How Nicotine Affects The Body
Nicotine is an addictive substance that can be found in a variety of products. Is nicotine bad for you? Although nicotine and tobacco products are legal to consume for people of a certain age, it can have various short- and long-term detrimental effects on the body. These symptoms of addiction are not just mental cravings; nicotine addiction can have physical effects which means a person’s body can begin to notice its absence when you quit smoking. Smoking tobacco products can also result in an increased risk of health problems like heart disease and high blood pressure.
Effects of smoking tobacco products
Nicotine products also contain chemicals and cancer-causing agents that can be toxic to the body and unsafe to consume regularly. Since teens’ brains are still developing, they may be at a high risk of becoming addicted to recreational drugs and possibly developing a mental illness or experiencing other health effects.
Nicotine can be addictive
Addiction to substances such as nicotine and depression is a mental health challenge that can take time and treatment to address. There are misconceptions about addiction as a mental illness. People may wonder, “Why can’t they just quit?”
*If you or a loved one needs support with an addiction, don't hesitate to reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Helpline at (800) 662-4357. You can also contact an online counselor at BetterHelp or TeenCounseling.
Nicotine: A chemical from tobacco products
Nicotine is a chemical that is found in tobacco plants. Products like cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes (or “vapes”), and hookah contain nicotine derived from the tobacco plant. Once a person is physically addicted to nicotine, it can be challenging to stop using nicotine products. The body may react negatively if you cease to smoke tobacco. During this time, a person may feel tired and depressed. This is when the brain sends signals that more nicotine is needed, and a person may consume more. This is why many people use nicotine gum or other smoking cessation products when trying to quit tobacco.
How nicotine affects the body of a person dependent on it
When a person is physically dependent on nicotine, their body may not feel comfortable without the drug circulating in their system. This can cause adverse side effects, known as withdrawal. Common nicotine withdrawal symptoms may include anxiety, inability to focus, trouble sleeping, increased cravings, and irritability. Unlike what happens with other substances, nicotine withdrawal can begin in as little as a few hours after the last time it was consumed. Because of this, people who consume nicotine tend to continue to need more to feel satisfied over time.
Many people who consume nicotine don’t quit on their first try. Since the feelings associated with withdrawal can be uncomfortable, many tobacco users go back to nicotine products. However, there are treatments available, and millions of people have successfully quit.
Health effects of nicotine on the body
Nicotine effects can range from mild to severe, depending on how frequently it’s used and in what quantity.
Nicotine can cause smokers’ blood vessels to get smaller (constrict), limiting blood flow. As time goes on, this continued effect can have long-lasting effects on the arterial walls and make them less able to circulate blood throughout the body. This circulation can be important because it’s how the important organs in your body get oxygen and nutrients.
High RBC and blood pressure
A high RBC (red blood count) has also been shown to be an effect of nicotine. A high red blood cell count can cause blood vessels to become oversaturated. This oversaturation can lead to lasting symptoms, such as headache, dizziness, and an overall increase in blood pressure. A high RBC can also increase a person’s risk of developing blood clots.
Increased risks of other diseases
Chronic nicotine dependence that exposes smokers to carbon monoxide and other damaging chemicals can also cause other more severe conditions in the body, such as lung cancer, cataracts, aging skin and teeth, and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. Even secondhand smoke can be dangerous, causing greater risk for health complications in people living with smokers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Exposure to secondhand smoke can increase the risk of lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, nasal irritation, and reproductive effects. Doctors also emphasize quitting smoking before becoming pregnant due to the side effects of nicotine exposure on the developing baby.
Inflammation and weakened immune system
Nicotine is an addicting chemical that can affect the body in many ways. Not only can it affect blood flow and cause a high RBC, but it can also weaken the immune system and cause widespread inflammation in the body. Worse, it can also have damaging long-term effects. Using nicotine is not a harmless habit, and if you start smoking as a teen, you may be at a higher risk of developing a serious addiction. By avoiding nicotine products completely, people who have a nicotine addiction may go on to live a much healthier life.
Getting support
Finding people you can relate to in support groups can also be helpful. If you don’t feel ready for a group, you might try online therapy, which research shows to be just as effective as in-person therapy. With TeenCounseling (for ages 13-19) or BetterHelp (for ages 18 and older), you can talk to a counselor from the comfort of your own home, and you can message your counselor via live chat or in-app messaging.
Takeaway
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“Amber has been helping my son navigate the pressures of this time of his life very well. She is attentive and good at drawing him out and getting him to build strategies to be healthy. I very much appreciate her work with my kiddo.”
How does nicotine harm the body and cause high blood pressure?
Nicotine is a toxic, addictive chemical that affects virtually every part of the body. It is linked to several conditions, from lung cancer to heart disease to dementia and high blood pressure. Here are a few ways that nicotine exposure can harm the body:
- Cardiovascular system damage: Nicotine can cause an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and flow of blood to the heart, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. It may also contribute to the narrowing of the arteries and hardening of the arterial walls, potentially leading to heart attack.
- Lung damage: Smoking products featuring nicotine can damage the lungs, leading to conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer.
- Increased risk of cancer: Nicotine is a known carcinogen, and research shows that as many as one in eight cancer cases are caused by smoking. Smoking tobacco products increases the risk of developing various types of cancer, the most common of which are in the lungs, mouth, throat, nose, and sinuses. Smoking is also linked to cancers of the gastrointestinal and reproductive systems, as well as chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).
- Respiratory issues: Nicotine can irritate the respiratory system, leading to chronic cough, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.
- Compromised immune system: Nicotine can weaken the immune system, making it more difficult for the body to fight off infections and illnesses
- Complications in pregnancy: Smoking during pregnancy can harm the developing fetus and increase the risk of complications like miscarriage, premature birth, and low birth weight.
What organs does nicotine damage?
The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that nicotine and tobacco use harms every organ in the body because nicotine and other chemicals contained in tobacco products are absorbed into the bloodstream and are then distributed throughout the entire body, affecting every bodily system.
What does nicotine do to the brain?
Nicotine can have severely detrimental effects on the brain, especially before the brain has finished developing, such as in cases where individuals begin smoking in adolescence or who are exposed to nicotine in utero. Here are some of the effects of nicotine on the brain:
Dopamine release
Nicotine stimulates the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. This can create a feeling of euphoria or pleasure, reinforcing smoking behaviors and leading to addiction.
Changes in brain structure and function
Chronic nicotine use can lead to changes in the brain’s structure and function, such as a decrease in brain volume and reduced gray matter, impacting cognitive functions such as memory, learning, and decision-making.
Tolerance and dependence
With repeated use, the brain can develop a tolerance to nicotine, leading to the need for higher doses to achieve the same effects. This can also lead to physical dependence, where the brain becomes reliant on nicotine to function normally.
Withdrawal symptoms
When a person who is addicted to nicotine quits using it, they might experience psychological and cognitive withdrawal symptoms like irritability, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating.
Increased alertness and focus
Nicotine can increase alertness, focus, and cognitive performance, which is why some people use products that contain nicotine as a stimulant.
Is nicotine worse than caffeine?
Caffeine and nicotine both act as stimulants to the central nervous system (CNS), increase heart rate, and potentially cause feelings of arousal and alertness. However, both substances have different mechanisms of action and potential risks. For example, nicotine is highly addictive, associated with severe health risks, and can cause serious harm to the brain and body. Caffeine, on the other hand, is mildly addictive and is generally considered safe in moderate amounts for most people. Excessive caffeine consumption can lead to side effects like insomnia, increased heart rate, jitteriness, and digestive issues.
Nicotine and caffeine can work together in complex ways, as well. For example, studies suggest that a chemical in coffee may help to reduce morning nicotine cravings. Research on the role of caffeine and nicotine also associates caffeine use with early-onset nicotine use. While both nicotine and caffeine can have addictive properties and potential adverse effects on health, nicotine is considered to be more harmful in general due to its association with severe diseases and health risks.
How long does nicotine from cigarette smoking stay in your system?
How long nicotine stays in the system depends on several factors, such as length and frequency of exposure, metabolism, gender, age, overall health, and delivery mechanism (i.e., cigarette smoking, chewing tobacco, second-hand inhalation). Several types of testing can detect tobacco nicotine levels and nicotine by-products found in tobacco plants in the system at varying lengths:
- Blood: Nicotine can be detected in the blood for one to three days
- Urine: Nicotine and its metabolites can be detected in urine for up to three to four days after use. In heavy smokers, nicotine might be detectable in urine for up to a week or more
- Saliva: Nicotine can be detected in saliva for one to four days after use
- Hair: Nicotine can be detected in hair follicles for up to 90 days after use
Does nicotine from vaping or cigarette smoking lower IQ?
Current research on the direct impact of nicotine on IQ is limited. Still, older studies suggest that while nicotine can help a person feel more alert and enhance cognitive functioning immediately after smoking, long-term use can lead to lower IQs in smokers than in non-smokers or ex-smokers. The more frequently an individual smokes, the lower their IQ.
Can lungs heal after 40 years of smoking?
Regardless of how long you’ve been smoking, quitting can have immediate benefits, like regulated heart rate and blood pressure. While smoking can mutate the majority of the cells in an individual’s respiratory system, recent research suggests that the small number of dormant cells that aren’t mutated can work to repair the lungs, but only after an individual quits. Healing is gradual and depends on how long the individual smoked, but it is possible for the lungs to heal at least partially after 40 years of smoking.
Can ex-smokers reverse the health effects of nicotine and live a long life?
Studies show that smokers who quit smoking before 40 can live almost as long as people who never smoked, and individuals of all ages who quit smoking increase their life expectancy substantially—even people who stopped smoking for less than three years regained up to six years in life expectancy.
How many cigarettes a day is heavy smoking?
Smoking more than 20 cigarettes (about one pack) every day is considered heavy smoking, according to The EX Program, a project launched by Truth Initiative to prevent smoking in young people.
How long will I feel sick after quitting smoking?
The duration and severity of nicotine withdrawal varies between people. Withdrawal symptoms typically peak within the first few days and are the most intense during the first week after quitting. From that point, the intensity of symptoms usually subsides gradually over the following weeks and months. Some withdrawal symptoms resemble those commonly found in drug abuse, and may include:
- Cravings
- Irritability and mood swings
- Trouble concentrating
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Restlessness
- Increased appetite
Smoking cessation methods like nicotine replacement therapy can help reduce the cravings and physical symptoms of withdrawal but won’t have a significant impact on the mental health effects that many experience. Talk therapy can help individuals learn to cope with and reduce the psychological symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.
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