6 ms·

Being addicted to nicotine isn't really a problem, it doesn't give you cancer or other diseases. The problem is all the other unpleasant things in cigarette smo

Being addicted to nicotine isn't really a problem, it doesn't give you cancer or other diseases. The problem is all the other unpleasant things in cigarette smoke.

ticmasta 7y ago
cigarettes are a very close substitute for vaping and much cheaper
nilkn 7y ago
I'm not sure that's true [0]. "Nicotine causes catecholamine release both locally and systemically leading to an increase in heart rate, blood pressure and cardiac contractility. It reduces blood flow in cutaneous and coronary vessels; and increases blood flow in the skeletal muscles. Due to restricted myocardial oxygen delivery there is reduced cardiac work. In a study, chewing a low dose (4 mg) of nicotine gum by healthy nonsmokers blunted the increase in coronary blood flow that occurs with increased heart rate produced by cardiac pacing. Thus, persistent stimulation by nicotine can contribute to Coronary Vascular Disease by producing acute myocardial ischemia. In the presence of coronary disease, myocardial dysfunction can be worsened." "Nicotine alters the structural and functional characteristics of vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells. It enhances release of the basic fibroblast growth factor and inhibits production of transforming growth factor-β1. These effects lead to increased DNA synthesis, mitogenic activity, endothelial proliferation and increases atherosclerotic plaque formation. Neovascularization stimulated by nicotine can help progression of atherosclerotic plaques. These effects lead to myointimal thickening and atherogenic and ischemic changes, increasing the incidence of hypertension and cardiovascular disorders." "Nicotine plays a role in the development of emphysema in smokers, by decreasing elastin in the lung parenchyma and increasing the alveolar volume." "The simultaneous effect of bronchoconstriction and apnea increases the tracheal tension and causes several respiratory disorders." "Nicotine use has been associated with Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disorder (GERD) and peptic ulcer disease (PUD)." "Nicotine has been known to be immunosuppressive through central and peripheral mechanisms. It impairs antigen and receptor mediated signal transduction in the lymphoid system leading to decreased immunological response." "Nicotine promotes pathologic angiogenesis and retinal neovascularization in murine models. It causes age-related macular degeneration in mice." "There is synergistic relationship between nicotine and glucose metabolism which increases the risk of diabetes mellitus. This might cause accelerated cataract formation." "Nitrous oxide liberated from parasympathetico-nergic nerves plays a pivotal role in generating immediate penile vasodilatation and corpus cavernosum relaxation, and NO derived from endothelial cells contributes to maintaining penile erection. Nicotine causes impairment of NO synthesis. This may lead to loss of penile erections and erectile dysfunction." "Nicotine affects the ovaries and alters the production of oocytes in various animal studies. Nicotine-treated oocytes appeared nonspherical with rough surface and torn and irregular zona-pellucida. Nicotine also caused disturbed oocyte maturation. There is a decreased blood flow to the oviducts and thus impaired fertilization." "Various animal studies show retarded fetal growth and lower birth weight when treated perinatally with nicotine. The lower levels of ACTH and cortisol due to nicotine are probable reasons for the incidence of lower birth weight in the newborns." "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." [0] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4363846/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4363846/
- TeMPOraL 7y ago
  I'm not highly convinced here. While I only fast-read the paper you linked and checked out few references, I found cases of the usual (unintentional or not) confusion between nicotine and tobacco, or where the study population was that of smokers. It's not controversial to say smoking is bad for you. But that's always been not because of nicotine, but all the other substances you inhale when smoking, some of which are known to interact with nicotine. What's controversial is whether nicotine itself is bad for you, in isolation, and it's of interest to people taking it in the form of chewing gums, or more recently, vaping. Here's Gwern with a bunch of papers arguing that nicotine isn't more addictive than coffee and doesn't cause cancer, and the whole thing is just confusion: https://www.gwern.net/Nicotine#addictiveness https://www.gwern.net/Nicotine#addictiveness.
shuckles 7y ago
It is also an upper so when you are under the influence you are actually more effective, in some sense, than otherwise.

Being addicted to nicotine isn't really a problem, it doesn't give you cancer or other diseases. The problem is all the other unpleasant things in cigarette smoke.

ticmasta 7y ago

cigarettes are a very close substitute for vaping and much cheaper

nilkn 7y ago

I'm not sure that's true [0]. "Nicotine causes catecholamine release both locally and systemically leading to an increase in heart rate, blood pressure and cardiac contractility. It reduces blood flow in cutaneous and coronary vessels; and increases blood flow in the skeletal muscles. Due to restricted myocardial oxygen delivery there is reduced cardiac work. In a study, chewing a low dose (4 mg) of nicotine gum by healthy nonsmokers blunted the increase in coronary blood flow that occurs with increased heart rate produced by cardiac pacing. Thus, persistent stimulation by nicotine can contribute to Coronary Vascular Disease by producing acute myocardial ischemia. In the presence of coronary disease, myocardial dysfunction can be worsened." "Nicotine alters the structural and functional characteristics of vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells. It enhances release of the basic fibroblast growth factor and inhibits production of transforming growth factor-β1. These effects lead to increased DNA synthesis, mitogenic activity, endothelial proliferation and increases atherosclerotic plaque formation. Neovascularization stimulated by nicotine can help progression of atherosclerotic plaques. These effects lead to myointimal thickening and atherogenic and ischemic changes, increasing the incidence of hypertension and cardiovascular disorders." "Nicotine plays a role in the development of emphysema in smokers, by decreasing elastin in the lung parenchyma and increasing the alveolar volume." "The simultaneous effect of bronchoconstriction and apnea increases the tracheal tension and causes several respiratory disorders." "Nicotine use has been associated with Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disorder (GERD) and peptic ulcer disease (PUD)." "Nicotine has been known to be immunosuppressive through central and peripheral mechanisms. It impairs antigen and receptor mediated signal transduction in the lymphoid system leading to decreased immunological response." "Nicotine promotes pathologic angiogenesis and retinal neovascularization in murine models. It causes age-related macular degeneration in mice." "There is synergistic relationship between nicotine and glucose metabolism which increases the risk of diabetes mellitus. This might cause accelerated cataract formation." "Nitrous oxide liberated from parasympathetico-nergic nerves plays a pivotal role in generating immediate penile vasodilatation and corpus cavernosum relaxation, and NO derived from endothelial cells contributes to maintaining penile erection. Nicotine causes impairment of NO synthesis. This may lead to loss of penile erections and erectile dysfunction." "Nicotine affects the ovaries and alters the production of oocytes in various animal studies. Nicotine-treated oocytes appeared nonspherical with rough surface and torn and irregular zona-pellucida. Nicotine also caused disturbed oocyte maturation. There is a decreased blood flow to the oviducts and thus impaired fertilization." "Various animal studies show retarded fetal growth and lower birth weight when treated perinatally with nicotine. The lower levels of ACTH and cortisol due to nicotine are probable reasons for the incidence of lower birth weight in the newborns." "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." [0] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4363846/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4363846/

TeMPOraL 7y ago
I'm not highly convinced here. While I only fast-read the paper you linked and checked out few references, I found cases of the usual (unintentional or not) confusion between nicotine and tobacco, or where the study population was that of smokers. It's not controversial to say smoking is bad for you. But that's always been not because of nicotine, but all the other substances you inhale when smoking, some of which are known to interact with nicotine. What's controversial is whether nicotine itself is bad for you, in isolation, and it's of interest to people taking it in the form of chewing gums, or more recently, vaping. Here's Gwern with a bunch of papers arguing that nicotine isn't more addictive than coffee and doesn't cause cancer, and the whole thing is just confusion: https://www.gwern.net/Nicotine#addictiveness https://www.gwern.net/Nicotine#addictiveness.

shuckles 7y ago

It is also an upper so when you are under the influence you are actually more effective, in some sense, than otherwise.