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Health Conditions
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Smoking Cessation
What causes it?
Addiction to smoking is actually caused by the body?s addiction to the primary ingredient in cigarette smoke, known as nicotine. Nicotine causes an addiction to smoking in three ways. First, small amounts of nicotine make a person feel pleasant and satisfied, causing the person to want to smoke even more. Secondly, nicotine affects the mood and behavior of a smoker by altering chemicals in the brain. Lastly, and often most importantly, withdrawal symptoms, such as nervousness, headaches, irritability, and difficulty sleeping, occur when a person refrains from smoking for a given period of time (usually about 24 hours).
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Note: The above information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not intended to diagnose a health condition, but it can be used as a guide to help you decide if you should seek professional treatment or to help you learn more about your condition once it has been diagnosed.
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What causes it?
