Smoking, Nicotine Addiction and its effects on Health

It is shocking to observe that the use of tobacco takes away the lives of nearly 440,000 Americans every year.  Statistics reveal that one in every ten deaths in the United States occurs due to use of tobacco smoking.  The use of tobacco harms the body to a great extent with every organ getting affected.  The use of tobacco also leads to plenty of diseases. Although, the smoke emitted from cigarette contains plenty of toxic chemicals, it is nicotine, one of the components of tobacco, which makes smoking addictive.

Nicotine Addiction Facts

The other toxic chemicals emitted from the cigarette smoke are nitrosamines, acetaldehyde, carbon monoxide and tar.  Plenty of medicines are being developed to stop the smoking habit.  Tobacco addicts are also made to undergo behavioral therapy and their behavior patterns are thoroughly studied.  It has been found that the gum and nicotine patch along with proper behavioral therapy has helped the smokers in overcoming the smoking habit.  The gum and nicotine patch are available at all the leading supermarkets and drugstores in United States.

With the help of neuroimaging, it has become possible for the scientists to study the brain functions and patterns of those who smoke.  The scientists have also been able to identify genes in the brain which draw the individuals towards smoking and eventually making them addicts.  All these research have enabled the scientists to formulate new methods of treatment and has also led to the manufacture of new medicines.  All these become even more essential, since use of tobacco imposes severe burden on pubic health and putting their lives in danger.

It is important to understand the reasons behind nicotine addiction.  As you know, nicotine being an addictive drug causes change in certain functions of the brain making individuals to yearn for more.   Once an individual gets addicted to nicotine drug it becomes very difficult to pull him away from that habit.  Let us now take a look at the hazards and ill-effects of nicotine addiction.

The human body immediately responds to the nicotine in the cigarette smoke when an individual lights a cigarette.  The nicotine affects the vital body functions and parameters to a great extent. The nicotine in the cigarette smoke results in the increase of blood flow from the heart, the rate of heart beat increases and there is also an increase in the blood pressure.  The arteries become narrow due to nicotine addiction.  The carbon monoxide in the cigarette smoke greatly reduces the oxygen in the blood, thus depriving the body organs of vital oxygen supply.

Reduced supply of oxygen deprives the body cells of oxygen thus hampering vital cell functions.  Smoking cigarettes continuously makes the arteries hard and smooth flow of blood is hampered.  The carbon monoxide in the cigarette smoke damages the fine inner walls of the tender arteries and also leads to plenty of fat deposits on the walls of the arteries.  Over a period of time, the hardened arteries become narrow thus hampering free flow of blood to the heart.  The human heart also finds it very difficult to pump blood.  All these results in a heart attack.  Excess smoking also leads to clotting of blood resulting in a heart attack.  It has also been found that due to excess smoking the toxic chemical nicotine stays in the blood for as much as eight hours.  Therefore, keeping in mind the hazards of smoking, it is essential for all smokers to quit the smoking habit immediately.