Smoking is well known to be harmful to overall health. In addition to causing lung disease and heart attacks, cigarettes can also have a direct and rapid impact on the brain.
Dr. Nurmiati Amir, MD, SpKJ, a psychiatrist from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Indonesia, explained how nicotine in cigarettes affects the brain.
“From the very first puff, nicotine can reach the brain in just 20 seconds,” she said during the Seminar on Cigarettes, Neuroscience, and Spirituality held at the Auditorium of the Indonesian Navy Pharmaceutical Institute in Bendungan Hilir, Jakarta, on Sunday (December 15, 2013).
After being inhaled, nicotine passes through the throat and is temporarily stored in body fat and muscle tissue. Once the body’s pH (acidity level) is physiologically balanced, nicotine rapidly travels to the brain.
She further explained several effects of nicotine on the human body, including:
- Increased alertness
- Improved attention
- Feelings of pleasure or euphoria
- Reduced anxiety
- Decreased fatigue
These effects occur because nicotine passes through a specific area of the brain known as the Brain Reward System.
“When nicotine stimulates this system, it triggers feelings of pleasure, happiness, and satisfaction. However, the negative effect occurs when nicotine is absent. The system then sends signals of loss, causing feelings of restlessness, anxiety, and discomfort when a person does not smoke,” she explained.
According to her, this mechanism is what makes quitting smoking extremely difficult. She also emphasized that nicotine addiction prevention must begin at an early age.
“The earlier someone starts smoking, the faster they will become addicted to nicotine,” she concluded.
Recent data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that one-third of the world’s population smokes. In Indonesia, approximately two-thirds of the male population are active smokers.
Source: detik.com
