Although many smokers wish they could quit smoking, most find that move to be incredibly difficult, particularly if they have smoked for many years or are heavy smokers. Although people who smoke are often aware of the negative physical effects of smoking on the body, they may find pleasure in smoking and find it a habit very hard to quit due to the addictive nature of nicotine and withdrawal symptoms experienced when trying to stop.
What is Nicotine and How Does it Affect the Body?
Nicotine is one of many chemicals found in tobacco. According to a 1988 Surgeon General’s report “Nicotine Addiction,” nicotine is a psychoactive drug in cigarettes and other tobacco forms with addictive qualities resembling addiction to cocaine, heroin, and alcohol.
Nicotine, both a stimulant and depressant, may affect a person’s body in many ways, including the following:
- decreases hunger
- improves mood
- stimulates memory and helps a person stay more alert
- increases blood sugar and insulin
- narrows blood vessels, causing an increase in blood pressure by 5-10
- elevates pulse by 10 to 20 beats per minute
- increases saliva production and intestinal activity
- increases lung secretions or fluids
Smoke from cigarettes decreases how much oxygen the blood cells can carry due to the presence of carbon monoxide. Nicotine may play a role in increased risk of hardening of the arteries, blood clots, heart attacks, strokes, and other circulatory problems.
Withdrawal Symptoms Resulting From Stopping Smoking
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s article accessed on July 8, 2010 entitled “Smoking Cessation,” 70% of smokers wish to stop smoking while 13 million adult smokers (about 40%) have quit smoking for at least a day in the past year. About 47 million adults were successful in efforts to quit and considered themselves former smokers in 2007.
Many smokers will relapse and start smoking again but may become successful with additional attempts, particularly with counseling and medication combinations. Cigarette companies add many ingredients to cigarettes to improve the taste, which also contributes to the addiction. Because most smokers are dependent on nicotine, they often experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when attempting to break the smoking habit, such as these mentioned by the American Heart Association’s article “Nicotine Addiction.”
- irritability and being impatient or hostile
- anxiety and problems concentrating
- symptoms of depression
- lower pulse
- increased appetite and possible increase in weight
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s (NIDA) article “Smoking Cessation More Difficult for African Americans, Hispanics,” differences may exist between cultures, body mass, and more when it comes to being successful in a smoking cessation program.
A study partially funded by NIDA found that African Americans and Hispanics tended to relapse more than Caucasians. Blacks who had a higher body mass index (BMI) and who lived in a home in which there was not another smoker tended to be more successful in smoking cessation efforts. Caucasians who had a lower BMI or who felt confident about stopping smoking also tended to be more successful with smoking cessation in the study.
Nicotine Addiction and Nicotine Withdrawal are Tough to Fight
The strong addictive nature of nicotine is quite difficult to overcome despite the efforts of smokers who try to quit. Many smokers experience withdrawal symptoms and find it difficult to concentrate, may experience strained relationships, and others may find themselves gaining weight. Some smokers who tried to quit and relapsed eventually become successful and can enjoy the health and monetary benefits of being smoke-free.
Readers may also wish to read Second Hand Smoking: What Smokers and Non-Smokers Should Know, Smoking During Pregnancy – How Does Smoke Affect the Baby? and Facts and Stats About Smoking.
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice.
Katrena Wells - Katrena Wells is a RN in NC with 17 1/2 years of experience in oncology, an educator since 1995, and has taught exercise classes since ...
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