| Giving up anything that you are addicted to is hard. | | | | There are up to 600 additives and flavourings in every |
| Some people find it harder than others due to an | | | | single cigarette. These chemicals multiply once the |
| addictive personality and you will find these are the | | | | cigarette is lit and inhaled, thus releasing up to 4,000 |
| people that may stop smoking cigarettes but will then | | | | chemicals that the smoker and those around them will |
| start smoking marijuana or eating sweets or gambling. | | | | be inhaling. |
| These types of people find comfort in the habits | | | | Of course, it would be impossible to list all the |
| associated with addiction. However, this doesn't apply | | | | chemicals that you are inhaling in an article as short as |
| to everyone. Some people get into smoking due to | | | | this but if you are looking for a reason to stop smoking, |
| peer pressure and before they know it they are | | | | check a few of them out here: Acetone - you know |
| addicted. So, what makes cigarettes so addictive and | | | | that stuff used to remove nail polish and ammonia |
| why is it so hard to stop smoking? | | | | (toilet cleaner), both poisons that will be inhaled in small |
| We all know, through advertising, that it's the nicotine in | | | | doses with every cigarette you smoke. |
| cigarettes that makes them so addictive. Nicotine is a | | | | Tar builds up in the lungs at a rate of 1.5 pounds per |
| stimulant that releases beta-endorphins, the natural | | | | year for those who smoke twenty a day. Benzene is |
| chemical in our brains that makes us feel good. | | | | a solvent used in fuel and is known to be a |
| Smokers will reach for a cigarette when they are | | | | carcinogenic. The chemical used in making batteries - |
| stressed as it will make them feel calm, in control but | | | | Cadmium, is known to cause kidney damage and |
| alert at the same time. It is easy to get used to this | | | | increase the risk of lung cancer. |
| feeling and need it more and more but as the body | | | | Carbon monoxide, the same poison spewed out by |
| can't store nicotine, more cigarettes are needed to | | | | car exhausts, prevents the blood carrying oxygen |
| keep producing the same effect. | | | | around the body so every cigarette will leave you with |
| However, over time our brains get used to the artificial | | | | a reduced ability to exercise. Hydrogen cyanide has |
| boost from cigarettes and stops producing its own | | | | the same effect. |
| endorphins. This means that when a smoker tries to | | | | These are just a few of the chemicals that are in your |
| stop smoking, they feel even worse before as the | | | | cigarettes. They will all induce cholesterol build up and |
| cigarettes are now needed simply to feel normal. | | | | with the reduced capacity to get oxygen round the |
| There are many everyday products that people claim | | | | system, this will lead to heart disease, strokes and |
| to become addicted to such as chocolate and coffee | | | | cancers. |
| but why are these easier to give up than cigarettes? | | | | If these fact that you are slowly poisoning yourself and |
| The nicotine in cigarettes produces a more marked | | | | your family isn't enough to encourage you to stop |
| effect at a much greater speed than those other | | | | smoking, think about the fact that the cigarette |
| products. Nicotine passes into the brain within ten | | | | manufacturers know exactly what they are doing by |
| seconds of that first puff so the smoker reaches for | | | | getting you addicted. This is a multi million pound |
| an 'instant fix' to their feelings. | | | | business that thrives on other peoples addictions. |
| But it's not just the nicotine that affects our bodies. | | | | |