effort such as the time and venue of a party(episodic memory), or a person’s name(semantic memory). Alcohol severely impairs episodic encoding making it difficult to retrieve recently learnt information also, while due to alcohol’s effect on the Central Nervous System, semantic memory is also hampered because the storage and consolidation of the information retrieved is restricted by the effect of alcohol. Again in layman terms, your brain might store information in episodic memory but make it difficult to retrieve it while semantic memory elements such as name of a person, age , relation might not get stored at all with the continuous drinking habit.

Implicit and work-process memory are both types of procedural memory , i.e., they store information required to perform tasks that are done on a daily basis, like driving a car, tying your shoe laces. While this memory is not affected much by alcohol, poor recall ability caused by the effects of alcohol on other brain areas, a person might forget or be unable to obey certain stimuli responses while doing these tasks, like balancing oneself while tying the lace, or being careful on speed blocks while driving, etc.

Bottom line

I know it is a very long article infested with what people like to call, science mumbo-jumbo or crazy psych talk, but I would just like to call the attention of the people who indulge in drinking habits on a daily basis to a few simple facts :

1. You might not have any big physical illness due to your alcohol consumption, but you cannot save your brain being affected by it. Your brain starts shrinking, nerve ends start being less sensitive after 2-4 weeks of regular alcohol consumption.

2. Liver failure looks and sounds very serious but there is an immediate cure for it, using today’s advance techniques in the field of medicine while it would take at least 7-8 months for your brain to be restored to its normal function after you give up alcohol completely.

3.Falling sick physically can be handled, coped by a lot of people but mental illness does not affect the patient alone, it has a long standing effect on the patient’s family, friends, society.

So, if you are young and having fun with drinking, kindly know your limits and consider giving up alcohol, if you plan on living a happy and fulfilling life. For people, who are well past the fun stage and are into the addiction phase of the habit, please contact your local doctor to start your treatment and avoid any lasting damage to the brain and other vital organs.

-Wanna-be-Savant

A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS – WITH DARK PATCHES IN THE MIDDLE!

The first request that I got after I started doing book reviews was for the review of “A Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini. This first-time author impressed me so much that I couldn’t stop raving about the story, the characters that the review became very close to a spoiler alert. The first thought that I had after I finished reading his second book “A Thousand Splendid Suns” is that this review is going to be very difficult because the author has brought another achingly beautiful masterpiece. I take the pleasure of sharing this book’s review with my fellow bookmaniacs , this week on bookshelf.

PLOT

The plot is very simple, and I am going to try and restrain myself from going into details. It talks about the pre and post-war scenario in the different provinces of Afghanistan through the eyes of two young girls (Mariam and Laila) who are forced to grow up and face the ugly task of being a woman in the oppressed nation of Afghanistan. While the war outside, on the streets, is hellish enough for anybody to have nightmares even with their eyes open, life inside the four walls is no less nightmarish for the ladies. So, what happens? Do they bow down and accept it as fate or is there a chance that they can have a new beginning, a new life where they not only survive but can also live? is what forms the plot. 

STYLE

As mentioned above, the narrative is in such a way that the primary focus is on the ladies of the story, Mariam and Laila. The narration itself is very crisp, clean without wandering very far away from the main storyline. Even small meanderings make sense when the book is nearing its end. It all ties so beautifully, effortlessly that even though it is not a happy-ever-after kind of story, you will close the book with a strange sense of contentment and optimism in your heart. The descriptions of even small incidents, non-descript places are also done with such utmost care that the whole of Afghan with its quaint, little provinces and the ultra modern city of Kabul comes alive in your imagination. Mr. Hosseini is indeed a very talented painter who makes his beloved homeland come to life with every stroke of his pen.

CHARACTERS

At the risk of sounding like a star-struck kid, I just want to point out that all the characters in this book from the sweet-but-weak willed Jalil, (Mariam’s father) to the Disgusting male-chauvinist pig Rasheed (Mariam and Laila’s husband), they are so impeccably established, that you have almost real-life emotions towards them, they are so easily relatable. Mariam and Laila’s characters are a soulful tribute to the millions of Burqa-clad women walking down the dusty streets of Kabul. They are sweet, young with such a high resilience that nothing breaks them down. They keep getting up, ready to face the next blow and find happiness and comfort in small rituals and recognitions. But, a personal favorite for me would be Laila’s father Hakim, the dreamer who recognized the downfall of Afghan even before time but still struggled to give his daughter a sense of heritage of the un-polluted Afghan. His soft nature coupled with his love for his wife and daughter makes him one of the most lovable characters in this book.

VERDICT

If you liked A Kite Runner, you would love this book. Even if you haven’t read A Kite Runner , this book is a must read because Khaled has matured in his thinking, writing and his love for his homeland is all the more powerful in this. This books speaks of times that changed, telling us while everything around us can change in a second, it is the power within us that can lead us towards survival and ultimately happiness.

-Wanna-be-Savant