Smoking has become a big problem these days. Everyone knows that it is harmful, however many continue to smoke. Nicotine contained in cigarettes, even in small doses, has a detrimental effect on the body. The problem is that not everyone understands what nicotine is and how it affects human health. Let's deal with this issue!
general characteristics
So nicotine is an alkaloid found in plants in the nightshade family. The largest amount of this substance is observed in tobacco, but there are 66 more crops that contain it to a lesser extent. Nicotine is found in small quantities even in vegetables such as tomatoes, bell peppers, potatoes and eggplant.
In dry tobacco, nicotine can be from 0.3 to 5% by weight. Its biosynthesis occurs in the roots, and accumulation in the leaves. Nicotine is a colorless, oily liquid. It boils at a temperature of 247.6 ° C and darkens very quickly upon contact with air. At a temperature of 60-210 ° C, nicotine is partially soluble in water. And at temperatures below 60 and above 210 ° C, it mixes well with water.
The name "nicotine" appeared in honor of Jean Nicot, who was the ambassador of France in the Portuguese court. In 1560, he sent Queen Catherine de Medici some tobacco as a remedy for migraine. In addition to migraines, they were treated with rheumatism, asthma, toothache and wounds.
Nicotine and humanity
Since time immemorial, people have been smoking. The world history of tobacco has more than a thousand years. In Russia, for example, tobacco appeared only under Ivan the Terrible. An active fight against nicotine addiction began only at the end of the last century. And while the unhealthy lifestyle wins, taking more and more people. A huge army of smokers brings profit to tobacco companies. And even despite all the measures taken by health organizations, in most countries tobacco remains the most common and affordable drug.
Nicotine use
Nicotine is consumed in three ways: smoking, chewing and inhaling tobacco. The substance has the property of being rapidly absorbed through the mucous membranes of the mouth, the canal and the lungs. In addition, nicotine can enter the body through the skin, even intact. Once in the body, the substance spreads very quickly through the blood. 7 seconds after inhaling tobacco smoke, it enters the brain. Nicotine is released to some extent from the body for at least two hours. In general, only a small fraction of the nicotine contained in tobacco leaves is inhaled by smoking. The fact is that the bulk of the substance burns out. The amount of poison adsorbed during smoking depends on the type of tobacco and the presence of a cigarette filter. When chewing or sniffing special tobacco, much more nicotine enters the body.
Effects
Once in the body, the substance affects the acetylcholine receptors. In low concentrations, it activates receptor activity. This leads to an increase in the level of adrenaline hormone in the blood. The release of adrenaline speeds up the heartbeat, increases blood pressure, speeds up breathing and increases blood glucose levels.
To the question of whether nicotine is harmful, the answer is simple: certainly harmful. Although in our time it is unlikely that anyone will doubt it. In general, nicotine is a real poison. It strongly affects both the central and peripheral nervous system. The substance acts especially strongly on the ganglia of the autonomic nervous system. In this regard, he belongs to the class of the so-called ganglinic poisons. Large doses of nicotine received in the body inhibit and paralyze the nervous system, and also stop breathing, which soon leads to cardiac arrest. The lethal dose for humans is on average 0.5-1 mg / kg.
Despite its strong toxicity, nicotine acts as a psychostimulant in small doses. He affects the mood in different ways for different people. Causing the release of adrenaline and glucose, the poison causes excitement of the whole organism. From a subjective point of view, this brings a feeling of relaxation, peace, and also a slightly euphoric state. Some smokers experience a decrease in appetite and an increase in metabolic rate, which can lead to weight loss.
Using nicotine many times, a person becomes physically and psychologically dependent on him and returns to him all the time. Long-term use of nicotine causes problems such as visual impairment, damage to the stomach and intestines, arterial hypertension, hyperglycemia, tachycardia, atherosclerosis, arrhythmia, coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction and heart failure. Along with resins, nicotine can contribute to lung cancer. And those men who smoke for many years are at risk of impotence.
Effects and signs of use
The first doses of nicotine cause nausea and vomiting. If you continue to smoke, adaptation will begin, and these reflexes will disappear. Perhaps a slight excitement of the whole organism. As a rule, skeletal muscle relaxation and hand tremors occur. The smoker has a reduced reaction time, but improved attention and short-term memory. In addition, when smoking, anxiety disappears and appetite worsens. However, all positive processes are quickly replaced by the opposite when the concentration of a substance in the body drops.
Nicotine poisoning is expressed by the following symptoms: nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, salivation, increased heart rate and blood pressure, confusion, decreased vitality, general weakness.
Nicotine poisoning is rare. As a rule, children who try to smoke as much as adults are poisoned. Help with poisoning is simple: open up fresh air, protect the airways from vomiting, wash your face with cold water. In case of poisoning, you need to worry about airway patency and prevent biting your tongue.
External signs of smoking are the smell of tobacco from the mouth and hands, as well as fingers yellowed from the filter.
Sad statistics
The main part of smokers doubts that tobacco smoke affects the body badly, arguing that their condition does not seem to worsen when smoking. However, statistics more than eloquently prove the opposite. Every 10 seconds in the world, one person dies from smoking. To date, statistics show that tobacco kills about three million people around the world in a year. In the future, according to all forecasts, this figure will increase to 10 million. There are skeptics who say that, compared with the entire population of the earth (about 6 billion), 10 million is a small figure. But for smokers, each of whom runs the risk of falling into these 10 million, this is a significant risk. If this trend continues, then in the end tobacco will kill about 500 million living people. And this is 9% of the total population of the Earth. Since 1950, smoking has killed 62 million people - more than died during the Second World War. It has been proven that tobacco causes 6% of all deaths and about 3% of all diseases. Moreover, sad numbers are growing every day, and by 2020, 12% of deaths are projected worldwide.
Where is nicotine used?
Nicotine is a very powerful neurotoxin that has a detrimental effect on insects. Therefore, before it was actively used as an insecticide. Today, nicotine derivatives, for example imidaclorpide, are used for the same purpose. The American Heart Association has come to the conclusion that smoking addiction today can be recognized as one of the most problematic, as getting rid of it is not easy. It is interesting that insects would think about people, having learned that people voluntarily use the same poison that they are poisoned with?
Nicotine benefits
All scientific communities, without exception, claim that nicotine is the most dangerous toxin and drug. Nevertheless, it is no secret that many plant alkaloids, including drugs, are used as medications. So, maybe nicotine is useful?
Today they release a lot of tools designed to replace cigarettes and, as a result, give up nicotine completely. Among them, plasters, chewing gum and more can be distinguished. These products contain the same nicotine as in cigarettes, but in smaller quantities. In a number of countries, work is underway on the use of this alkaloid as a tool for the treatment and prevention of diseases such as attention deficit disorder, Alzheimer's disease, herpes zoster, Parkinson's disease and peptic ulcer. Therefore, it is possible that in the near future nicotine will have at least some benefit. After all, as they say, everything is poison and medicine, and only the dose is the determining factor.
E-Sigs
Now it has become fashionable to use so-called electronic cigarettes as an alternative to smoking . They are a small inhaler in which the liquid with nicotine is heated and evaporated. The purpose of such cigarettes is, firstly, to use purified nicotine (in liquid, diluted form) and, secondly, to gradually wean from smoking. Cigarette liquid can be made at home, it consists of several ingredients, one of which is the so-called nicotine "weaving" - a concentrated solution of the substance. It is mixed with flavors and water. The concentration of poison can vary by the smoker himself, and gradually you can switch to a liquid for cigarettes without nicotine.
Many will ask: "Why smoke it?" The fact is that smoking is not only a dependence on nicotine, but also the habit of occupying yourself with something. Therefore, those who can not give up this muck just like that can do it smoothly, replacing a simple electronic cigarette.
Conclusion
So, we once again became convinced that smoking causes irreparable harm. But in addition to nicotine in cigarettes, there is still a mass of harmful substances. Therefore, it is better to learn to please yourself with other things and depend on something more pleasant, for example, on love, as in the song "Former Nicotine". We wish you good health!