Cigarette smoking is harmful and one of the most difficult addictions. Even a schoolboy knows what nicotine is and what its effect on the body is. This is a substance that goes hand in hand with tobacco, something that causes addiction in all smokers. It harms the body, spoils the respiratory and vascular systems, and can cause serious illnesses. But now we propose to consider what nicotine is in a wider context, based not only on the recommendations of the Ministry of Health, but also on its chemical composition, as well as the distribution history.
Origin
The term “nicotine” appeared in the era of the Early Middle Ages, when most of Europe still actively used Latin in everyday speech. The phrase Nicotiana tabacum was called by people of Portugal tobacco leaves, and one scientist named Jean Nico considered them a headache remedy. It was he, by the way, who brought this plant to France, where he actively began to study its properties. Thanks to his achievements, alchemists developed a whole system of tobacco distillation, the end product of which was pure nicotine. A brownish liquid with an oily structure was widely used in medicine. It was used to treat asthma, the common cold, eczema and even epilepsy. Later, scientists of the XVIII and XIX centuries were able to remove nicotine, using certain chemical operations.
Chemical composition
To begin with, let's find out what nicotine is from a scientific point of view, what elements are included in its composition and what end products it contains. So, this substance belongs to the category of alkaloids, endowed with the properties of weak alkalis. It also shows an increased nitrogen content. Nicotine molecules are most concentrated in the leaves and stems of tobacco, and in small quantities are present in shag, tomatoes, potatoes and green pepper. It should be noted that the biosynthesis of nicotine provokes the formation of toxic substances that are fatal to insects. These poisons are also harmful to humans, but a fatal outcome, as a rule, can occur only after excessive use of nicotine.
What happens when a person smokes?
Nicotine is characterized by rapid accumulation in all body tissues. Once in the oral cavity, it penetrates the lungs and is absorbed literally into all the walls and membranes through which it passes. Passing through the lungs, it sinks into the stomach, its particles also penetrate the blood and appear from the inside to the surface of the skin. It is also worth saying that one puff is quite enough for nicotine to reach the brain, where it comes into contact with the main neurons and temporarily blocks their full activity. This substance completely leaves the body only after 1.5-2 days.
The effect of nicotine on the body
The essence of the effect of this substrate is its effect on the nerve connections, which are called synapses. Their work is somewhat paralyzed, resulting in the following symptoms:
- Palpitations.
- The percentage of adrenaline production increases.
- Glucose passes into the blood from the liver.
- The pressure rises, as the vessels narrow.
- A release of mediators occurs in the brain, which provokes a psychostimulating effect.
In other words, we can formulate what is nicotine. This is a drug that stimulates the production of a certain hormone in the body, and also affects the dopamine mediators that function in the brain, thereby causing the smoker's desire to try it again and again. Those who smoked briefly know that they should last a couple of days, and the body will be able to overcome this dependence itself, since poisons will completely come out of it. But people who smoke for a very long time, realize that the nicotine in cigarettes causes them not only physiological, but also psychological dependence, which is not easy to get rid of.
Toxicity
Nicotine is an extremely toxic substance. As an example, you can consider teenagers, many of whom begin to smoke. If the young body receives the amount of nicotine that is contained in half a pack of cigarettes in 2-3 hours, the person will fall into a coma due to paralysis of the respiratory and circulatory system. Of course, how much nicotine is consumed by adult smokers cannot cause clinical death, but it can contribute to the development of cancer in various organs. Moreover, over time, the activity of the nervous system becomes dull, and the cells are not able to transmit the entire flow of information to the brain. The visible result of this may be a dullness of pain, a retarded reaction, a lack of a sense of happiness and many other mental deviations.
What is nicotine poisoning?
Even experienced smokers are not immune from this phenomenon. In order to poison your body, it is enough to exceed the dose usual for it, and nicotine will use all its poisons. What are the outward signs of cigarette poisoning?
- Arrhythmia.
- Overexcitation or, on the contrary, lethargy.
- Pallor.
- Cold sweat and chills.
- Impaired vision, ringing in the ears and dizziness.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Salivation.
- General weakness.
- Cramps.
- Rapid breathing.
In the event of the appearance of such symptoms after smoking, you should immediately seek medical help. It is worth noting that such incidents rarely pass without a trace. Such people subsequently develop tachycardia, atherosclerosis, the risk of getting a heart attack increases, gastritis or an ulcer appears, or heart function completely worsens.
Nicotine has its benefits
A famous medical proverb says: “Everything is poison, everything is medicine; both are determined by the dose. ” We have already found out that the ancient alchemists used nicotine as a universal healing agent, which both calmed and healed. Is this substance used in medicine today? Oddly enough, yes. In very small doses, nicotine is used to treat the following ailments:
- Alzheimer's disease.
- Parkinson's disease.
- Shingles.
- Attention Deficit Disorder.
- Intestinal ulcer.
Also, modern researchers are actively studying the hidden properties of this component. It is likely that in the near future he will be present in many pills and potions that will help us cope with various serious ailments.
Electronic cigarettes: what is it?
Recently, in the process of promoting a healthy lifestyle, so-called nicotine-free cigarettes, which are an electronic device that allows you to simulate standard smoking, have become fashionable. This device consists of a battery and a special liquid that the smoker draws in and releases in the form of smoke. Initially, e-cigarettes were filled with liquids containing nicotine analogues, which supposedly do not have a bad effect on the body. However, it turned out that the chemical composition of this filler has not received the necessary approval and is not certified.
Will an electronic cigarette help quit smoking?
After a person has spent in tobacco dependence for many years of his life, a sharp cessation of the use of this component can become a shock for the body, both physiological and mental. For this reason, the manufacturers of electronic cigarettes already known to us have created a special nicotine for electronic cigarettes, which, they claim, causes less harm to the body. The bottom line is that its content in the liquid is less than in a regular cigarette. Moreover, nicotine is mixed with other components that slightly neutralize its effect. It is impossible now to unequivocally say whether this thing is harmful or not, it is worse or better than a pack of cigarettes. Many can not abandon the traditional form of smoking, so its popularity does not fall, despite the emerging analogues.