Nicotine Addiction

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Nicotine is considered by many experts to be more addicting than heroin. Nicotine is found in cigarettes, cigars, tobacco pipes, vapor cigarettes, and chewing tobacco. Nicotine rewires your brain and causes intense withdrawal making it difficult to stop. Nicotine also destroys your health. Nicotine causes damage to the heart, throat, mouth, and lungs. Nicotine related deaths account for one of the highest causes of death in the United States.

Nicotine addiction starts in the brain. Inside the brain are countless nerves and neurotransmitters. Nicotine increases the production of dopamines, which is a neurotransmitter.  Dopamine provides a rush of pleasure and is the culprit in substance dependency. Dopamine is known as the feel good chemical. Increased dopamine production is one of the reasons why nicotine is so addicting.

Nicotine itself does not cause cancers, heart disease, and other health issues. Nicotine is the substance in tobacco that makes smoking and chewing tobacco so addictive. The substances that cause lung cancer is the tar and thousands of other additives found in cigarettes, cigars, and chewing tobacco. Essentially, the nicotine keeps you addicted to smoking and chewing tobacco, which is where the body damage stems from.

Smoking and chewing tobacco cause cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and other respiratory illnesses. Nicotine is so addicting that even though you know you are putting yourself in danger, it is incredibly difficult to just stop. Tobacco greatly increases the risk of

  • Lung cancer
  • Throat and mouth cancers
  • Respiratory illness
  • Heart disease
  • Blood clots
  • Poor circulation
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Decreased sense of smell and taste
  • Low sperm count
  • COPD
  • Gum disease
  • Heart attacks
  • Second hand smoke complications, especially to children

Quitting smoking is the only way to reduce your risks of tobacco related illnesses. There are a variety of ways to stop smoking. Nicotine patches, gums, and lozenges gradually wean you off of nicotine. This form of treatment is called nicotine replacement therapy. The goal of this type of treatment is to reduce the intake of nicotine over time. Nicotine replacement therapy reduces the risks of the harmful effects of smoking or chewing tobacco and gradually allows you to be nicotine free.

Medications and therapy can also be used for nicotine addiction. Therapy will teach you new coping skills to replace nicotine use. Medications work by reducing nicotine cravings. If you are addicted to nicotine there is help for you. Cigarettes and other forms of tobacco cause several health risks.

You deserve to taste exotic foods and have exhilarating experiences, but you can only truly enjoy this if you stop smoking. Call The Kimberly Center now at 855-4-KCENTER, we can teach you about recovery from nicotine addiction. We are committed to putting you and your recovery first.

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