Why is nicotine addictive?
Only a few seconds after the intake, the nicotine reaches the brain. There it can bind to so-called nicotinergic receptors. In this way, various physiological signal cascades can be set in motion in a targeted manner.
It is now assumed that the main effect of nicotine is mediated by the messenger substance (synonym: neurotransmitter) dopamine. It is precisely this messenger substance that is an important component of the body’s own reward system, through which the human organism can support species- and existence-preserving actions. In addition to nicotine, eating, drinking, amphetamines, cocaine or even sexual intercourse can have a stimulating effect on the release of dopamine.
The human being therefore “rewards” himself when smoking by giving a feeling of self-confidence and strength. Over time, however, the nicotinergic receptors in the brain begin to multiply. In this way, the smoker develops tolerance.
In addition, the organism learns to process the toxin to a certain extent. If the regular nicotine intake fails to occur, characteristic withdrawal symptoms occur. Furthermore, behavioral effects play an important role in the development of addiction.
Above all, role models (such as smoking parents) have a decisive influence on the development of a nicotine addiction. The reason for this is the fact that most behavioral patterns are learned through identification with close persons. The cigarette industry itself also promotes nicotine addiction in a shocking way.
Through advertising that exclusively shows good-looking, happy people who consciously take a casual cigarette, a psychological reward effect is to be achieved. In this way, consumers are conveyed that smoking makes them appear casual, cool and funny to others. On the other hand, deterrent measures on the cigarette packets themselves hardly seem to have any effect.
The actual addiction to nicotine is therefore conveyed through various rewarding effects. The fact that regular consumption of nicotine is not healthy, should be meanwhile conscious everyone. However, how harmful the addictive substance actually is to the organism is often underestimated.
With the health effects of nicotine one must differentiate between acute dangers and long-term health damage. Nicotine is considered to be a highly effective nerve poison, which leads to the stimulation of nerve cells only a short time after intake. However, this stimulation can quickly lead to paralysis of the nerve cells.
Approximately 50 to 100 milligrams of nicotine are considered a lethal dose. Due to the fact that the liver can break down the nicotine it has absorbed quite quickly, however, this amount cannot be achieved by inhalation. The toxins absorbed through the mucous membranes and lungs during smoking can be distributed throughout the entire organism via the bloodstream.
In this way, almost every organ can be affected by the consumption of nicotine. Above all, the respiratory tract and the cardiovascular system are particularly badly damaged by the toxin. The problem is that the health damage caused by nicotine only occurs after years or decades.
For this reason, smokers succeed in denying the health risk over a long period of time. According to the latest estimates, about 100,000 to 120,000 people die annually as a result of nicotine consumption. In general, it can be assumed that smokers lose about 10 years of their life.
Besides nicotine, cigarettes also contain other harmful substances. About 40 of these additives, including tar, are considered carcinogenic. Especially the tiny tar particles settle in the respiratory tract and lungs.
There they damage so-called cilia, which are responsible for filtering the air we breathe and removing particles of dirt. As a result, the airways become many times more susceptible to bacterial and viral pathogens. Severe, recurrent coughing (smoker’s cough) and chronic inflammation of the bronchi (chronic bronchitis) are considered the first signs of respiratory tract damage.
Lung cancer is also considered a typical smoker’s disease. According to studies, it can be assumed that about 85 percent of people who develop lung cancer have consumed nicotine regularly. In addition, the carbon monoxide contained in cigarettes is another toxic gas.
If the substance enters the bloodstream and is bound to the red blood cells instead of the vital oxygen, oxygen deficiency is a serious consequence.This danger should not be underestimated, since carbon monoxide has a much higher binding behavior to the hemoglobin contained in the red blood cells. The most important nicotine-related health damages include: severe shortness of breath (for example, due to lung flatulence) Lung cancer Bronchial tumors Throat cancer Oral cavity tumors Circulatory disorders of the coronary arteries Heart attack Heart attack Gastric mucosa inflammation Stomach ulcers
- Severe shortness of breath (e.g. due to pulmonary hyperinflation)
- Lung Cancer
- Bronchial tumors
- Throat Cancer
- Oral cavity tumors
- Circulatory disorders of the coronary arteries
- Heart attack
- Heart attack
- Gastric mucosa inflammations
- Stomach Ulcers
Besides the active consumption of nicotine, passive smoking can also lead to serious health consequences. Since a smoker only absorbs about 40 percent of the tobacco smoke himself, the rest of the pollutants are released into the ambient air.
This is mainly the unfiltered sidestream smoke. It can be assumed that the pollutant content in this sidestream smoke is up to 130 times higher. Passive smokers are therefore exposed to the same health risks as active smokers.
Passive smoking is considered particularly dangerous, especially for small children and adolescents. The reason for this is the fact that the growing organism reacts much more sensitively to nicotine and other harmful substances. Children who are regularly exposed to nicotine-containing vapors are demonstrably more likely to develop respiratory tract inflammation and infections. In addition, passive smoking is considered one of the possible causes of sudden infant death.
