Tobacco is highly dangerous to the brain. 31st May is observed as World No-Tobacco Day. Smoking puts both the smoker and the people around him at severe and often deadly health risk.
It is a proven fact that tobacco products are a dreadful health hazard, the direct or indirect cause of several serious life-threatening diseases. According to World Health Organisation (WHO) data, tobacco use kills one person every six-seconds, adding up to nearly six million deaths a year.
The nicotine in tobacco smoke reaches the brain in as quickly as in 8 seconds after inhalation. Since, its chemical structure mimics that of a neurotransmitter namely acetylcholine, nicotine manipulates several specific receptors that control muscle movements, memory, respiration and neuronal excitability.
Further, it manipulates several biochemical functions by modulating norepinephrine and epinephrine and the bio-viability of dopamine, beta endorphin, arginine, vasopressin, cortisol and adrenocorticotrophic hormone, resulting in the distortion of a series of chemical reactions, neuronal responses and behaviour.
Nicotine influences the brain cells
Nicotine influences the brain cells either by binding to active receptors or by releasing acetylcholine or mono aminergic neurotransmitters such as dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin. These actions result in a sudden and transient surge in alertness and mental activity, which is mistaken for stimulation. This affect is very short-lived but the damage caused is permanent.
The Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) is a security cordon, which ring fences the brain from unwanted substances that may enter it through blood. Smoking damages the BBB increasing the risk for many neurological conditions like stroke, small vessel ischemic disease and vascular dementia. This damage also exposes the brain to a variety of toxins, infective agents and triggers a slew of oxidative and inflammatory responses which, in turn leads to permanent neurological damage and in curable brain diseases.
During pregnancy the developing brain of a foetus can get affected by smoke inhaled by its mother. There is enough evidence of immune system damage caused by the suppression of T-Cell response and also dendrites and macrophages.
With time tobacco causes progressive cell loss and death as the brain and the nervous system shrink. Implicit are other risks like peripheral neuropathy, early-age intervertebral disc prolapse and immune mediated disorders. It’s a generally known fact smoking is a leading cause of premature deaths. Among the most frightful ill effects of smoking (other than neurological problems) are lung cancer, ischemic heart disease, COPD, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus and macular degeneration of the eye.
Tobacco is one of the major causes of brain stroke.
As such Tobacco is one of the major causes of brain stroke. Diabetes and smoking make the combination deadly. In the present times Covid 19 infection has increased the risk of Brain stroke by 5 times more in general population. Covid in smokers increases the risk of stroke and brain haemorrhage by several fold. The death rate following Covid is also very high in these people. In addition, they will have long term complications for Brain, Lung and Heart.
Spreading awareness about the devastating effects of smoking is of paramount importance. Unfortunately, statutory warnings, though mandatory have had a very limited success in curtailing smoking. The irresponsible projection of smokers in movies and TV shows, which often equate it to machismo, adversely influence the youth. It needs to be remembered that smoking puts both the smoker and the people around him at severe and often deadly health risk. Use your head, stop smoking NOW.
MYTHS RELATED TO TOBACCO:
- CIGARETTES WITH FILTERS ARE SAFE – NOT TRUE
- STOPPING AND RESTARTING WILL REDUCE DAMAGE – NOT TRUE .
- STOPPING SMOKING WILL REVERSE THE DAMAGE – NOT TRUE . THE DAMAGE IS PERMANENT. WE CAN ONLY CONTAIN THE DAMAGE BY STOPPING.
- I ONLY SMOKE TWICE OR THRICE IN A DAY – ONE OR 10 CIGARETTES THE DAMAGE IS SIMILAR.
- NICOTINE PATCHES ARE SAFE – NOT TRUE.
- THE ONLY SOLUTION IS – STOP SMOKING, STOP THE RISK TO YOU AND FAMILILY AND FRIENDS.
Dr. NK Venkataramana
Founder & Chief Neurosurgeon
Brains Hospitals, Bengaluru.
