We have all heard the lectures and know that smoking is harmful to health. And while we know how bad cigarettes are and the dangers of smoking for us, our bodies, and the people around us, the fact that we can’t give them up is so terrible indeed. Because tobacco has a mental aspect – “nicotine addiction” – although it can be quite difficult to quit, but it is still not impossible.
This time we will introduce the properties of nicotine, its effects on the body and the effective release of nicotine remaining in the body through smoking.
Nicotine: The main reason it is difficult to quit smoking
Nicotine has a strong physical dependence. As humans, we have a so-called nicotine receptor in our brain that gives pleasure after binding to nicotine. Nicotine, which got into the blood from the lungs at the time of smoking, quickly reaches the brain and quickly triggers a response. When the nicotine receptor and the nicotine of the brain are combined, pleasant dopamine is released which creates a refreshing feeling of relaxation. As a result, a smoker has a strong feeling that they want another cigarette in order to feel the same way. As the behavior amplifies itself, over time this can lead to a strong desire to keep smoking, which ultimately leads to nicotine addiction.
Nicotine addiction is recognized as a type of addiction in the psychiatric world. In cases where nicotine addiction is due to heavy smoking, outpatient smoking cessation is sometimes considered because the person may not be able to overcome the addiction on their own.
How does nicotine affect the body?
Although nicotine in tobacco produces dopamine, a powerful pleasure chemical, nicotine in and of itself is a potent toxic chemical with multiple effects. Nicotine is cleared from the body in about two to three days, but nicotine-dependent smokers repeatedly smoke without waiting for nicotine to be released, always trying to build nicotine into the body.
When the nicotine in the body decreases, smokers experience “withdrawal symptoms”. Symptoms of smoking cessation include excessive stress, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and the disappearance of a feeling of calm. The combination of these symptoms can cause a smoker to fall into a depressed state. In addition, smokers who have experienced withdrawal have confirmed the adverse effects on their lifestyle: insomnia, anxiety, eating disorders and, in some cases, trying to use alcohol to dissolve tobacco dependence. However, if they continue to smoke, there is a high chance the smoker will develop more serious cardiovascular diseases and illnesses such as cancer so you can see the magnitude of the effect.
How can nicotine be reduced in the body?
If you continue to smoke, nicotine stays in the body and, depending on how much you smoke, it can potentially cause symptoms of intoxication. However, you can systematically reduce nicotine by taking the right smoking cessation measures. When a smoker stops smoking, nicotine (which is metabolized to cotinine) is naturally excreted in the urine. However, it is not easy for smokers to quit, and there are many cases when people quit smoking but fail to clear nicotine from the body for the three days or so. Because of this, it is important to consider which approach is right for you and how you can improve your constitution along the way.
One of the easier things you can do to lower nicotine levels in your body is, you guessed it, exercise. Because nicotine is absorbed into the blood and transported to the brain, exercise and increased metabolism can make it easier to drain nicotine from the body through sweating and excretion. This also promotes the release of nicotine in the liver and kidneys, which in turn can reduce stress on the organs.
Drinking water and other fluids are essential for the smooth release of nicotine. Immediately after you wake up and before you go to bed, having a glass of water will improve blood circulation, and it has the function of promoting the release of nicotine with urine. If you feel like you “really want to smoke,” it’s a good idea to get some moisture first and then see if you really need a cigarette.
Finally, from the usual point on, you should try to consume foods that are effective for smoking cessation. Particularly effective foods are oranges and other citrus fruits, as well as broccoli and ginger, which are rich in vitamins. Vitamins are important nutrients in supporting metabolism, but smokers tend to run out of vitamins because tobacco chemicals destroy the vitamins in the body. To encourage the release of nicotine, the presence of vitamins is essential.
Last word
There are many people who understand the importance of quitting smoking but cannot just quit smoking.
If smoking cessation due to nicotine is causing symptoms of substitution, certain nicotine replacement products – such as nicotine chewing gum and patches – can help slowly reduce nicotine doses. Rien Pipe can also be an excellent alternative as it gradually cuts out nicotine without having to replace it. To protect yourself, it is best to stop earlier and not put off.
