CAUSES OF AGING
SMOKING
Impact of Nicotine on Aging
Nicotine is also a very potent insecticide, used as
a natural alternative to chemical pest control substances.
In humans, it acts as an effective nerve poison with
a number of potentially harmful side effects. In small
doses it may increase blood pressure, dangerous for
those with heart conditions.
Nicotine has also been shown in recent studies to
increase your chance of developing cancer due to its
retarding affect on the bodies ability to dispose of
damaged cells. This propensity is additional to those
cancers previously recognised to be linked to the tar
in tobacco. The significance of this is for those using
nicotine patches and gums. are raising their likelihood
of getting cancer.
The lethal dosage, according to Poison/Toxicology
by Jay Arena is 60mg for a 150 pound (68kg) male. This
is less than both arsenic and strychnine.
- American cigarettes contain approximately 9mg of
nicotine each
- New Zealand cigarettes contain approximately 19mg
each.
However, after burning only about 1mg enters the body
over the course of smoking an entire cigarette. Whilst
this is well below the lethal dosage, over time this
poison can weaken the immune system and cause fatigue
and other minor illnesses.
Much more nicotine enters the body through chewing
tobacco and many nicotine patches/gums than through
smoking cigarettes. An average pinch of chew held in
the mouth for half an hour provides as much nicotine
as smoking three or four cigarettes.
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