Nicotine Test

What is NICOTINE?

• Nicotine derived its name from the tobacco plant Nicotine tabacum, which in turn is named after the French ambassador in Portugal, Jean Nicot de Villemain.
• He sent tobacco and its seeds to Paris in 1560, to increase its plantation for medicinal use. 
• Nicotine addiction has the history of most difficult to break.
• By the late 17^th century, nicotine, besides smoking, was also used as an insecticides.
• Nicotine is responsible for most of the addictive properties of tobacco smoking.

What is the impact of Nicotine abuse on the Brain?

• Nicotine influence the dopamine (the reward circuit of the brain) and gives instant mood altering effects such as euphoria, relaxation and addiction.
• Some of the effects of nicotine abuse after ‘high’ is over are:

• Irritability
• Dizziness
• Abnormal dreams
• Sleep disturbances
• Headache
• Lightheadedness

What is the impact of Nicotine abuse on the Heart and lungs?

• Insulin resistance/ hyperinsulinemi
• Increase or decrease in heart rate
• Increase in blood pressure
• Tachythias and arrhythmias
• Constriction of coronary artery
• Tendency of blood clotting
• Bronchoplasm
• Cough, black phlegm,
• Lung cancer

What is the impact of Nicotine abuse on Pregnant women and their Babies?

• Exposure of nicotine during development of the foetus interferes with normal neurotransmitter function, thus evoking neurodevelopment abnormalities by disrupting the timing of neurotrophic actions.
• Maternal tobacco smoking during pregnancy adversely affects pre- and postnatal growth and increases the risk of foetal mortality, morbidity, cognitive development and behaviour of children not only at neonatal period but goes beyond adolescents.
• Chances of miscarriage, premature delivery, low birth weight.
•   Nicotine also accumulates in breast milk, extending the nicotinic exposure to the postnatal period during breastfeeding

What is the impact of Nicotine abuse on teenagers and young adults?

• Teens and youth are vulnerable to the deadly effects of smoking. It impairs the growth and development of lungs, leads to chronic coughing, and wheezing.
• Nicotine is not only highly addictive for youth, it is highly poisonous.
• Tobacco can affect youth activities and athletic performance. Tobacco narrows blood vessels and puts a strain on the heart, it also leads to lack of oxygen and shortness of breath. Smokers run slower and can't run as far as non-smokers.
• Passive smoking causes lung cancer in teenagers and greatly increases the risk of respiratory illnesses and sudden death syndrome.
•  The carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke increases the chance of cardiovascular diseases, and teenagers who breathe second-hand smoke are more likely to develop ear infections, allergies, bronchitis, pneumonia, and asthma.

So it is best to avoid smoking and smokers around us.

What are the street names and slangs of Nicotine?

• Some common street names are:
  • "smokes,"
  • "cigs”
  • "butts"
     
• Some slangs used for Nicotine :
  • cancer Stick
  •  Coffin Nail
  • Stogie
  • Chaw
     
• Smokeless tobacco is often called:
  • "chew"
  • “dip”
  •  “spit”
  • “tobacco“
  •  “snus”
  • “snuff”

What is the use of Nicotine in Medicine?

• The primary medical use of nicotine is in weaning off the dependence of nicotine.
• To do so a measured quantity of nicotine is given to the patient through gums, dermal patches, lozenges, electronic or substitute cigarettes.
• Nicotine acts as a Mild sedative.
• At a low dose it produces psycostimulants and at high dose it produces calming effect.
• Nicotine itself is not the bad guy - it's the mode of administration.
  Nicotine has a lot of therapeutic uses.
• It produced calming and pain killer effect.
• It may be useful in treating Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
• Patients experience an increased level of concentration, creativity, their ability to focus also improves.

How is Nicotine abused for Recreational Purpose?

• Nicotine enters quickly in the body and give instant ‘high’(within few seconds)
• Nicotine is chewed, dipped, suns, and snuff, it is held in the mouth between lip and gum, sniffed.
• It is available in the form of nicotine gum, nicotine patches, smokeless tobacco, nicotine lozenges, electronic cigarettes.