Opioid use disorder symptoms | Why are opioids addictive?

The tear of the poppy, Opium (Lachryma papaveris), the extract of the poppy’s capsule, can relieve pain and induce pleasure.

Ever since the discovery of poppy’s chemical compound, we have a bigger issue “Opioid use disorder” for the world.

Pain – Killing pain and Addiction.

Morphine has been widely used as the ingredient for painkillers medications or even illicit drugs like heroin. Especially, Morphine acts directly on the central nervous system (CNS) to induce analgesia and alter perception and emotional reaction to pain.

Other medication on the list of Narcotic Analgesics (Opioid Pain-killer med) includes hydrocodone, oxycodone, methadone, codeine, and fentanyl.

Since 1980, the opioid industry has developed rapidly and profitably for the big pharmaceutical business, so they have been actively advertising opioid medications to medical professionals and the general public. As a result, the number of patients prescribed this type of pain medication has increased dramatically. Especially, it has caused “the crisis of opioid addiction” (Opioid use disorder) until the present time. 

Opioid use disorder

The word “opioids” refers to any chemical compound that affects the opioid receptors in the neurological system.

Although opioid compounds are manufactured differently, they all have the potential to traverse the blood-brain barrier and activate histamines, a chemical substance in our bodies that assists in the immune and inflammatory responses.

When we are in pain, our bodies release endorphins organically, a hormone that communicates between the brain and nervous system to activate opioid receptors for an analgesic effect. Therefore opioid drugs can bind stronger and longer to the opioid receptor, and it helps to manage severe pain more than endorphins. As a result, Opioid use disorder develops because it is harder to get rid of the frequency of usage of this pain reliever medication.

Opioid receptors can impact our emotions and how our bodies operate. Opioid medicines also cause the release of dopamine, which is why many people get hooked on them. An opioid high is when the feeling of pleasure lead.

Opioid use disorder develops when Opioids can be harmful to our body because block Norepinephrine (NE), also called noradrenaline (NA) or noradrenalin, which is an organic chemical in the catecholamine family that functions in the brain and body as both a hormone and neurotransmitters. The interference of noradrenaline can cause drowsiness, breathing difficulties, digestive problems, constipation, and blood pressure troubles. As a result, an overdose case of opioids is the leading cause of heart failure, which made sufferers difficult to take in oxygen, causing them to lose their consciousness and even leading to death. 

Our bodies will sometimes respond to new environments, particularly new cell development, and learn from their mold that they need to improve their opioid receptors. As a result, our bodies start to experience some tolerance for opioids. 

Any frequent changes in our body will teach our brain to accept new behavior. Even if it is good or bad, the behavior that we teach here is the ability to “don’t want to feel pain”. 

 our body will start to develop a new tolerance for opioids. To experience the same dopamine release and mood effects as previously, people must take higher and larger doses, a cycle that leads to physical dependency and addiction.

Patients’ noradrenaline levels decline when they take more opioids to adjust to their pain tolerance, possibly impairing their physiological functioning. Noradrenaline receptors must rise in this circumstance to detect the new level of noradrenaline. Because of our new adjustment, the correct amount of noradrenaline is more complicated to balance. 

The extra receptors cause our body becomes more sensitive to pain without the help of opioids. When the cycle gets disrupted, it causes “the withdrawal symptoms” that result in muscle aches, stomach pains, high fever, and vomiting. In this case, patients must rely more on opioids to function correctly, which causes the opioids crisis. 

Opioid use disorder symptoms Drug-free therapy, addiction recovery Utah

A severe case of Opioid use disorder is opioid withdrawal symptoms make the sufferers incredibly ill for days or even weeks. In the future, the withdrawal patients going back to opioids can result in overdoses, because they have to take in large doses of opioids at the beginning which results in the past treatment. 

Sufferers of severe opioid withdrawal symptoms get extremely sick for days or even weeks. In the future, withdrawal patients who return to opioids may experience overdoses because they must take big dosages of opioids at first, which is the consequence of the previous treatment.

One of the leading causes of death in the world has been tied to opioid overdose from opioid use disorder patients. Due to the tight regulation of opioid medication, cheaper and easier alternative access such as heroin or illicit synthetic opioids got introduced to the public.

Opioid use disorder, Opioid overdose has been linked to one of the world’s top causes of death. Due to the strict restriction of opioid medications, cheaper and easier alternatives like heroin or illicit synthetic opioids have been available to the public. Especially, younger generations are the easier target market for either opioids or their derivatives. 

How is the opioids addiction, Opioid use disorder crisis start?

The abuse of prescription opioid drugs such as oxycodone and its derivatives is a serious health problem across the Western world. 

The first event started when a patient got prescribed opioid pain medication.

Then the dependent start to become physically attached to the usage of the drugs.

The second concern is the black market for opioids derivatives. Oxycontin, a powerful opioid pain reliever that is only available for cancer patients, has been distributed illegally to normal people.

According to the CDC, 15,000 individuals died as a result of opioid prescriptions in 2015. Furthermore, one out of every 48 individuals who receive opioid prescriptions will become long-term users. Since 2010, the prevalence of opioid overdose, misuse, and abuse has escalated at a rapid rate, resulting in an opioid epidemic crisis.

If you’re looking to receive effective treatment for ANY health condition, we recommend you start looking for a TCM practitioner in your area. If you’re within the state of Utah, don’t hesitate to reach out to  Lotus Spring Acupuncture & Wellness to receive the best holistic healthcare and acupuncture treatments.

Dan Clark has years of highly specialized training and experience in the field of acupuncture in Utah. With been in business for over 18+ years, we’re the ones who can give you personalized treatment to help you attain your personal health goals.

Lotus Spring Acupuncture and Wellness Inc., the best restorative acupuncture clinic in American Fork, UT, USA is dedicated to providing valuable information about Traditional Chinese Medicine’s solutions to Naturally  Restore Lungs Function.

The Link Between Lung Health and Nerve Growth

Have you ever thought about how the air we breathe affects more than just our lungs? It turns out, your lungs are super important not just for breathing but also for keeping your brain and nerves healthy.

Imagine your body is like a car engine, and oxygen is the fuel that keeps everything running smoothlyWithout enough fuel, things start to break down. Well, the same goes for your bodywithout enough oxygen, your brain and nerves might not work as well as they should. 

Did You Know?

Did you know that just a 1% drop in oxygen saturation can impair cognitive performance by up to 10%? Imagine you’re hiking up a high mountain, where the air is thin and oxygen is scarce. You might experience brain fog and find it hard to think clearly—this is because your brain needs steady supply of oxygen to stay sharp. But it’s not just about high-altitude hikes. Oxygen affects your daily life in surprising ways:

  1. Feeling Dizzy After Standing Up Quickly: Ever stood up too fast and felt lightheaded? This happens because your brain isn’t getting enough oxygen for a moment.

  2. Struggling with Focus During a Tough Workout: If you’re working out intensely and feel like your concentration is slipping, it might be due to lower oxygen levels in your body.

  3. Waking Up Groggy: If you have sleep apnea, you might wake up feeling tired because your body wasn’t getting enough oxygen during the night.
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“Inhale and Exhale to Stay Calm”: Ever notice in movies how characters are told to breathe deeply to stay calm? This is because deep breathing helps get more oxygen to your brain, which can help clear your mind and improve focus.

What Happens If You Don’t Get Enough Oxygen?

If your lungs aren’t doing their job properly and your blood isn’t getting enough oxygen, you might face some serious problems:

  1. Fatigue: Feeling tired all the time because your body isn’t getting the energy it needs.

  2. Shortness of Breath: Struggling to breathe easily, even when you’re at rest.

  3. Cognitive Issues: Difficulty concentrating, remembering things, or making decisions.

  4. Headaches: Frequent headaches due to low oxygen levels in the brain.

  5. Mood Changes: Feeling more irritable or down than usual, as oxygen levels affect your mood.

How Lung Health Supports Nerve Growth and Brain Function

Okay, let’s break this down into simpler terms. Think of your lungs as a big air pump. Their job is to take in oxygen from the air and put it into your blood. This oxygen-rich blood travels all over your body, including to your brain and nerves.

  1. Brain Power: Your brain needs a lot of oxygen to think clearly and learn new things. Healthy lungs make sure your brain gets the oxygen it needs to stay sharp.

  2. Nerve Growth: Just like plants need water to grow, your nerves need oxygen to stay healthy and grow. With enough oxygen, your nerves can work properly and repair themselves.

  3. Memory and Learning: Good oxygen levels help you remember things and learn new skills more easily.

Tips to Keep Your Lungs Healthy and Boost Oxygen Delivery

1. Breathing Exercises

What to Do: Try deep breathing exercises like diaphragmatic breathing. Breathe in deeply through your nose, letting your belly expand, and then slowly exhale through your mouth.

Why It Works: Deep breathing helps improve lung capacity and oxygen flow. Aim for 5-10 minutes of deep breathing exercises twice a day.

2.Stay Hydrated

What to Do: Drink plenty of water throughout the day—about 8 glasses (2 liters) daily.

Why It Works: Water helps keep mucus thin and easier to expel, improving lung function.

3.Eat Lung-Friendly Foods

What to Do: Include foods rich in antioxidants, like berriesapples, and leafy greens. Omega-3 rich foods like fish and flaxseeds are also great.

Why It Works: These foods help reduce inflammation and support lung health. Try to eat at least one serving of these foods daily.