Nicotine Addiction - Causes, Symptoms, Risk Factors, Complications, and Treatment

Introduction:

Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical. It is found in the tobacco plant. Nicotine addiction is mental as well as physical. People crave chemicals and become dependent on their actions. People enjoy smoking more nicotine which helps them to feel good. However, people experience unpleasant physical and mental changes when they try to stop.

What Is Nicotine Addiction?

Nicotine is the chemical found in tobacco. It has pleasing effects on the brain while it increases the release of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters help in regulating the mood and behavior of the brain. The chemicals present in the brain as called neurotransmitters. Nicotine is a chemical found in tobacco that makes it hard to quit. Nicotine is consumed by inhaling the smoke of tobacco cigarettes. People become addicted to tobacco in certain situations, such as after meals or if they have stress. Other ways of smoking tobacco include pipes and cigarettes.

Smokeless tobacco is inhaled through the nose. Chewable tobacco is held in the mouth.

What Are the Causes?

People feel good after they smoke. The everyday situations that trigger the urge to smoke include:

• Spending time with friends.

• Alcohol intake.

• Stress.

• After breakfast or after meals.

• Driving a car.

To overcome nicotine dependence, you need to determine the triggers and plan accordingly.

What Are the Symptoms of Nicotine Addiction?

Using the amount of tobacco can quickly lead to nicotine dependence. Signs that you may be addicted include:

• Withdrawal symptoms after you stop smoking.

• Your attempts to stop smoking cause physical and mood-related symptoms like cravings, irritability, anxiety, restlessness, difficulty in concentration, depressed mood, frustration, anger, insomnia, and constipation.

• You cannot stop smoking even after many attempts.

• You have stopped socializing with friends and family or going to smoke-free restaurants because you cannot smoke with them or in that situation.

• Developed health problems like heart problems and lung problems because of smoking, but still, you cannot quit smoking.

What Are the Risk Factors of Nicotine Addiction?

All the people who smoke or use any other form of tobacco are at risk of becoming addicted to tobacco. The risk factors of smoking include:

• Age - Nowadays, people start smoking at a very young age. The earlier you start smoking, the more you will be addicted to smoking.

• Peer Pressure and Parents - Children whose parents smoke are more likely to become smokers as they have grown up with parents who smoke.

• Anxiety, Depression, or Any Other Illness - Studies have shown a relationship between mental illness and smoking. People with depression, post-traumatic stress, or other mental illness are more likely to become smokers.

• Alcoholism - People who drink alcohol and use drugs are more likely to be smokers.

What Are the Possible Complications of Nicotine Addiction?

Tobacco smoke contains harmful substances and cancer-causing chemicals. Natural and herbal cigarettes also have toxic chemicals. People prone to smoking have a high chance of developing diseases or dying compared to people who do not smoke. Smoking causes different health problems like:

• Heart and Circulatory System - As a result, smoking increases the risk of dying from heart attacks and strokes. In addition, smoking worsens the disease by causing heart failure.

• Other Cancers - Nicotine addiction increases the risk of many cancers like oral cancer, throat, larynx, pharynx, esophagus, pancreas, bladder, kidney, and cervix.

• Smoking - It increases the complications of diabetes, causing kidney and eye problems.

• Eye Problems - Smoking can also increase the risk of eye problems such as cataracts and loss of eyesight from macular degeneration.

• Infertility and Impotence - Smoking affects reproductive health. It increases the risk of infertility in women and impotence in men.

• Pregnancy - It causes complications during pregnancy. It causes preterm delivery or lower-weight babies if the mother has smoked during the pregnancy.

• Other Conditions - Compared to non-smokers, smokers are more prone to respiratory illness and infections such as flu, cold, and bronchitis.

• Oral Health - Smoking also affects oral health, causing an increased risk of inflammation of the gums or a severe gum infection that destroys the support system for teeth. In addition, it is responsible for gingivitis and periodontitis.

• Lung Cancer - One of the leading causes of lung disease and lung cancer is smoking. It makes asthma worse. It also causes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

How Is It Diagnosed?

To diagnose your nicotine addiction, your healthcare provider will ask questions about nicotine usage and another health history. Then, healthcare providers will determine the degree of nicotine dependence and suggest treatment options accordingly.

How to Prevent the Use of Nicotine?

The best way to prevent nicotine use is not to use it. The parents who smoke their children tend to pick up their habits and become smokers compared to non-smoker parents. Parents should avoid smoking in front of their children.

What Is the Treatment?

There are different treatment options available that can help you quit smoking. The options include:

1. Medications - Nicotine replacement therapy is available via gums, patches, nasal sprays, lozenges, and inhalers. These medications help to decrease the addiction slowly and methodically. Non-nicotine products include antidepressants that help increase dopamine production and improve mood.

2. Support Groups - You can choose in-person support groups or virtual ones. Support groups help you to cope with addiction and teach you to work through your addiction.

3. Natural Remedies - You can try alternate natural remedies like hypnosis, acupuncture, herbs, and essential oils.

4. Home Care - You can try home remedies like:

• Regular exercise.

• Healthy diet.

• Remove all tobacco products from your office, house, or car.

• Avoid situations that can trigger you to smoke.

• Avoid being around smokers.

• Start setting small goals and reward yourself when the goal is achieved.

• Get treated.

Conclusion-

Nicotine sustains tobacco addiction and is the primary cause of death from cancers, cardiovascular disease, and pulmonary disease. So to prevent nicotine addiction, it is essential not to use tobacco and other tobacco products.