Nicotine is the addictive drug in tobacco smoke that causes smokers to continue to smoke. Addicted smokers need enough nicotine over a day to ‘feel normal’ – to satisfy cravings or control their mood. How much nicotine a smoker needs determines how much smoke they are likely to inhale, no matter what type of cigarette they smoke.
Along with nicotine, smokers also inhale about 7,000 other chemicals in cigarette smoke. Many of these chemicals come from burning tobacco leaf. Some of these compounds are chemically active and trigger profound and damaging changes in the body.
There are over 60 known cancer-causing chemicals in tobacco smoke. Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body, causing many diseases and reducing health in general.
The effects of tobacco smoke include:
Raised blood pressure and heart rate
Constriction (tightening) of blood vessels in the skin, resulting in a drop in skin temperature
Less oxygen carried by the blood
Stickier blood, which is more prone to clotting
Damage to the lining of the arteries, which is thought to be a contributing factor to atherosclerosis (the build-up of fatty deposits on the artery walls)
Reduced blood flow to extremities like fingers and toes
Increased risk of stroke and heart attack due to blockages of the blood supply.
