Effects of nicotine on the body

In this article, we will discuss the negative effects of nicotine on the body and overall health.

Nicotine smoke primarily affects the lungs and heart and may cause different health problems related to these organs. Nicotine is a habit-forming substance because it destroys an important enzyme in the brain that regulates the production of neurotransmitter dopamine which is associated with pleasure. Without this enzyme, dopamine is oversecreted, and it causes you to crave cigarettes more. When a person smokes a cigarette, he or she usually feels relaxed and filled with energy, but the long-term effects on the body are pretty damaging to health.

Long Term Effects of Nicotine

Nicotine use leads to increased heartbeat and elevated blood pressure while it relaxes the mind. There are several negative effects of nicotine on the body organs that smokers should keep in mind.

Effects of Nicotine on the Heart

It has been proven that nicotine use can cause heart attack and stroke. Nicotine causes arteries to constrict which contributes to heart attack. Also, nicotine releases the hormone epinephrine, which is responsible for increased heartbeat, high blood pressure, and elevated sugar.

This hormone also speeds up breathing rate because the heart has to pump more blood through the body. Blood flow to the brain is restricted due to nicotine which leads to an increased risk of stroke.

Effects of Nicotine on the Lungs

Smoking impairs the ability of the lungs to eliminate germs and dirt. Nicotine can cause persistent coughing and wheezing, and lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Nicotine also exacerbates asthma symptoms. Additionally, cigarette smoking is associated with around 90% of lung cancer cases.

Effects of Nicotine on the Immune System

Due to nicotine use, people are more susceptible to infections and inflammations because it affects the production of specific types of white blood cells. These white blood cells fight against infections, and without them, the function of the immune system is weakened.

Effects of Nicotine on the Teeth

Nicotine has a damaging effect on the teeth and general dental health. Nicotine use causes yellowing of the teeth and thinning of the gums. Due to this, the root of the teeth is exposed to bacteria, which can infect the gums. This may cause bad breath as well.

Effects on Pregnant Women

Pregnant women who smoke cigarettes have an increased risk of having stillborn or premature infants. They are also at risk of having a baby with low birth weight. Babies of smoking moms may be born with a cleft palate or cleft lip.

Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable cancers. WHO estimated around 1.27 billion tobacco users world-wide. Tobacco consumption alone accounts for nearly 5.4 million deaths per year and one billion people may die in this century if global tobacco consumption remained at the current levels. An international treaty spearheaded by WHO in 2003 and signed by 170 countries, aims to encourage governments to reduce the production, sales, distribution advertisement and promotion of tobacco products.

As tobacco consumption is being curbed, there is a growing demand for cessation. Pharmacological treatment of nicotine addiction remains an active area of research. There are many nicotine preparations (nicotine gums, patches, e cigarettes and inhalational agents) that are freely available in most parts of the world. These products are being heavily promoted and marketed as magical remedies. Nicotine gums are available in 2 mg and 4 mg preparation that deliver around 1 mg and 3 mg nicotine to the blood stream respectively.
Nicotine is well known to have serious systemic side effects in addition to being highly addictive. It adversely affects the heart, reproductive system, lung, kidney etc. Many studies have consistently demonstrated its carcinogenic potential.
A computer aided search of the Medline and PubMed databases was done using different combination of the keywords “nicotine,” “chemical composition,” “history,” “metabolism,” “addiction,” “cancer,” “toxic,” “endocrine system,” “cardiovascular system,” “respiratory system,” “lung carcinogenesis, “gastrointestinal system,” “immune system,” “ocular,” “cataract,” “central nervous system,” “renal system,” “reproductive system,” “menstrual cycle,” “oocytes,” “foetus,”. Initial search buildup was done using “Nicotine/adverse effects” [Mesh], which showed 3436 articles. Articles were analyzed and 90 relevant articles were included in the review. All the animal and human studies that investigated the role of nicotine on organ systems were analyzed.
This is an acute form of nicotine toxicity that is known to occur due to handling of green tobacco leaves, with symptoms lasting from 12 to 24 h. The acute symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting, giddiness, loss of appetite, fatigue and tachyarrythmias. No significant mortality has been reported due to green tobacco sickness (GTS) but it significantly affects the health of workers in the tobacco industry.
Nicotine is one of the most addicting agent. The US surgeon general (2010) has concluded nicotine to be as addictive as cocaine or heroin. Nicotine interacts with the nicotinic acetyl choline receptors and stimulates the dopaminergic transmission.
Nicotine causes catecholamine release and stimulates the autonomic system. There is increased glycogen synthesis due to ?-adrenoceptor stimulation. This leads to reduction in the fasting blood glucose levels. It also causes lipolysis thus decreasing body weight. Nicotine affects insulin resistance and predisposes to metabolic syndrome. In an animal study prenatal exposure was toxic to pancreatic ?-cell and leads to decreased B cell population, thus increasing the risk of diabetes.
A study relates lung carcinogenesis by nicotine due to genetic variation in CYP2B6. Its simultaneous exposure with hyperoxia has been found to induce cancer in hamsters. Cotinine has been found to promote lung tumorigenesis by inhibiting anti-apoptotic pathway.

Nicotine is the fundamental cause of addiction among tobacco users. Nicotine adversely affects many organs as shown in human and animal studies. Its biological effects are widespread and extend to all systems of the body including cardiovascular, respiratory, renal and reproductive systems. Nicotine has also been found to be carcinogenic in several studies. It promotes tumorigenesis by affecting cell proliferation, angiogenesis and apoptotic pathways. It causes resistance to the chemotherapeutic agents.

✓ Fact confirmed: Harmful effects of nicotine Aseem Mishra, Pankaj Chaturvedi, Sourav Datta, Snita Sinukumar, Poonam Joshi, and Apurva Garg; 2015 Jan-Mar