Nicotine Addiction
What is Nicotine Addiction?
Nicotine is an addictive drug; it is found in the smoke from tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, and pipes.Smokeless tobacco products such as snuff and chewing tobacco also contain high levels of nicotine. It causes changes in the brain that make people want to use it more and more. Nicotine addiction is known to be one of the hardest addictions to break. When a person smokes a cigarette, the body acts instantly to the chemical nicotine in the smoke.
Nicotine is absorbed through the skin and mucosal lining of the mouth and nose or by inhalation in the lungs; nicotine can reach peak levels in the bloodstream and brain rapidly. Through cigarette smoking, nicotine is quickly distributed throughout the body, reaching the brain within 10 seconds of inhalation. Through cigar and pipe smokers, so nicotine is absorbed more slowly through the mucosal membranes of the mouth.
Nicotine causes a short-term increase in blood pressure, heart rate and the flow of blood from the heart. The smoke from the cigarette contains carbon monoxide, which reduces the amount of oxygen the blood can carry.
This, when merged with the nicotine effects, produces an imbalance between the demand for oxygen by the cells and the amount of oxygen the blood can supply. And so the cells are deprived of oxygen. Nicotine also increases the risk of hardening of the arteries which may cause heart attacks.
Carbon monoxide may damage the inner walls of the arteries and promote fatty buildups in them. With time, this causes the vessels to narrow and harden. Nicotine may also contribute to this process.
Nicotine Addiction Symptoms
In some people, using any amount of tobacco can quickly lead to nicotine dependence. Symptoms that you may be addicted include:- You can't stop smoking. You've made one or more serious, but unsuccessful, attempts to stop.
- You experience withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop. Your attempts at stopping have caused physical and mood-related symptoms, such as strong cravings, anxiety, irritability, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, depressed mood, frustration or anger, increased hunger, insomnia, and constipation or diarrhea.
- You keep smoking despite health problems. Even though you've developed problems with your lungs or your heart, you haven't stopped or can't stop.
- You give up social or recreational activities in order to smoke. You may stop going to smoke-free restaurants or stop socializing with certain family members or friends because you can't smoke in these situations.
