About nicotine
Nicotine addiction is a disease that requires treatment. Addiction occurs when the number and function of nicotine receptors in the central nervous system change because of repeated nicotine use. Nicotine activates neural pathways, and changes in neurotransmitter release promote and sustain nicotine addiction.
There are individual differences in the development of addiction, influenced by both genetic factors and the environment. Withdrawal symptoms include irritability, nausea, headache, difficulty concentrating, sleep problems, and increased appetite.
Harmful effects
Nicotine has many harmful effects on health. Nicotine use strains the heart by constricting blood vessels, increasing heart rate, raising blood pressure, and likely increasing the risk of arrhythmias. Nicotine also reduces the effectiveness of blood pressure medication.
Nicotine is not currently classified as a carcinogen, i.e., a cancer-causing substance. However, there are indications that nicotine increases the risk of cancer by promoting the transformation of cells into cancer cells, increasing the division of cancer cells, and maintaining the development of cancerous tissue. If a person has a developing cancer or an increased risk of cancer, nicotine can exacerbate it.
Additionally, nicotine reduces the body’s sensitivity to insulin, which is linked to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Toxicity
Nicotine is a poison. In adults, 60 mg of nicotine absorbed into the body can be a lethal amount if the person has not previously been exposed to nicotine. In children, dangerous poisoning can result from ingesting a single cigarette or a snus pouch, and e-cigarette cartridges have also caused fatal poisonings. Nicotine poisoning also occurs among workers on tobacco plantations, as nicotine is absorbed through the skin from tobacco leaves.
Symptoms of nicotine poisoning include nausea, vomiting, headache, tremors, irregular pulse, and breathing difficulties.