Nicotine, a poisonous alkaloid, is the chief addictive substance in tobacco, the leaves of which are cultivated for smoking, chewing or as snuff. Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical and reinforcing agent responsible for continued smoking behavior. It action on the brain involves chemical messengers or neurotransmitters that produce psychoactive or mood-altering effects, according to Mayoclinic.com. Individuals addicted to nicotine have an increased risk for many health problems, including cardiovascular disease.
Heart Attack
Nicotine is associated with the development of peripheral arterial disease, or PAD, warns the American Heart Association. Peripheral blood vessels carry blood to the head, organs, arms and legs. Smoking raises carbon monoxide, or CO, levels in the blood. A relatively high level of CO in the bloodstream damages the inner lining of peripheral blood vessels. Cholesterol and other materials collect at the site of the injury. The walls of the peripheral arteries become hard and narrow due to the buildup of these materials, called plaque, which can completely block blood flow through the arteries to the heart. A heart attack occurs when the heart muscle becomes damaged or dies as a result of insufficient blood supply.
Effects on Heart Rate
Smoking also increases blood pressure and heart rate. Nicotine in cigarettes raises the levels of several chemical messengers or neurotransmitters in the brain, including the chief blood pressure-raising hormone epinephrine, notes the American Heart Association. Because nicotine causes narrowing of blood vessels, the same amount of blood can't pass through the arteries; as a result, stress tends to cause blood pressure and heart rate to increase temporarily.
Coronary Artery Vasoconstriction
Coronary artery vasoconstriction can be brought on by nicotine abuse in persons with preexisting coronary artery disease, according to Drugs.com. It is the narrowing of the lumen, or cavity, of blood vessels. Transdermal nicotine patches are the most common medical intervention for smoking cessation in coronary artery disease patients.
