A Tobacco plant is made up of approximately 5 percent of nicotine by weight. There are two categories of tobacco products cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. Nicotine has many effects on the body but the effect it has on the brain is responsible for the so called “good feeling” that is behind the addiction. Nicotine is considered to be addictive because of the psychological and physiological effects on a person. The Center for the Advancement of Health published the results of a study on teenager smokers:
Almost two-thirds of the smokers had one or more symptoms of nicotine dependence, and of these, almost two-thirds said that they had their first symptom before they began smoking every day or that the symptoms had made them start smoking every day. Feeling addicted was the most common initial symptom, while cravings, irritability, nervousness, and anxiety when unable to smoke were the most commonly reported symptoms overall. (1)
When a person continues to use something compulsively knowing the negative effects on his or her body, the person is considered psychologically addicted. The physiological effect of nicotine turns on the reward pathway of the brain. The continued use of tobacco products as the result of nicotine addiction has many short and long term effects on a person’s body. There are many methods available to tobacco users to help break the nicotine addiction and stop the effects of nicotine before the effects to their body becomes permanent.
Nicotine has several short term effects on the body. Nicotine is absorbed into a person’s body faster through the use of a cigarette than any other source of nicotine. Nicotine is absorbed into your blood stream faster when it is inhaled. The lungs have tiny air sa...
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Nicotine has an effect on the body whether a person only used nicotine once or is addicted to nicotine. There are many options available to people suffering from nicotine addiction. Nicotine has many short and long term effects on the body. The body will repair most of the short term effects but many of the long term effects are not reversible. Nicotine use is the highest preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States.
Works Cited
Meeker-O’Connell, Ann. "How Nicotine Works." HowStuffWorks.com. 02 January 2001. Web. 09 October 2011.
Center For The Advancement Of Health. "Nicotine Addiction Can Start Within A Few Days And After Just A Few Cigarettes." ScienceDaily, 13 Sep. 2000. Web. 09 Oct. 2011.
Lande, Gregory, DO, FACN. “Nicotine Addiction Treatment & Management.” Medscape Reference. 02 Aug. 2011. Web. 09 October 2011.
Cigarette addiction is responsible for over four million deaths every year. The question most people ask is why don’t people just put down their cigarettes? Well, the answer to that often asked question is nicotine. Nicotine is a neurotransmitter that targets certain receptors in the brain. It is a chemical messenger that induces feelings of pleasure. When someone takes a hit off of a cigarette, they ingest the harmful chemicals that can cause cancer and other serious health threats. They only inhale these chemicals to get one thing and one thing only, nicotine.
When people use tobacco product the nicotine quickly enters into the human blood stream. Shortly ten minutes after entering into the body the nicotine than reaches the brain which release adrenaline. Nicotine chemically changes the brain in a similar way to heroin and cocaine, so it’s no wonder so many tobacco users have a hard time quitting!
You know people smoke, but do you know how it destroys their bodies? Here’s why. Nicotine reduces blood flow to the brain. This could cause irrational decision making or slowing of bodily functions. It works because nicotine is like the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is responsible for muscle movements, heart rate and memory to name a few. It is also responsible for releasing the feeling of pleasure. That is why nicotine is soooo addictive. Nicotine is not the only drug out there though. Tobacco is
Tobacco is counted as one of the most dangerous drug and is one of the leading preventable causes of deaths in U.S. Many people put their life in danger by the use of this life taking drug, tobacco. The way Nicotine (which is derived from the tobacco plant and has very powerful affects on human body) works in our brain is by mimicking the actions of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine (ACh). Acetylcholine (ACh) and its receptors perform various functions of our body, including muscle movement, breathing, heart rate, learning, and memory. Acetylochine is also involved in releasing other neurotransmitters and hormones that affect our appetite, mood etc. When nicotine is introduced to our body, nicotine molecules, which are shaped like acetylcholine, take over the actions of acetylcholine and perform all its functions. Although, many studies described the negative health issues caused by the use of tobacco, the article, “Gender and the tobacco-depression” emphases on the relationship of tobacco and depression and its possible variations by gender in African America young adults.
Many could argue that nicotine is solely responsible for the addiction found in using tobacco and not the health damage. Still, an addiction by itself is an extremely bad habit and it is not something that one should overlooked. It is common for individuals to pick up a bad habit on accident, and once they do, it will be very difficult to let go of the habit. In the case of nicotine and tobacco, individuals are knowingly picking up an addiction that they do not know if they could stop. In other words, nicotine is like an addicted bad habit that is extremely hard to stop once it started. Furthermore, this habit can and will lead to an expensive and destructive lifestyle. Even without the addiction and tobacco, nicotine is a dangerous
Nicotine is addictive whether the user uses tobacco products or just smokes cigarettes. Addiction is what makes someone continuously smoke even when they are trying to quit. For some people, breaking the cycle is harder than others. Many people don’t know the various methods to quit smoking. When tobacco products are used, nicotine is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. In the matter of ten seconds of entering the body, nicotine reaches the brain. This causes the brain to release adrenaline, creating a buzz of pleasure and energy. The buzz evaporates quickly, leaving behind a tired feeli...
Nicotine illustrates one of the most popular addictive substances in the world. Since the early colonization of the united states, nicotine has increased in popularity with the first source originating from tobacco. Unfortunately, undesired health effects are present with tobacco use as a result of additives present in the smoke such as cyanide, benzene, formaldehyde, methanol, acetylene, and ammonia. The health effects of tobacco were publicized in the 1960s with large campaigns launching to spread awareness over the risks associated with its use; however, this attempt did not prove incredibly successful as a result of the nicotine dependence that developed with continued cigarette use.
In the world today, Nicotine is one of the most frequently used addictive drugs. The impact it has on society is like no other. It is one of more than 4,000 chemicals found in the smoke of tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. This addictive drug is the primary component in tobacco that acts on the brain.
It is a nagging voice behind every smoker’s head. It tempts every user that tries to quit into using it “one more time” before giving it up. With the chemical formula of C10H14N2, this alkaloid is better known as nicotine. Being the major chemical in tobacco, nicotine is the reason that users often get addicted to tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars and snuff. It is also because of this addiction that would indirectly causes over 400,000 deaths annually in the United States while costing almost $200 billion in the health sector; making it the most preventable cause of death (Center for Disease Control and Prevention 2010). The question then remains is: What can be done to amend this problem? Although currently there are public health policies are designed to curb tobacco use, such as levying taxes on tobacco products has been effective in deterring new smokers, it is less effective amongst existing tobacco users (CDC 2009). Therefore, a different approach is needed in order to construct a policy that would apply broadly to everyone; and to do this, one must examine the biological and social factors that are involved in nicotine addiction.
Cigarette smoking stay the top preventable cause of sickness and early death in the United States because not only it asserts over 400,000 lives a year but it enhances the danger of someone dying from illnesses such as heart disease, stroke emphysema and a diversity of cancers (Douglas E.Jorenby) . Despite information about the bad side effects of smoking on health, 25% of adults in the United States keep on smoking. One of the reason why people seems to not easily quit smoking and continue to do it has to do with the addictive nicotine, a substance found in all types of tobacco products.
As mentioned before, people get addicted to nicotine mainly by smoking cigarettes, or other products like chewing tobacco, cigars, and smoking pipes. As predicted, becoming addicted to a substance has side effects. “Positive side effects of nicotine include euphoria, increased concentration, reduced anxiety and even an urge to eat less, resulting in weight loss”(Schwartz-Bloom, Gross de Nunez, October 2001). In addition to these, nicotine can also give people, particularly adolescents, a sense of belonging or fitting into a certain group or clique. A more neurological effect was discovered rece...
It’s not that easy to quit smoking cigarettes, it can be very hard especially for many people who have been smoking for years. Many people are addicted to this drug because of the nicotine that’s in the tobacco, which is very addictive. Nicotine is the most common word that most smokers use and is there excuse why they can’t stop saying “it’s so addicting”. Like heroin or other addictive drugs, the body and mind quickly become so used to the nicotine in cigarettes that a person needs to have it just to feel normal (Smoking). Nicotine is the main addictive ingredient in a cigarette that activates synthesis of a chemical called dopamine in the brain (Naturstopp). This is just one of the chemicals that are in a cigarette, there are over 599 more chemicals that are in a cigarette. To name a few there is acetone, ammonia, tar, benzene, cadmium, hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides etc (Naturstopp). Some of these chemicals might not seem harmful, but it’s the burning of these chemicals that produce toxic and carcinogenic compounds more than 4000 of them (Naturstopp). Smoking cigarettes can be devastating; especially with each inhale you exhale.
Smoking cigarettes is a very deadly addiction that, unfortunately, 42.1 million adults in the United States and 6.4 million children have. The reason why so many people get addicted to cigarettes because of nicotine. Medicinenet.com says that nicotine is “Made by the tobacco plant or produced synthetically. Nicotine has powerful pharmacologic effects (including increased heart rate, heart stroke volume, and oxygen consumption by the heart muscle), as well as powerful psychodynamic effects (such as euphoria, increased alertness, and a sense of relaxation). Nicotine is also powerfully addictive.”
There are many causes which make people smoke, however it can be divided into two main causes: physical and psychological. First cause which is physical concerns the human body’s needs. Nicotine contained in cigarette is an addictive substance. It is the chemical which causes addiction. Nicotine reduces tension in the muscles and allows smokers to relax so they feel that they can relieve stress by smoking. Nicotine can also have a calming effect on people who are anxious and worried. This is why it can bring a feeling of tranquility and help smokers to cope with stress. Thus, people smoke when they are depressed, lonely or bored. Nicotine is absorbed by the smoker’s lung and intestines. Very quickly, nicotine can stimulate brain and certain types of nerves so heart rate and blood pressure go up; respiration increases. A little nicotine makes smokers feel more energy and improve concentration. As a consequence, these physical effects created by smoking play an important role in making people feel the need to smoke.
Cigarette makers know that nicotine addiction helps sell their products. Nicotine is the main ingredient in tobacco that causes addiction. Nicotine activates the parts of the brain that control feelings and pleasure. It only takes minutes for the effects of nicotine to disappear causing the smoker to take another puff to keep feeling good. (Junior Scholastic, 2006) When you utilize tobacco products, nicotine is expeditiously absorbed into your bloodstream. Within 10 seconds of entering your body, the nicotine reaches your brain. It causes the brain to relinquish adrenaline, engendering a buzz of pleasure and energy. The buzz fades expeditiously though, and leaves you feeling tired, a little down, and wanting the buzz again. This will result in lighting up another cigarette. Since your body is able to build up a high tolerance to nicotine, you’ll need to smoke more and more cigarettes to receive nicotine’s pleasurable effects and obviate withdrawal symptoms. This cycle will only continue to repeat resulting in addiction. Although for many once they’ve reached this point it seems almost impossible to quit smoking even when they want to. ("Nicotine and Tobacco Add...