Nicotine Addiction Symptoms

Tobacco products like cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco contain a chemical substance known as nicotine. Nicotine is said to induce relaxation, which is the reason why cigarette smokers are increasing in number by the day. No wonder, cases of nicotine addiction are on the rise. However, there is no doubt that nicotine taken in any form is detrimental to health. So, getting hooked to nicotine will not help in any way to lead a healthy, happy life.

Symptoms of Nicotine Addiction

What are the symptoms of nicotine addiction? Quite a few, that vary from changes in behavioral pattern to bothersome health issues that occur after stopping the habit of smoking. It is explained below.

Cannot Stop Smoking
As nicotine is habit-forming, it becomes next to impossible for smokers to leave this cancer stick. In fact, the presence of nicotine is the reason why smokers light cigarettes one after another within a short span of time. As per nicotine addiction facts, inhaling nicotine gives momentary pleasure. The brain soon starts craving for this feeling of good, which forces the person to light multiple cigarettes in a day.

Ignore Health Problems
Even after diagnosis of lung problems as a consequence of smoking, smokers tend to neglect and continue with their habit of blowing smoke. This attitude or mindset of neglecting health issues arises from smoking points towards nicotine dependence.

Smoking Becomes Top Priority
Smoking becoming important and other activities taking a backseat is also indicating that you have become addicted to nicotine. For smokers, smoking tops the list of 'things to do' in a day. They are ready to sacrifice all other activities to get that smoke break.

Complaining About Withdrawal Symptoms
People who smoke minimum 2-3 cigarettes everyday are bound to experience withdrawal symptoms if they suddenly stop smoking. This is yet another hurdle that may discourage people to quit smoking. Withdrawal symptoms are nothing but mental and physical problems that occur when the habit of smoking or chewing tobacco is discontinued abruptly. Handling nicotine withdrawal symptoms is no easy task. This is because the body finds it extremely hard to adjust itself in the absence of nicotine. Some of the withdrawal symptoms experienced by smokers are given below.

Mental Ailments
With lack of nicotine, smokers are unable to concentrate on their day-to-day routine. Abrupt discontinuation of smoking can lead to poor concentration, which can negatively affect performance at office work. Quitting smoking can also make the person restless every now and then. Small trivial issues might frustrate him easily and he is likely suffer from mood swings. Depression or anxiety may creep in due to inability to manage cravings for nicotine.

Physical Ailments
Nicotine withdrawal symptoms can interfere with normal bowel function. Diarrhea that is typically marked by loose frequent stools or irregular bowel habits that causes painful bowel movement (constipation) is often observed in people who have suddenly stopped smoking. Apart from unhealthy bowel function, leaving smoking abruptly can also cause headache and sleeping problems. Difficulty in falling asleep or one can say symptoms of insomnia is often the result of sudden discontinuation of the cigarette. Food cravings may also increase dramatically, eventually resulting in excess weight gain.

Withdrawal Symptoms

The onset of withdrawal symptoms indicates that the body has become addicted to nicotine. The severity of nicotine withdrawal is dependent on various factors, including how long the person has been smoking. However, overcoming withdrawal symptoms is not difficult as it seems to be. The intense craving that accompanies the initial period of smoking cessation is bothersome but over time it subsides. In most cases, the symptoms do not last for more than a month. Also, there are quite a few easy ways to quit smoking that can enable smokers to get rid of this cancer stick. Using smoking substitutes like chewing gum that has flavors like mint or menthol has been effective to quit tobacco. Use of herbal tobacco also forms an integral part of nicotine addiction treatment.

Given that tobacco products are addictive, one should think twice before puffing the cigarette for the first time. It is a known fact that the habit of smoking is the main culprit behind the development of lung cancer and many other dreaded ailments including cardiovascular problems and oral cancer. Smokers as well as tobacco chewers are well aware of these health hazards but still do not make an attempt to stop this unhealthy habit. Why? Health experts are yet to find out the answer to this question.