Is quitting smoking worse than continuing? Addiction and the dilemma of getting out of it

Fewer and fewer young people smoke tobacco, but the increase in e-cigarette users reflects growing problem: Is vaping a safe alternative or a path to new addictions? Electronic cigarettes, which appear harmless due to the whitish vapor they produce, pose unknown risks what could be serious public health challenge. This is the warning of a group of researchers from the University of Murcia (UMU): Professor of the Department of Pharmacology of the UMU, Maria Cristina Nunezteacher Victoria Gomez and doctoral researcher Aurelio Francowhich warn that nicotine and other compounds are present in tobacco and so-called vapers They have serious short and long term consequences.. They examine the dilemma of whether quitting nicotine is an effective solution or whether it poses more serious problems than the consumption itself.

Tobacco and vaping

Tobacco is still one of the biggest public health problems

in the world, and in Spain it is second most popular drugsecond only to alcohol. Since 2006 smoking among teenagers has decreasedbut this doesn’t happen with vaping, whose use has increased alarmingly in the last decade. So-called vapers or e-cigarettes appear to be less harmful and serve as a means of quitting smoking for some adults. However, among adolescents, the use of these devices may become at the initial stage of transition to regular tobacco usethe researchers explain.

The fact that vaping is shrouded in an image of being safer is partly due to the nature of its smoke—a haze that resembles water vapor. However, This cloud contains glycerin, and together with other components, such as propylene glycol, it has harmful effects. about health. This latter compound, present in most e-cigarettes, causes inflammation in the lungs, warns the UMU team.

Consequences of nicotine

Nicotine, a highly addictive substance that affects the brain, is the reason why tobacco and vapers have such a high addiction potential. According to researchers, When nicotine enters the body, it causes the release of dopamine.known as the “happiness neurotransmitter”. It is this chemical reward that drives many consumers to seek repeated consumption. However, they warn that long-term use changes brain circuits. dependency consolidation

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The effects of nicotine vary depending on age: “Effects of Nicotine on the Brain” They are especially harmful if consumed in the early stages.like adolescence, when the brain is still developing,” explain UMU experts. Recent studies show that nicotine use during adolescence may increase the risk of mental illness and cognitive impairment in adulthood, including attention problems that worsen over time. Researchers emphasize that long-term exposure to nicotine may even reduce brain volume and level up inflammation and stress.

Despite this, research suggests that adults may experience slight improvements in some cognitive processes due to nicotine consumption, although the negative effects far outweigh these benefits. Among them are Nunez, Gomez and Franco. emphasize that long-term use of nicotine promotes inflammation and hardening of the arteries, increase cardiovascular and neurological risks. In addition, both tobacco and vapers contain toxic gases and heavy metals They affect the respiratory, nervous and cardiovascular systems and can lead to cancer.

Is abstinence worth it?

Quitting tobacco or vaping is not easy and is often accompanied by physical and emotional symptoms. irritability, anxiety, insomnia, lack of concentration and other symptoms of nicotine mono

They can make you wonder if the effort is worth it. For researchers, emotional withdrawal symptoms pose a significant challenge. Added to this are physical effects such as constipation, weight gain, or coughdiscomfort that may make it difficult to decide to quit smoking

However, the benefits of quitting smoking start on day one and increase. According to the UMU team, the fingerprint of nicotine in the brain is: somewhat reversibleand withdrawal symptoms, although severe, are temporary. Benefits of quitting smoking include improved blood circulation and lung function. in just a month. After fifteen years of abstinence, the risk of cardiovascular disease approaches that of a person who has never smoked.