According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, tobacco use kills 440,000 Americans every year. Even with these statistics, millions of people continue smoking. Though some may smoke because they truly enjoy it, the nicotine in cigarettes is extremely addictive. In a report by the Surgeon General in 1988 entitled "Nicotine Addiction," it was stated that the characteristics of nicotine addiction are similar to heroin and cocaine addictions. Knowing the signs of addiction may help you admit you are addicted, resulting in your ability to kick the habit and get healthy.
Withdrawal Symptoms
One of the most common signs of nicotine addiction is withdrawal symptoms. According to the American Heart Association, 85 to 90 percent of nicotine in the blood is quickly broken down by the liver and excreted from your body by your kidneys. What this means for you is that nicotine only remains in your body for up to two hours. This is when you may begin experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
Some of the most common symptoms include anxiety, impatience, irritability, depression and difficulty concentrating.
Inability to Quit
This goes hand-in-hand with withdrawal symptoms, yet differs slightly. You may have attempted to quit multiple times in the past or are currently contemplating quitting for good. But those dastardly withdrawal symptoms, or cravings, creep up on you and taunt you until you light up again. While some may say you have no willpower, quite the opposite is true.
Your brain comes equipped with pleasure areas; when stimulated, you are happy, relaxed and stress-free. According to The Goods Drug Guide, your brain is equipped with a feel-good section. Once stimulated by nicotine, excess amounts of dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of pleasure, are released. As the nicotine leaves your system, your dopamine levels drop, causing you to feel depressed or anxious. Your first inclination is to then light a cigarette, which increases your dopamine levels in about 10 seconds, making those awful feelings go away. This is addiction.
Health Problems
According to Quit Smoking Stop.com, there are more than 4,000 toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke, 50 of which are carcinogens, or cancer-causing agents. This results in a variety of health problems such as lung cancer. According to netdoctor.co.uk, 90 percent of all lung cancer cases are smoking related. It can also cause cervical, kidney, pancreatic and bladder cancer.
Aside from the effect of the carcinogens, the carbon monoxide reduces the oxygen in your body. This results in respiratory conditions such as emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.
