Unit 4 Tobacco, Alcohol, and Other Drugs Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 280 In addition to being addictive, nicotine is toxic and extremely harmful to a person’s health. Using nicotine has severe effects on multiple body systems (Figure 9.4). Health Effects of Cigarettes On average, long-term users of cigarettes die 13–15 years earlier than people who do not use cigarettes. According to the US Surgeon General, people who smoke have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, vision loss, tuberculosis, and arthritis. Smoking cigarettes leads to stained teeth, sagging skin, and hair and clothes that smell like smoke. It also changes the shape of taste buds. Some people who smoke long-term may lose their appetite and interest in eating. Cigarettes and cigarette smoke contain thousands of chemicals and toxic substances that harm the body. They also contain more than 70 carcinogens, or cancer-causing substances. These carcinogens increase a person’s risk for developing cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, lungs, and bladder. This is why people who smoke have higher rates of cancer than people who do not. Smoking cigarettes also affects the respiratory system, which includes the lungs. Smoking damages the respiratory system and makes breathing more difficult. Burning tobacco produces a residue known as tar. This substance Effects of Nicotine on the Body Respiratory System • Lungs become inflamed and less able to protect against foreign particles and long-term damage • Can cause shortness of breath, cancer, and other respiratory conditions Digestive System • Decreases body’s ability to process food • Increases risk of heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and ulcers Skeletal System • Can cause bones to become weak and brittle • Increases risk of osteoporosis in females Nervous System • Causes release of dopamine • Rewires brain, making it easier to develop an addiction to other drugs • Makes it hard to concentrate, learn, and control impulses Circulatory System • Heart rate and blood pressure increase • Blood vessels narrow, making the heart work harder • Fatty substances build up in arteries, increasing risk of heart attack or stroke Lymphatic System • Weakens immune system • Increases risk of becoming ill from colds, the flu, and other infections Lilanakani/Shutterstock.com Figure 9.4 Nicotine is highly toxic to a person’s body systems, and its harmful effects are not always reversible.