Learn how dependence on nicotine develops, and how it can affect your body.
Nicotine causes which of these changes in the body?
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Nicotine temporarily increases the heart rate by two to three beats a minute and increases blood pressure in the short term because it constricts blood vessels, the American Cancer Society (ACS) says.
What happens when nicotine comes into contact with the brain?
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This neurotransmitter produces a "natural high" within 7 to 10 seconds of inhaling. Nicotine is a central nervous system stimulant and also decreases the sensation of pain, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
How does dependence on nicotine develop?
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Nicotine changes nerve signals that control physical actions, behavioral control and memory, the NIDA says. That's why a certain remembered scene or a smell can trigger a craving for cigarettes.
What's the most common reason for not quitting?
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Stress is also one of the main reasons given for relapsing when trying to quit, the ACS says. Although we all have stress in our lives, smokers use nicotine to help them cope with stress. When quitting, a smoker need to find alternative ways of coping.
Cigarette smoke contains traces of which of these harmful chemicals?
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Cigarette smoke contains about 4,000 chemicals, many of them toxic, the ACS says.
Cigarette filters remove which of these when a smoker inhales?
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Filters don't remove carbon monoxide or other gases.
Research on how nicotine alters brain chemistry may help scientists develop new drugs. What type are they?
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Nicotine is too toxic to develop as a painkiller, but the way the drug inhibits pain receptors could be mimicked in a new synthetic analgesic.
Which of these is the most significant health risk for smokers?
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If you smoke, you are two to three times more likely to die from coronary artery disease than people who don't smoke, the American Heart Association says.