Nicotine impacts on almost all the organ system inside the human body. It affects the lungs, heart, gastrointestinal system, vascular system, and brain. Many people feel that nicotine increases bowel movement. Nicotine also affects the working and development of the brain, especially in the adolescent stage.
Does Nicotine Make You Poop?
There are mixed studies on whether nicotine has any laxative effect. Most people think that nicotine accelerates the bowel movement as like caffeine does.3 Nicotine acts as a stimulant and the stimulation also occurs in intestinal muscles. Because of this stimulation, most people have a bowel moment only after smoking. This may probably be due to addiction. This is evident from the fact that people who quit smoking experiences constipation as their withdrawal symptom. Although, once the automation of bowel movement gets restricted after quitting, constipation gets relieved. It may take at least 1-2 months post-cessation. Till then, the doctor may advise other options for managing constipation.
Does Nicotine Cause Brain Damage?
Nicotine may cause brain damage. Nicotine alters the development of the brain and also affects cognitive dysfunction. People with nicotine have altered brain function.
Nicotine taken during pregnancy may also affect the development of the brain in a fetus. Nicotine leads to disturbed and irregular sleep and also causes blood restriction in brain.4 Individual have nightmares and bad dreams. Nicotine also leads to nausea and vomiting along with dizziness and lightheadedness. Most of the adverse effects on the brain are seen in adolescent individuals whose brains are in the developmental stage. Attention deficit also occurs in adolescent smokers that increase with increased years of smoking.5
Side Effects Of Nicotine
Most people smoke because of the reward system generating in the brain. Some smoke to control their weight while some are addicted to the pleasurable effect provided by smoking. People know that smoking causes lung cancer but most of them are unaware that besides lung cancer, smoking also results in a variety of serious conditions involving vital organs such as heart, kidneys, and pancreas, and most of these effects come from nicotine. Following are some of the effects caused by nicotine on the body:
Effects On The Heart: Nicotine a highly addictive and dangerous ingredient in cigarettes. It increases blood pressure and also increases the heart rate. Further, it also interferes in the flow of blood to heart.1 It may cause constriction of the coronary artery and also increases the risk of cardiac stroke.
Effects On The Brain: Nicotine is dangerous to the brain. It is even more dangerous when the brain is in the development stage. Nicotine causes cravings that, in most cases, are uncontrollable. It reduces cognitive function and delays development.2
Effect On Reproductive System: Nicotine has its effect on the reproductive system. People who are highly addictive to nicotine are at increased risk of developing infertility.
Effect On Postoperative Recovery: It has been found that post-operative recovery, especially after orthopedic surgery, is highly dependent upon the patient’s habit of smoking. People who smoke are more likely to have a slower recovery process as compared to non-smokers. Smokers are also at greater risk for revision surgery as compared to non-smokers.
Effect On The Vascular System: Nicotine causes serious complications in the vascular system. The chances of clogging get increased and the arteries get hardened. The risk of atherosclerosis increases and there is an enlargement of the aorta.
Effect On Gastrointestinal System: Nicotine also extra harmful effect on the gastrointestinal system. An individual with nicotine dependency may experience diarrhea, peptic ulcer, heartburn, nausea and vomiting, dry mouth and indigestion.
Effect During Pregnancy: Smoking affects the health of the fetus. If the woman smokes while being pregnant there is an increased risk of infertility, obesity, hypertension, respiratory disorders, and type 2 diabetes
Conclusion
Constipation is one of the most common symptoms after quitting smoking. This indicates that nicotine has some effect in increasing bowel movement. Nicotine also causes delayed development of the brain and smokers to have attention deficit.
- https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/quit-smoking-tobacco/how-smoking-and-nicotine-damage-your-body
- https://www.healthline.com/health-news/heres-how-nicotine-affects-the-body#5
- https://www.healthline.com/health/smoking/do-cigarettes-make-you-poop#laxative-effect
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/240820.php
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3543069/
Also Read:
- Nicotine Replacement Therapy: Effectiveness, Who Must Avoid, Side Effects, Tips To Quit Smoking Naturally!
- How Long Does Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms Last & How to Get Rid of it
- What is Nicotine Dependence or Tobacco Dependence: Causes, Symptoms, Complications, Diagnosis
- Ways to Get Rid of Nicotine Dependence or Tobacco Dependence: Treatment, Alternative Therapies, Counseling
- What are Withdrawal Symptoms of Alcohol, Opiates, Marijuana, Nicotine, Cocaine
- Effectiveness of Nicotine Gum or Lozenges: It’s Dosage & Side Effects
- Best Exercises/Activities To Get Out Of Nicotine Dependence
