Chantix
- Nicotine dependence
- Smoking addiction symptoms
- Harms of smoking addiction
- Smoking addiction treatment
Facts You Should Know about Nicotine Dependence
Nicotine is the addictive chemical in cigarettes and other tobacco products. It is the addiction to nicotine that makes quitting tobacco so difficult. Nicotine is a natural chemical found in tobacco that works as an insecticide. The body accepts nicotine because it closely resembles acetylcholine, which is already in the body. Nicotine dependence is something people should be educated about because it can help them fight the addiction or avoid it all together.
How Nicotine Dependency Starts
It takes eight seconds for nicotine to reach the brain where it causes the release of dopamine. Dopamine causes a rewarding sensation that feels good to the body. This sensation is the beginning of the nicotine dependence as the person wants to keep feeling it. Additionally, nicotine causes reactions that affect a person's mood and gives them an energy boost.
Breaking the Dependency
Nicotine can stay in the blood stream, causing the feel good reactions for up to 72 hours. After 72 hours with no nicotine reintroduced into the body, a person will begin to start feeling withdrawal symptoms. The dependency causes a person to want more nicotine and getting the nicotine provides those feelings of relief. The withdrawal symptoms can be quite shocking and that is why it is so hard for people to quit smoking.
Nicotine dependence can be very hard to break. It is not just a physical addiction, but mental, as well. Quitting smoking is very hard due to this nicotine dependency.
