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Nicotine
You may not believe it, but during the middle ages, some people actually
believed that the tobacco plant was capable of magnificent medicinal affects, even
immunizing the body against the Plague. ... It’s the addiction caused by nicotine.
Nicotine is found in small levels in the leaves of the tobacco plant, from
which is manufactured cigarettes and chewing tobacco. ...
Once introduced into the human body, whether through inhalation
(cigarettes) or absorption (chewing tobacco, nicotine patches), nicotine takes a quick ride
through the bloodstream and into the brain. ... Within ten to fifteen seconds of entering the bloodstream, nicotine begins playing
a disruptive part in the mechanics of the brain, by upsetting the natural operation of cells
called neurons. ...
One type of neurons, called cholinergic neurons because they mostly use
the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in their communication between cells, is particularly
affected by nicotine. Nicotine actually causes an over-stimulation of these neurons,
which in turn causes an overabundance of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain. ... This however, is where the addictive
nature of nicotine comes into play: the over-stimulation of the cholinergic neurons brings
about the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine. ... When a smoker
inhales, and the nicotine subsequently causes the release of dopamine, the message to the
brain is, "This is a good thing, this behavior should be continued.
Approximate Word count = 1072
Approximate Pages = 4.3
(250 words per page double spaced)
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