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Tobacco use
Make it clearer
Tobacco use is the consumption of tobacco. The most common form is smoking cigarettes, but every form causes harm and there is no level of exposure that is safe.
In nicotine addiction, nicotine reaches the brain and activates the reward system, a circuit within the brain itself, which releases dopamine, a chemical the circuit uses. Over time the brain adapts and tolerance develops: it takes more nicotine to feel the same effect.
The smoke does something else. It carries carcinogens, substances that can cause cancer, which can damage DNA, the instruction manual in every cell, by sticking to it and forming what are called adducts. If that damage isn't repaired properly, it turns into mutations, changes in the instructions. It's like a typo in a recipe that nobody corrects before making copies: when the cell divides, each daughter cell inherits the same mistake.
In brief
Tobacco use means consuming tobacco, most commonly by smoking cigarettes; all forms are harmful, and there is no safe level of exposure.
Nicotine addiction works by activating the brain's reward system, which releases dopamine; over time the brain adapts and tolerance develops, so more nicotine is needed for the same effect.
Smoke contains carcinogens that can damage DNA by forming adducts, which, if not properly repaired, cause mutations that daughter cells inherit.
Sources (2)
- World Health OrganizationTobacco, WHO fact sheetPublished
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, StatPearls PublishingNicotine Addiction and Smoking: Health Effects and Interventions, StatPearlsPublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
Updated