Month: November 2024
How Does Nicotine Replacement Therapy Relieve Addiction?
”From a scientific standpoint, nicotine is just as hard, or harder, to quit than heroin.” This jarring statement from nicotine researcher Dr. Neil Benowitz may explain why so many people struggle with giving up nicotine for years, or even a lifetime.
When individuals use conventional cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco or e-cigarettes, the bloodstream quickly absorbs the chemical nicotine and transports it to the brain. The brain responds by releasing dopamine, the “happy hormone,” producing a pleasurable sensation. The body eventually grows accustomed to that sensation and becomes dependent on nicotine to produce it. When a smoker quits cigarettes, they may begin to feel angrier, sadder and hungrier due to the lack of stimulation from nicotine. They start to crave that happy hormone feeling. This is nicotine addiction.
Viable Alternatives to Nicotine
Overcoming nicotine addiction is no easy task for many. But there are substitutes for nicotine that are designed to wean addicts off of this harmful substance. In 1984, nicotine addicts found a new hope as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). NRT products were first introduced in the form of gum, then later patches, lozenges, inhalers and other methods. Many of these were originally offered by prescription only but subsequently became available over the counter.
NRTs act upon the receptors in the brain that are affected by nicotine, easing the cravings and withdrawal symptoms that most people who give up nicotine experience. Quite often, using multiple NRT methods at the same time yields better results. According to researchers, NRTs boost tobacco quit rates by up to 70%. In most cases, therapy involves gradually reducing the amount of nicotine and/or frequency of the use of NRT until the user is weaned off the addictive chemical altogether.
It should be noted that while many nicotine users are able to overcome their physiological dependence on nicotine through NRT, such products do not alleviate any behavioral associations that tobacco users develop. For example, some smokers associate pleasure with the act of picking up a cigarette and placing it in their mouth or just feeling the sensation of having a cigarette between the lips. For this reason, behavioral therapy is often recommended alongside or following NRT.
Master Physiology and Pharmacology Online
The University of Florida’s renowned College of Medicine provides degree and certificate programs that will help you understand how nicotine and other substances can impact human physiology and broaden your knowledge of body systems overall. Each of these programs is presented entirely online, which allows you to complete a respected education credential on your own schedule, around any professional and personal responsibilities you may have. All programs are available 24/7 from just about any location.
Master of Science in Medical Sciences with a concentration in Medical Physiology and Pharmacology
Our online master’s degree in medical physiology and pharmacology program explores the major human body systems and how different drugs impact and are impacted by them. In addition, our program helps you prepare for National Board, MCAT and other key exams that can enable you to advance into a new role in your medical career. You may be able to finish this program in as little as one year.
What’s more, if you have completed a Graduate Certificate in Medical Physiology or a Graduate Certificate in Medical Physiology with a specialization in Cardiovascular/Renal Physiology (more information below), you’re already halfway to earning a master’s degree in medical physiology and pharmacology. Our 30-credit degree program accepts up to 15 credits from these UF graduate certificate programs. Consider the advantages of our master’s degree in medical physiology and pharmacology program:
- Earn your master’s degree in as little as one year.
- Complete coursework at your own pace.
- Build clinical knowledge that can help you excel in medical school.
- Get started without taking the GRE.
- Use financial aid options, if needed.
- Add a career-defining education credential to your resume.
Graduate Certificate in Medical Physiology
Our Graduate Certificate in Medical Physiology investigates the fundamentals of the field and explores individual systems of the human body. You can take as many as six courses in this 9- to 14-credit program, though you are only required to complete 9 credits. That means you may be able to complete the program in a single semester.
Graduate Certificate in Medical Physiology with a specialization in Cardiovascular/Renal Physiology
We also offer a Graduate Certificate in Medical Physiology with a specialization in Cardiovascular/Renal Physiology, an advanced-level look at cardiovascular and renal physiology and pathophysiology that you’ll find invaluable in a clinical setting. You can complete this 12-credit program in as little as two semesters.
Find out how the human body functions and interacts with different drugs and other substances in an entirely online master’s degree or graduate certificate program from the University of Florida.
Sources:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/dopamine
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/tobacco-nicotine-e-cigarettes/nicotine-addictive
https://www.cancer.org/healthy/stay-away-from-tobacco/guide-quitting-smoking/nicotine-replacement-therapy.html
https://www.verywellmind.com/nicotine-replacement-therapy-4013217
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/08/160831085320.htm
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5003586/
https://www.healthline.com/health/oral-fixation#examples-in-adults
How This Program Helps Prepare You for Medical School
Medical school is a challenging but ultimately fulfilling endeavor for most students. Completing it positions you to make an immeasurable impact on the lives and health of others in a rewarding profession.
In recent years, however, about 60% of applicants have not been accepted into medical school — even as doctor shortages increase. In fact, some industry organizations have forecast a physician shortfall approaching 86,000 by 2036.
These figures underscore the importance of submitting a standout medical school application. Your application should clearly demonstrate that you not only meet the requirements but also possess the skills, credentials and determination needed to tackle the rigors of medical school and become an M.D.
The University of Florida’s College of Medicine offers an online Master of Science in Medical Sciences with a concentration in Medical Physiology and Pharmacology program that can set you up for success in the medical school application process and beyond. Here’s how this program can benefit you as an aspiring medical school student.
The Difference Our Degree Can Make
Our online master’s degree in medical physiology and pharmacology can help prepare you for medical school in several ways:
MCAT-Aligned Curriculum
Our program features curriculum designed to prepare you for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) — a key requirement for medical school admission. Through assignments and research on carefully selected topics, you’ll acquire a solid foundation for the exam. Numerous graduates have confirmed that our program provided excellent preparation for specific sections of the MCAT.
See course list and course descriptions here.
A Standout Credential That Demonstrates Your Dedication
Passing the MCAT is important, but is it enough? A master’s degree in medical physiology and pharmacology enhances your medical school application because it shows admissions committees your willingness to acquire advanced knowledge beyond the typical requirements. It can help you stand apart from that 60% of applicants who may not have a graduate credential and do not get accepted to medical school.
A Robust Program From a Respected University
A top-quality education is vital not only for catching the attention of a medical school admissions committees but also for thriving in medical school once you’re admitted. Built on more than 170 years of proven academic excellence, UF’s reputation for quality precedes it and is reflected in our regional accreditation, our graduates’ accomplishments and the accolades we regularly receive. Our 2024 acknowledgments include:
Recognized, Experienced Faculty
Our online master’s degree in medical physiology and pharmacology program is taught by the same College of Medicine professors, researchers and medical doctors who teach on campus. They understand your goals and are ready to help guide you toward them.
Comprehensive Preparation for Medical School
Combining two sciences into one unique master’s degree, this 30-credit online program is where you’ll :
- Gain in-depth scientific knowledge of essential human body systems.
- Examine how drugs interact with living organisms at the cellular and molecular levels.
- Study both healthy and diseased conditions within these systems.
Our program enables you to:
- Start with no GRE requirement.
- Complete coursework without any campus or lab visits.
- Finish in as little as two semesters.
- Earn your degree faster if you’ve previously completed one of these graduate certificate programs:
Stay Engaged Wherever You Are
Delivered in an entirely online asynchronous format, our program empowers you to complete your studies on a flexible schedule from any location that suits you. You don’t have to choose between your ongoing commitments and earning a degree that can elevate your academic and professional potential. Nor do you have to give up the connection that you expect from a university experience. You’ll interact with faculty and classmates via email, discussion groups and other online tools throughout our program.
Interested in gerontology? Our online master’s degree in medical physiology and aging provides another path to medical school and related careers. See details.
Medical school is a challenge that you’re capable of meeting. Prepare with a master’s degree in medical physiology and pharmacology from UF. Apply today!
Sources:
https://www.ama-assn.org/medical-students/preparing-medical-school/pre-med-frequently-asked-questions
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-medical-schools/articles/why-its-still-hard-to-get-into-medical-school-despite-a-doctor-shortage
https://www.aamc.org/news/press-releases/new-aamc-report-shows-continuing-projected-physician-shortage
