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What does nicotine do to your body?
With the advent of tar free alternatives to smoking, many e-cigarette manufactures are claiming their products are “safer” than smoking. But is it true? All of these products contain nicotine, the addictive drug found in nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and the nicotine liquid used in e-cigarettes. Since these products contain nicotine, we need to ask the question, “What does nicotine do to your body?” Here are three answers to that question.
Nicotine increases heart rate
Although there is some debate about the carcinogenic properties of nicotine, there is no debate the drug increases heart rate. For certain patients with high blood pressure, heart disease or other heart related illness, pure nicotine could cause complications in these people by increasing the release of epinephrine. This is the reason that NRT is not recommended for those with heart disease.
Nicotine changes the way the brain operates
Dopamine receptors in the brain are primarily responsible for its “reward” response. Nicotine is so similar to the dopamine key that plugs into the receptor that the brain eagerly takes in the chemical and quickly fills in all the dopamine keyholes. Soon there is a roadway to these receptors built due to the body’s reaction to the nicotine, and addiction to nicotine sets in.
Nicotine is a stimulant and a depressant
A host of chemical messengers are released when nicotine enters the brain. The stimulant effects of nicotine increase heart and breathing rate, mental sharpness and increase memory. Pain and anxiety are reduced by some of these same receptors. At higher doses nicotine has a depressant effect. Overdosing on nicotine, just 40mg or so, can cause paralysis of the diaphragm, the muscle used for breathing, which is one of the reasons nicotine is labeled a poison. Also, while low levels of nicotine increase the heart rate, these higher toxic levels can decrease it.
Resources:
http://www.enotes.com/drugs-substances-encyclopedia/nicotine/effects-body
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicotine
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/health-safety-e-smoking/45324-nic...
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