Effects

       Nicotine is an alkaloid that affects major organs, such as the heart and brain. It also affects the body at the cellular level.

Effects in the Body:

   The actions of nicotine in a human body are complex. They depend on the amount of nicotine given, the route of administration, the time over which the dose is given, and the individual's history of exposure to nicotine. In high doses, nicotine produces nausea, vomiting, convulsions, muscle paralysis, cessation's of breathing, coma, and circulatory collapse. In lover doses, such as those used by people who consume tobacco products, the effects are very different. They include a speed up in heart rate and blood pressure; increased force of contraction of the heart; constriction of blood vessels in the skin; producing cool, pale skin; constriction of blood vessels in the heart; relaxation of skeletal muscles; increase body metabolic rate; and the release of hormones such as epinephrine, and cortical into the bloodstream.

Effects of Nicotine in Cells:

   Nicotine attaches to receptors on cell membranes that normally attach a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a chemical released by nerve ending in the body that binds to certain receptors on cells and activates them. The activated cells communicate messages to other nerves or produce specific action son body organs. Nicotine activates only certain of the receptors that bind acetylcholine. These receptors are now called nicotinic cholinergic receptors. Nicotinic chlinergic receptors are located at the ganglia in the autonomic nervous system, where there are specialized areas for communications between nerves, in the adrenal gland and in many parts of the brain.

Nicotine can do many things to the nervous system and not all of them are bad. Effects on the (+) side are things that are considered beneficial, while those on the (-) side are considered detrimental.

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