With each puff of a cigarette, a smoker pulls nicotine into his or her lungs
where it is absorbed into the blood. In eight seconds, nicotine is in the brain,
changing the way the brain works. This process happens so fast because nicotine
is shaped like the natural brain chemical acetylcholine.
Acetylcholine is one of
many chemicals called neurotransmitters that carry messages between brain cells.
Neurons have special spaces called receptors, into which specific
neurotransmitters can fit, like a key fitting into a lock. Nicotine locks into
acetylcholine receptors in different parts of the brain, rapidly causing changes
in the body and brain. Nicotine raises the heart rate and respiration
(breathing) rate, and causes more glucose, or blood sugar, to be released into
the blood. This might be why smokers feel more alert after smoking a cigarette.
Nicotine also attaches to neurons (brain cells) that release a
neurotransmitter called dopamine. Nicotine stimulates neurons to release
unusually large amounts of dopamine. Dopamine stimulates the brain's pleasure
and reward circuit, a group of brain structures called the limbic system
involved in appetite, learning, memory, and feelings of pleasure. Normally,
pleasurable feelings come from food, comfort, and the company of people you
love. But smoking cigarettes causes a flood of dopamine in the smoker's brain.
It's this flood of dopamine that gives the smoker intense feelings of pleasure.
Normally, neurons reabsorb neurotransmitters after they've done their job of
signaling other brain cells. But cigarette smoke causes dopamine to stay in the
spaces between neurons called synapses. Researchers don't yet know exactly what
component of tobacco smoke blocks the reabsorption of dopamine into neurons.
In 40 minutes, half the effects of nicotine are gone. So smokers get the urge
to light up for another dose of the drug. After repeated doses of nicotine, the
brain changes. To adjust to too much dopamine, the brain cuts production of the
neurotransmitter and reduces the number of some receptors. Now, the smoker needs
nicotine just to create normal levels of dopamine in his or her brain. Without
nicotine, the smoker feels irritable and
depressed. The smoker has trained the
limbic system to crave tobacco. Think about how you long for a cold drink on a
hot day. Or how you want a sandwich when you are hungry. Craving for tobacco is
much stronger.
These changes in the brain and body make nicotine highly addictive. Other
addictive drugs of abuse, including heroin and cocaine, cause the same changes
in the brain.
While inhaling a cigarette, smokers are pulling more than nicotine into their
lungs. Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals. Besides nicotine, the
most dangerous chemicals in cigarette smoke are tar and carbon monoxide. Tar
causes lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchial diseases. Carbon monoxide causes
heart problems; smokers are at high risk for heart disease.
Smokers also have a dulled sense of smell and taste, reduced stamina for
exercise and sports, and they smell of smoke. After smoking for a long time,
smokers find that their skin ages faster and their teeth turn brown or
discolored.
Lung cancer kills more men and women than any other form of cancer. Eight out of 10 lung cancers are due
to tobacco smoke. Lung cancers are classified as either small cell or non-small
cell cancers.
Restless leg syndrome (RLS or restless legs syndrome) is a common cause for painful legs that typically eases with motion, and becomes worse and more noticeable at rest. This characteristic nighttime worsening can frequently lead to insomnia. Treatment of the symptoms of restless leg syndrome is generally with medication as well as treating any underlying condition causing restless leg syndrome.
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a disorder that persistently obstructs bronchial airflow. COPD mainly involves three related conditions, chronic bronchitis, chronic asthma, and emphysema. Symptoms of COPD include chronic cough, shortness of breath, frequent respiratory infections, wheezing, morning headaches, and pulmonary hypertension. Treatment of COPD is focused on the related condition(s).
Emphysema is a progressive disease of the lungs. The primary cause of emphysema is smoking. Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency is a rare disorder that has a genetic predisposition to emphysema. Aging, IV drug use, immune deficiencies, and connect tissue illnesses are also risk factors for emphysema. Emphysema is a subtype of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COLD). Symptoms include shortness of breath and wheezing. Management of symptoms may be achieved with medications, quitting smoking, pulmonary rehabilitation, or surgery.
Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which the person has seizures. There are two kinds of seizures, focal and generalized. There are many causes of epilepsy. Treatment of epilepsy (seizures) depends upon the cause and type of seizures experienced.
Drug addiction is a chronic disease that causes drug-seeking behavior and drug use despite negative consequences to the user and those around him. Though the initial decision to use drugs is voluntary, changes in the brain caused by repeated drug abuse can affect a person's self-control and ability to make the right decisions and increase the urge to take drugs. Drug abuse and addiction are preventable.
Smoking is an addiction. More than 430,000 deaths occur each year in the U.S. from smoking related illnesses. Secondhand smoke or "passive smoke" also harm family members, coworkers, and others around smokers. There are a number of techniques available to assist people who want to quit smoking.
Hiccups are a sudden, involuntary contraction of the diaphragm muscle. In general hiccups are just a temporary condition. Some of the causes of hiccups include certain medications, surgery, eating or drinking too much, spicy foods, diseases or conditions that irritate the nerves controlling the diaphragm, strokes, brain tumors, liver failure, and noxious fumes.
Drugs commonly abused by teens include tobacco products, marijuana, cold medications, inhalants, depressants, stimulants, narcotics, hallucinogens, PCP, ketamine, Ecstasy, and anabolic steroids. Some of the symptoms and warning signs of teen drug abuse include reddened whites of eyes, paranoia, sleepiness, excessive happiness, seizures, memory loss, increased appetite, discolored fingertips, lips or teeth, and irritability. Treatment of drug addiction may involve a combination of medication, individual, and familial interventions.
Smoker's lung photo essay is a collection of pictures and microscopic slides of lung disease caused by cigarette smoking. Smoker's lung refers to the diseases and structural abnormalities in the lung caused by cigarette smoking.
Smokeless tobacco can have negative health effects such as cancers, poor oral health (gum disease and tooth decay), infertility, pregnancy complications, and nicotine addiction.
Taking prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs or supplements should be discussed with your doctor. There are some medications that have been found to cause no problems in pregnancy, however, medications such as Accutane for acne, should never be taken during pregnancy.
Teenagers recognize that they are developmentally between child and adult. Teen health prevention includes maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, preventing injuries and screening annually for potential health conditions that could adversely affect teenage health.
The lungs are primarily responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air we breathe and the blood. Eliminating carbon dioxide from the blood is important, because as it builds up in the blood, headaches, drowsiness, coma, and eventually death may occur. The air we breathe in (inhalation) is warmed, humidified, and cleaned by the nose and the lungs.
If you have a COPD such as emphysema, avoiding chronic bronchitis and colds is important to avoid a more severe respiratory infection such as pneumonia. Avoiding cigarette smoking, practice good hygeine, stay away from crowds, and alerting your healthcare provider if you have a sinus infection or cold or cough that becomes worse. Treatment options depend upon the severity of the emphysema, bronchitis, or cold combination.
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