If you or anyone close to you smokes cigarettes, you are probably well aware that smoking is a habit, one that takes some effort to break. Through inhalation, the chemical components of cigarettes are injected into your lungs, your bloodstream and then your brain. Learning some of the facts about tobacco may encourage you to break the habit in order to lead a healthier life.

		Nicotine is Habit Forming
		Nicotine is one of the main chemical components of tobacco. Nicotine is a habit-forming drug that draws the smoker into a physical and psychological partnership with cigarettes. Once a smoker learns the mechanics of smoking, he or she begins to rely on cigarettes for what he believes to be stimulation, relaxation or stress relief. The body becomes chemically addicted to nicotine, and the more one smokes, the more difficult it is to quit.
		More Chemicals
		The average cigarette generally contains about 8.4 milligrams of nicotine and 15 milligrams of tar. Tobacco smoke also contains as many as 4,000 other naturally occurring gases, particles, and compounds including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen cyanide, traces of arsenic, and carcinogens.
		Other Sources of Nicotine
		Cigarettes are considered the most harmful form of tobacco use because cigarette smokers usually inhale deeply. Pipes and cigars hold risks of nicotine addiction as well. Chewing tobacco and snuff can also cause cancer, gum disease and erosion of teeth.
		Physical Effects
		When inhaled, nicotine stimulates the central nervous system. All of the chemicals in a cigarette move to the brain through the bloodstream in 8 seconds. This causes a sharp rise in blood pressure and heart rate, constricting of blood vessels, and reducing sensitivity to pain and stress. Chronic smokers often have impaired senses of taste and smell, less physical stamina, and a poorer execution of motor tasks. Smoking is among the major causes of heart disease and lung cancer and is the primary cause of chronic bronchitis and emphysema. A smoker's skin ages and wrinkles prematurely. Female smokers have a higher incidence of unsuccessful pregnancies, stillbirths and lower-weight babies.
		Companion Habits
		As you become more physically addicted to tobacco, you will develop other habits that reinforce the role of cigarettes in your daily routine. You may not even realize this is happening. A cup of coffee may trigger a move towards a cigarette. You may light up before you begin a phone conversation or before starting your car. These become similar to conditioned reflexes and show that the physical and the psychological go hand in hand in promoting and furthering addiction.

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