How can nicotine affect your body

It is odourless and colourless and, in large doses, quickly causes death because it takes the place of oxygen in the blood. In people who smoke, the carbon monoxide in their blood makes it harder for oxygen to get to their organs and muscles oxidizing chemicals — are highly reactive chemicals that can damage the heart muscles and blood vessels of people who smoke. They react with cholesterol, leading to the build-up of fatty material on artery walls.

Their actions lead to heart disease, stroke and blood vessel disease metals — tobacco smoke contains several metals that cause cancer, including arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead and nickel radioactive compounds — tobacco smoke contains radioactive compounds that are known to be carcinogenic. Effects of smoking on the immune system The effects of tobacco smoke on the immune system include: greater susceptibility to infections such as pneumonia and influenza more severe and longer-lasting illnesses lower levels of protective antioxidants such as vitamin C , in the blood.

Effects of smoking on the musculoskeletal system The effects of tobacco smoke on the musculoskeletal system include: tightening of certain muscles reduced bone density. Effects of smoking on the sexual organs The effects of tobacco smoke on the male body include an increased risk for: lower sperm count higher percentage of deformed sperm genetic damage to sperm impotence, which may be due to the effects of smoking on blood flow and damage to the blood vessels of the penis.

The effects of tobacco smoke on the female body include: reduced fertility, menstrual cycle irregularities, or absence of menstruation menopause reached one or two years earlier increased risk of cancer of the cervix greatly increased risk of stroke and heart attack if the person who smokes is aged over 35 years and taking the oral contraceptive pill. Other effects of smoking on the body Other effects of tobacco smoke on the body include: irritation and inflammation of the stomach and intestines increased risk of painful ulcers along the digestive tract reduced ability to smell and taste premature wrinkling of the skin higher risk of blindness gum disease periodontitis.

Effects of smoking on babies The effects of maternal smoking on an unborn baby include: increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth weaker lungs low birth weight, which may have a lasting effect of the growth and development of children. Low birth weight is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes in adulthood increased risk of cleft palate and cleft lip increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD.

Diseases caused by long-term smoking A person who smokes throughout their life is at high risk of developing a range of potentially lethal diseases, including: cancer of the lung, mouth, nose, larynx, tongue, nasal sinus, oesophagus, throat, pancreas, bone marrow myeloid leukaemia , kidney, cervix, ovary, ureter, liver, bladder, bowel and stomach lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which includes obstructive bronchiolitis and emphysema heart disease and stroke ulcers of the digestive system osteoporosis and hip fracture poor blood circulation in feet and hands, which can lead to pain and, in severe cases, gangrene and amputation type 2 diabetes rheumatoid arthritis.

Winstanley M, et al. Another serious and important effect is the transgenic transmission of the addictive pattern. Nicotine is the fundamental cause of addiction among tobacco users. Nicotine adversely affects many organs as shown in human and animal studies. Its biological effects are widespread and extend to all systems of the body including cardiovascular, respiratory, renal and reproductive systems.

Nicotine has also been found to be carcinogenic in several studies. It promotes tumorigenesis by affecting cell proliferation, angiogenesis and apoptotic pathways. It causes resistance to the chemotherapeutic agents. Nicotine replacement therapy NRT is an effective adjunct in management of withdrawal symptoms and improves the success of cessation programs. Any substantive beneficial effect of nicotine on human body is yet to be proven.

Nicotine should be used only under supervision of trained cessation personnel therefore its sale needs to be strictly regulated. Needless to say, that research for safer alternative to nicotine must be taken on priority. Source of Support: Nil. Conflict of Interest: None declared. National Center for Biotechnology Information , U. Indian J Med Paediatr Oncol.

Author information Copyright and License information Disclaimer. Address for correspondence: Dr. E-mail: moc. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3. This article has been cited by other articles in PMC. Abstract With the advent of nicotine replacement therapy, the consumption of the nicotine is on the rise.

Keywords: Addiction , cancer , cardiovascular , gastrointestinal , nicotine , respiratory. Table 1 Studies showing nicotine as a carcinogen.

Open in a separate window. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors nAChRs on chromaffin cells via catecholamines. Table 2 Studies showing the role of nicotine as tumor promoter.

Effect on oocytes Nicotine affects the ovaries and alters the production of oocytes in various animal studies. Peri-natal effects Maternal smoking has always been known to have deleterious effects on the fetal outcome. WHO Data. Tobacco Fact Sheet; No. The nicotine market: An attempt to estimate the nicotine intake from various sources and the total nicotine consumption in some countries. Nicotine Tob Res. US Environmental Protection Agency.

Nicotine: Product cancellation order. Fed Regist. Banned Pesticides. Nicotine and its metabolites. Radioimmunoassays for nicotine and cotinine. Absorption of nicotine through the oral mucosa I. Measurement of nicotine concentration in the blood after application of nicotine and total particulate matter. Inflamm Res. Absorption of nicotine in cigarette and cigar smoke through the oral mucosa.

Sobkowiak R, Lesicki A. Absorption, metabolism and excretion of nicotine in humans. Postepy Biochem. Nicotine metabolite ratio as an index of cytochrome P 2A6 metabolic activity.

Clin Pharmacol Ther. Characterization of nicotine and cotinine N-glucuronidations in human liver microsomes. Drug Metab Dispos. Rates of excretion of cotinine, nicotine glucuronide, and 3-hydroxycotinine glucuronide in rat bile. Cancer Res. Borzelleca JF. Drug movement from the isolated urinary bladder of the rabbit.

Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther. Synaptic plasticity and nicotine addiction. Nicotinic receptors in the brain: Correlating physiology with function. Trends Neurosci. The local side effects of transdermally absorbed nicotine. Skin Pharmacol. Effect of nicotine on gastric mucosal blood flow and acid secretion. Benowitz NL. Nicotine and smokeless tobacco. CA Cancer J Clin. Dani JA, Heinemann S. Molecular and cellular aspects of nicotine abuse.

Kaijser L, Berglund B. Effect of nicotine on coronary blood-flow in man. Clin Physiol. Acute cardiac effects of nicotine in healthy young adults.

Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. Acute and chronic health effects due to green tobacco exposure in agricultural workers. Am J Ind Med. Weizenecker R, Deal WB. Tobacco cropper's sickness. J Fla Med Assoc. Mental Health. Cellular and synaptic mechanisms of nicotine addiction. J Neurobiol. Exposure to nicotine and sensitization of nicotine-induced behaviors. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. Leslie FM. Food and Drug Administration.

Updated January 15, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated November 18, American Academy of Pediatrics. December 8, Duke University Health System. Updated January 20, National Cancer Institute.

Study finds stronger nicotine dependency associated with higher risk of lung cancer. Recognition, use, and perceptions of JUUL among youth and young adults.

Tob Control. Harmful effects of nicotine. Indian J Med Paediatr Oncol. National Institutes of Health. Managing Withdrawal. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellMind.

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What Does Nicotine Do? Common Side Effects. Signs of Use. Common Questions. How to Get Help. Learn more on our Drug Facts page: How many teens use tobacco, nicotine, and vaping products? People can smoke, sniff, chew, or inhale the vapors of tobacco and nicotine products. Nicotine is absorbed into your bloodstream and goes to your adrenal glands just above your kidneys. The glands release adrenaline which increases your blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate. Adrenaline also gives you a lot of good feelings all at once.

Learn more: What questions do teens ask about nicotine, tobacco, and vaping products? While nicotine is addictive, most of the health effects come from other tobacco chemicals. Tobacco use harms every organ in your body. Smoking tobacco products can cause lung, mouth, stomach, kidney, and bladder cancers.