1. Risks of Nicotine Use
Nicotine use has been linked to heart attack, strokes and diseases of the circulatory system. It has also been linked to lung and other cancers, including larynx, oral cavity, pharnynx, esophagus, pancreas, bladder, cervix and leukemia. There is also the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Environmentally, there are major risks including increased risk of lung cancer in your spouse and children. Higher rates of smoking occur in children whose parents smoked. There is increased risk of asthma and respiratory infections in children of smokers, along with middle ear infections. Short-term risks occur that can cause shortness of breath or provoke asthma attacks. There is also an increased occurrence of impotence and infertility in smokers. Despite the high risk to health and vast array of possible conditions, many people continue to struggle with nicotine addiction.
2. Other Conditions Related to Nicotine Use
Smokers experience worn-down or stained teeth, and the effect of use may result in bad breath. Smokers may develop stomach or gum ulcers. They may suffer more dermatological conditions, such as psoriasis, increased wrinkles, leukoplakia (white wrinkled areas in the skin inside the mouth) and skin cancer. There may be hearing loss as a result of nicotine. The individual may also experience hair loss and changes in eye functioning may occur along with cataracts.
3. The Effects of Nicotine
Nicotine is a poisonous gas. A person can die from use in large amounts because it stops the breathing muscles from working, though most smokers take in nicotine in small amounts. Upon initial use, the smoker may feel alert of stimulated, but continued use may result in a calm or relaxed feeling. With overuse or in the new smoker, the smoker may feel dizziness or nausea. Initially, the heart rate of a smoker will increase by two to three beats per minute. It also decreases blood flow in the legs and feet. Nicotine is the drug in tobacco that causes addiction. Substantial amounts of nicotine are found in all forms of tobacco. Nicotine is readily absorbed into the lungs when smoked and in the mouth and nose from smokeless tobacco use. It readily spreads through the body, causing overall health risks.
Cigarettes also contain gases that are poisonous, such as nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide. Numerous chemicals are found in cigarette smoke like ammonia, acetylene (fuel used in welding torches), methanol (wood alcohol) and formaldehyde, to name a few. The hundreds of substances added to cigarettes are made to enhance the flavor to make smoking more pleasurable.
4. Smoking to Relax
If you are a smoker, cigarette use may give your body what it is used to having, a consistent level of nicotine. The brain may confuse this with relaxation, but it is not the same. This is truly just a momentary relief in response to the tension felt when your body goes without nicotine. When you feed the craving your brain feels relief, but it doesn't hold for long and your brain requires more nicotine to address the tension. Nicotine impacts your heart rate and blood pressure by increasing both. This false sense of relaxation may cause you to rely on nicotine rather than find healthier ways to relax. Nicotine use causes decreased oxygen to circulate in the blood stream. The decrease in oxygen prevents deep breathing, and the shallow breathing can cause or exacerbate anxiety.
5. Addiction and Nicotine
The cycle of use results in avoidance of stopping so as not to experience the discomfort of withdrawal. The younger the person starts, the more likely the person is to become addicted. The psychological and physical dependence perpetuates use, and you may become convinced that you cannot quit. Over time, you may slip from use to abuse to dependence. The costs are long-reaching--financial, emotional and physical. Perhaps the most costly side effect of nicotine use is addiction.
