Nicotine addiction is one of the most common addictions in the world and that has been the case for some time now. These days there are fewer nicotine addicts than ever, as smoking bans, price increases and a general stigma has caused a huge drop int more to do with culture and availability than anything else.
Simply put, this one’s on the governments of the world, who gave a lot of power and control to tobacco companies only interested in profit, and are now paying for it with an estimated 7 million people dying from nicotine addiction every single year.
What’s in Cigarettes?
If you’re not yet ready to kick your nicotine addiction and are still happily smoking away, then it’s time to learn just what is in the cigarettes you are smoking. Prepare to be in for a shock, because there are some nasty ingredients here.
The tar in cigarettes is incredibly toxic, and it is one of the main ingredients that causes harm. But it’s far from the only one. Cigarettes also contain formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide, lead, arsenic, benzene and even some radioactive elements.
It is a who’s who of toxicity. It’s as if someone decided to create the most harmful product known to man and then label it “for human consumption”. That’s why cigarettes kill so many millions of people every year and it’s why governments are now clambering over themselves to stop this epidemic in its tracks, even though they were the ones who facilitated its growth many decades ago.
Nicotine Poisoning Symptoms
Nicotine poisoning is the result of a nicotine overdose. It’s very unpleasant, but it’s also rare, as discussed in more detail below. As for the symptoms of nicotine poisoning, this is what you need to look out for:
- Abdominal Cramps
- Increased Saliva
- Fainting
- Coma
- Convulsions
- Depression
- Difficulty Breathing
- Headache
- Muscle Twitching
- Weakness
- Vomiting
- Restlessness
Just bear in mind that some of these can also be the result of a first-time smoke. Some of these symptoms, such as sickness, can also result in people who do smoke, but have simply smoked too much too quickly.
If many symptoms present; if a dangerous amount has been taken, then seek medical assistance immediately.
Nicotine Overdose
So, how can nicotine overdose occur? Is it possible to overdose by smoking too many cigarettes? Well, yes. It may seems strange, considering some smokers chain smoke, but it’s very possible. Chains smokers tend to be long-term smokers who have dealt with nicotine addiction for some time. They have built up a significant tolerance and can therefore handle larger amounts than other people.
If you are not used to such high amounts and you smoke several cigarettes or even a single cigar then you might experience some symptoms of nicotine overdose. In most cases you’ll just be lightheaded and sick. It will be unpleasant, but it will probably be short. However, if you have preexisting medical conditions, if you consume a significant quantity or if you are predisposed to certain issues, then it is more of a concern and you should seek help.
Nicotine overdoses are also common with patches and gum, either because an adult has consumed too high of a dose or because a child has gotten their hands on them. To avoid this, make sure nicotine gum is kept well away from children. To them it might just be gum, but it’s gum that could make them very sick very quickly.
Does Nicotine Cause Cancer?
Nicotine itself does not seem to be a cancer causing drug. The tar that you can find in cigarettes and cigars most definitely is carcinogenic, and there are also claims that certain vaping liquids could also be very dangerous. But nicotine itself is not the issue.
Side Effects of Smoking Cigarettes
As well as all of the risks associated with nicotine consumption, there are many more issues that arise from smoking cigarettes. These increase with those suffering from nicotine addiction due to the vast quantity of cigarettes that they smoke.
They include breathing problems and an array of cardiovascular diseases, ranging from bronchitis to cancer. Cigarettes have also been linked to many cases of cancer in other organ and parts of the body, including the throat, the esophagus, the liver and the pancreas.
Is Nicotine Bad for You?
Many claim that tobacco is bad but nicotine is good. That’s not entirely true. It is true that tobacco is much worse for you, on account of the fact that there are a lot of nasty chemicals in there and that smoking can cause cancer and other cardiovascular issues.
However, nicotine is still a drug. There are still tolerance issues, risks of overdose and issues that result from excessive use. It is a drug that speeds up the heart rate and puts strain on the body. It’s certainly not as bad as drugs like codeine and heroin, or even as tobacco. But it’s still a drug and it’s far from healthy.
Is Nicotine a Drug?
Yes! It is a drug in every sense of the word and not a very pleasant one either. It causes withdrawals, it has several minor pleasant effects and a host of negative ones, and when cooked in the form of cigarettes it also causes long-term health issues.
Cigarettes are just the vehicle through which nicotine is delivered. In many ways it’s the legal, government-sanctioned way of cutting a drug with horrible chemicals in order to increase weight and to achieve a better delivery method. If your meth dealer was mixing the drug with minor poisons to make it easier to smoke, you’d probably go elsewhere and brand them evil, but that’s basically what the tobacco industry has been doing for years.
Nicotine Effects and Side Effects
Nicotine addiction occurs after the addict has smoked their way through a rather large number of cigarettes over some length of time. In the beginning, they may feel sick and lightheaded when they smoke and many smokers report a distaste for those early doses. In time, they begin to enjoy the feeling of stimulation and the slight euphoria.
The positive effects include a feeling of lightness and warmth, which is the euphoria. They also feel relaxed, with the stress melting away. However for every positive effect there are a number of negative ones,. These can be felt by all, but they are more prominent with those who have yet to truly develop a nicotine addiction.
There are also side effects that may develop in certain individuals and could cause serious issues. The following are the negative nicotine side effects:
- Dry Mouth
- Headache
- Constipation or Diarrhea
- Upset Stomach
- Nausea and/or Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Hiccups
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Severe Rash
- Uneven Heartbeats
- Chest Pain
- Allergic Reactions