The Centers for Disease Control states that 20.6 percent of Americans were smokers as of 2008. People indulge in this behavior for a variety of reasons, from enjoyment to habit to addiction. Most know that cigarettes have negative physical effects, from heart and lung disease to cancer. Some believe they get benefits from smoking, such as stress relief. While cigarettes may seem to settle the nerves, they add physical stress every time a person takes a puff. The mind is calm, but the body's stress load increases.
Definition
The University of South Carolina defines stress as a person's reaction to certain life events. These events can be positive or negative, but their common thread is that they put pressure on the person in some way or require an adjustment. Examples include the death of a family member or friend, moving to a new home, legal problems, work promotion, job loss, marriage and childbirth. Stress gears up the mind and body to handle the triggering event. The heart rate accelerates, sweat increases and muscles tense. Some people experience headaches or digestive upsets. Emotionally they may feel frightened, anxious or overwhelmed.
Psychological Effects
Many smokers believe that cigarettes calm them down and relieve their stress-related symptoms. The Cleveland Clinic explains that nicotine, which is found in tobacco, is a psychoactive drug that affects mood. It makes many users feel less anxious, frustrated or angry when they are stressed. This is likely because nicotine triggers the release of pleasant brain chemicals like norepinephrine and beta-endorphins, according to the University of South Carolina. It also eases withdrawal symptoms that may have started in between cigarettes.
Physical Effects
Ironically, while smoking makes people feel calmer, it actually puts physical stress on their bodies because nicotine is a stimulant. According to the Cleveland Clinic, smoking raises a person's heart rate and causes muscle tension. The blood vessels constrict, depriving the body and brain of oxygen.
Risk
Ongoing stress puts people at a greater risk for continued smoking. The University of South Carolina explains that smokers prone to stress and related mental conditions like anxiety and depression are less likely to quit. They are also more prone to start smoking again as a stress management technique. The university did a survey that asked ex-smokers what triggered them to resume their habit. Seventy percent reported that a negative mood drove them to pick up cigarettes again.
Considerations
Many people who wish to quit smoking wait for a less stressful period in their lives. They believe it will help them fight cravings because they will not need cigarettes to cope with stressors. They are also less able to deal with nicotine withdrawal symptoms during difficult times, explains the National Cancer Institute. The Cleveland Clinic warns that this can become an excuse to never quit since stress is a normal part of life. It advises waiting until major events like a divorce or loss of employment are past, but minor things should not be used to justify a delay.
