Passage
The highly addictive nature of cigarettes can be partly explained by how nicotine, the primary addictive ingredient, is administered. The fastest route of administration for most drugs is through inhalation; cigarette smoking results in the transmission of nicotine to the brain in about 15 seconds. In the brain, nicotine activates the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, which stimulate the brain's reward pathway and produce mild feelings of euphoria. Those who quit smoking often relapse due to stress, weight gain, and withdrawal symptoms such as cravings and irritability. Of those who attempt to quit without formal treatment, only 3%-5% remain abstinent after a year.Research suggests that mindfulness meditation-based programs can be an effective strategy to quit smoking. Mindfulness is an aspect of meditation that involves cultivating a nonjudgmental awareness of the thoughts, emotions, and sensations arising in the present moment.For one study, researchers randomly assigned 88 smokers to either Mindfulness Training (MT) or the Freedom From Smoking (FFS) intervention developed by the American Lung Association. Both groups participated in 90-minute group training sessions twice a week for four weeks. The FFS intervention educated participants on the negative health consequences of smoking, coping strategies for cravings, and the development of healthy lifestyle habits. The MT intervention taught mindfulness meditation techniques as a way of gaining awareness and acceptance of the cognitive, emotional, and physical components of cravings. The number of cigarettes smoked per day and self-reported abstinence, as verified by exhaled carbon monoxide, were measured at the end of treatment and at a 17-week follow-up for participants in each group (Figure 1) .
Figure 1 Percentage of participants in each group abstinent at the end of treatment and at 17-week follow-up (* indicates p < 0.05)
-Assuming that stress is a major contributing factor to smoking relapse rates, the benefit of meditation in smoking abstinence is best predicted by:

Question

Passage
The highly addictive nature of cigarettes can be partly explained by how nicotine, the primary addictive ingredient, is administered. The fastest route of administration for most drugs is through inhalation; cigarette smoking results in the transmission of nicotine to the brain in about 15 seconds. In the brain, nicotine activates the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, which stimulate the brain's reward pathway and produce mild feelings of euphoria. Those who quit smoking often relapse due to stress, weight gain, and withdrawal symptoms such as cravings and irritability. Of those who attempt to quit without formal treatment, only 3%-5% remain abstinent after a year.Research suggests that mindfulness meditation-based programs can be an effective strategy to quit smoking. Mindfulness is an aspect of meditation that involves cultivating a nonjudgmental awareness of the thoughts, emotions, and sensations arising in the present moment.For one study, researchers randomly assigned 88 smokers to either Mindfulness Training (MT) or the Freedom From Smoking (FFS) intervention developed by the American Lung Association. Both groups participated in 90-minute group training sessions twice a week for four weeks. The FFS intervention educated participants on the negative health consequences of smoking, coping strategies for cravings, and the development of healthy lifestyle habits. The MT intervention taught mindfulness meditation techniques as a way of gaining awareness and acceptance of the cognitive, emotional, and physical components of cravings. The number of cigarettes smoked per day and self-reported abstinence, as verified by exhaled carbon monoxide, were measured at the end of treatment and at a 17-week follow-up for participants in each group (Figure 1) .

Figure 1 Percentage of participants in each group abstinent at the end of treatment and at 17-week follow-up (* indicates p < 0.05)
-Assuming that stress is a major contributing factor to smoking relapse rates, the benefit of meditation in smoking abstinence is best predicted by:

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

11ecba2d_0c55_8a8d_a3bf_f97eac4aa3bc_MD0008_00 The stress ("fight-or-flight") response is the body's physiological reaction to perceived threats. Once something is perceived as a threat, the amygdala alerts the hypothalamus and pituitary gland to stimulate the sympathetic nervous system via the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands release a cascade of stress hormones that includes cortisol, epinephrine (adrenaline), and norepinephrine (noradrenaline). These hormones prepare the body for action by increasing cardiac and respiratory activity, mobilizing energy stores, and modifying immune, inflammatory, and metabolic responses. Cortisol is a steroid hormone released by the cortex (outer layer) of the adrenal gland. This hormone helps regulate metabolism, blood pressure, and immune responses. Extended periods of high cortisol exposure can have negative health consequences including weight gain (especially abdominal fat), prolonged wound healing, increased susceptibility to infectious disease, and sleep and memory problems. During meditation, a decrease in cortisol indicates a decrease in stress, suggesting that meditation may eliminate this driver of smoking behavior and therefore help with abstinence. (Choice B) Melatonin is a hormone involved in synchronizing the circadian rhythm to the light/dark cycle. Meditation would not be expected to decrease melatonin production. (Choice C) The sympathetic nervous system mediates the stress ("fight-or-flight") response. Meditation would be expected to decrease rather than increase sympathetic activity. (Choice D) Epinephrine (adrenaline) is released in response to stress. Meditation would be expected to decrease rather than increase epinephrine release. Educational objective: Cortisol is a steroid hormone released by the adrenal glands that plays a role in the stress response. Chronic exposure to high levels of cortisol can negatively affect body weight and immune functioning.

Passage The Highly Addictive Nature of Cigarettes Can Be Partly Explained