What exactly is nicotine and why does it cause...

Image via Wikipedia Nicotine is an extremely addictive chemical that is found naturally in tobacco products. It is the primary active constituent in the smoke emanated from burning tobacco. Nicotine bears a pungent odour and an acerbic flavour. It is characterised as a poisonous, greasy, straw substance that becomes brownish when exposed to oxygen. Nicotine is utilised as a powerful insecticide when used as a concentrate.

The quantity of nicotine which occurs naturally in the leaves of a tobacco plant varies from around 2% to 7%.

Nicotine mimes the effects of acetylcholine (which is a nerve signal sender in the human brain) and acts principally on the involuntary nervous system. In and of itself, it can be life-threatening. Nicotine can bring about respiratory failure and even paralysis at doses of lower than 50 milligrams. Lower quantities could cause sickness, light-headedness, depressed blood pressure, and palpitations of the hearts.

An individual smoking tobacco will breathe in more or less 3mg of nicotine per cigarette. Even these tiny quantities narrows blood vessels, steps up the pulse rate, and acts on the central nervous system. As a side effect it gives a sensation of well-being and heightened states of alertness to the person smoking.

On its own nicotine isn’t regarded as being carcinogenic. Nevertheless, it’s plausible that it contributes to the raised occurrence of diagnosed heart disease cases in people who regularly smoke tobacco. It is possible that is also promotes the development of tumours induced by inhaling carcinogen from tobacco.

Individuals who use tobacco products in any shape will go on to eventually formulate a physiologic dependence to nicotine. Scientists have proved that to heighten the rate of flow of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, nicotine produces gratifying sensations in the person smoking, together with a need to sustain them. As soon as the levels of nicotine in the bloodstream start to fall, smokers will begin to experience symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. These drug withdrawal symptoms include anxiousness, insomnia, temper swings, changes to blood pressure and heart rate, changes in brain wave patterns, and a generalized feeling of unease.

These side effects are so objectionable that the great majority of individuals will restart their smoking habit in an unconscious attempt to bring up levels nicotine in the bloodstream to a level where the symptoms lessen.

Numerous individuals try out nicotine-containing chewing gums and patches as part of their attempt to cease smoking tobacco products. The rate that the body absorbs nicotine is more delayed when using these products when compared to smoking and it doesn’t furnish the equivalent gratifying feelings; but both gums and patches can definitely help assuage nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

It is crucial not to mingle nicotine patches with cigarettes, because this could result in heightened to toxicity levels and ultimately an overdose of nicotine which will display itself with symptoms of nausea, palpitations and shivers together with headaches.

Additional methods of delivering nicotine to the circulatory system comprise nasal atomisers and inhalers which more intimately copy the delivery system and affect of nicotine as received by smoking tobacco directly.

It is not recommended that a person use nicotine replacement products, particularly inhalers for more than a few months and it is essential that the instructions and directions included with any such product are followed to the letter It is possible that prolonged or over-use of these products can cause impairment to the cells that line the lungs and blood vessels.

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