Key takeaways:
Nicotine is a natural chemical found in tobacco products. It’s also made in laboratories for use in e-cigarettes (vapes) and other nicotine products.
Many chemicals in tobacco can cause cancer and other chronic health problems. But it’s the nicotine that makes tobacco addictive.
Nicotine in nontobacco products is also addictive and has a variety of effects on your brain and body.
Nicotine is a natural chemical in tobacco products. But it’s also manufactured for products like e-cigarettes (vapes), nicotine pouches, and nicotine replacement therapy.
Most people know about the health risks associated with smoking and chewing tobacco. But is nicotine also risky in other forms?
Is nicotine bad for you?
Nicotine is a natural substance found in tobacco leaves. But even though it’s a natural substance, it’s also very addictive. That’s why quitting smoking — or using other tobacco products like vapes — is hard for many people.
Nicotine itself isn’t the strongest chemical link to cancer or heart and lung problems. Other toxins in tobacco are a bigger risk. But nicotine is what makes tobacco so addictive.
What about the nicotine in nontobacco products like vapes and pouches? The health risk is lower than for cigarettes. But nicotine still has direct effects on your body and brain, even if there’s no tobacco involved.
Some of nicotine’s effects on your body include:
Increased heart rate and blood pressure
Constricted and stiffened blood vessels
More insulin resistance, which can increase blood sugar
Lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good” cholesterol
Increased risk of heart rhythm problems
Mental health risks with nicotine include:
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and impulsivity, especially for kids and teens
Mood disorders, like depression and anxiety
Changes in brain development with prenatal exposure
How do different forms of nicotine affect the body?
People use nicotine in many forms. Each one has its own specific risks. Let’s look at some effects for each form of nicotine.
Smoking
Inhaled forms of tobacco include cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. Smoking tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death worldwide. On average, people who smoke live about 10 years less than people who don’t smoke.
Cigarettes contain more than 60 chemicals known to cause cancer, along with thousands more that are toxic to your body in other ways. Even secondhand smoke increases risks for cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and more.
When you inhale nicotine in a cigarette or vape, nicotine levels in your bloodstream rise fast. They usually peak within a few minutes. This fast rise — and the drop that follows — makes you crave more cigarettes. And this makes it a challenge to quit smoking.
E-cigarettes (vapes)
E-cigarettes, or vapes, don’t contain the same number or type of toxins as tobacco cigarettes. But they’re more than just water vapor and flavoring. E-cigarettes also contain chemicals linked to cancer, heart disease, and lung disease.
E-cigarettes haven’t been around as long as tobacco cigarettes. So there isn’t as much research on their long-term health effects. Still, recent studies link vaping to:
Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Pneumonia
Heart attacks
Heart rhythm problems
Vascular disease
Inhaling nicotine makes your body and brain crave more of it. Over time, this can lead to heart and lung problems, especially the more you vape.
Smokeless tobacco
Compared to cigarettes and vapes, the nicotine in chewing tobacco and snuff absorbs more slowly into your body. But it’s still addictive.
The risks of smokeless tobacco include:
Oral cancer
Tooth decay
Cancer of the esophagus and pancreas
Heart attacks
Strokes
Nicotine pouches
Nicotine pouches are placed between your gums and lips, where nicotine is absorbed into your body. In that way, they’re like smokeless tobacco. They don’t have as many harmful substances as tobacco products. But because they’re a newer product, there hasn’t been as much research into their effects.
Nicotine pouches are still addictive. This is especially concerning for kids and young adults. For people who use tobacco, nicotine pouches might be a less harmful alternative or help some people quit smoking. But for young people, tobacco pouches can be the first step in becoming addicted to nicotine.
Nicotine pouches still have effects on your heart and blood vessels. They can also cause inflammation and sores in your mouth and gums.
Are there any healthy nicotine alternatives?
All forms of nicotine can be addictive. And all forms cause health problems, like increased heart rate and blood pressure. Some forms, like nicotine replacement therapy, are a way to help people quit smoking. So in that way, they can be considered a healthier alternative.
Nicotine replacement therapy comes in several forms, including:
Patches
Lozenges
Gum
Nasal sprays or inhalers
Nicotine replacement therapy works best as part of a comprehensive program to support the process.
Other smoking cessation medications include varenicline and bupropion. Both are effective, but they can also have potential side effects.
Chemical-free alternatives to help quit nicotine include:
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Phone, text, or app-based quit lines and counseling
Avoiding tobacco or nicotine triggers
Social support
Your healthcare team can guide treatment based on your health conditions and medications.
Frequently asked questions
Most cigarettes have between 10 mg and 15 mg of nicotine. But only about 1 mg to 2 mg of that enters your bloodstream when you smoke.
Taking in too much nicotine can make you sick. Mild symptoms include headache, dizziness, and nausea. In rare cases, nicotine poisoning can lead to slow breathing, coma, or death. This is a bigger risk for children. Keep all nicotine products out of their reach. Call Poison Control at 800-222-1222 if someone may have nicotine poisoning.
Nicotine withdrawal symptoms may include irritability, trouble sleeping, headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Most symptoms peak in the first few days after stopping nicotine.
Most cigarettes have between 10 mg and 15 mg of nicotine. But only about 1 mg to 2 mg of that enters your bloodstream when you smoke.
Taking in too much nicotine can make you sick. Mild symptoms include headache, dizziness, and nausea. In rare cases, nicotine poisoning can lead to slow breathing, coma, or death. This is a bigger risk for children. Keep all nicotine products out of their reach. Call Poison Control at 800-222-1222 if someone may have nicotine poisoning.
Nicotine withdrawal symptoms may include irritability, trouble sleeping, headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Most symptoms peak in the first few days after stopping nicotine.
The bottom line
Whether it’s natural or made in a laboratory, nicotine has direct effects on your brain and body. Its most important characteristic is that it’s highly addictive. Smoking tobacco is the riskiest form of nicotine use. But e-cigarettes also contain chemicals that can be toxic. Even nicotine pouches carry a risk — especially for young people. As an aid to quit smoking, nicotine replacement therapy can be helpful. But for most people, nicotine products are more risky than beneficial.
Why trust our experts?
References
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