Tobacco contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive drug.
These facts make a lot of people nervous about nicotine. But it is NOT
the nicotine in cigarette smoke that causes cancer.
Nicotine may keep you smoking, but it is the other bad chemicals in cigarettes
that make smoking so dangerous.
Here are a few
simple things to consider about smoking, nicotine and cancer
Q:
If nicotine does not cause cancer, what does?
A: The tar and chemicals in the smoke vapor cause
cancer, not the nicotine.
Q: Why don't the cigarette companies just take the
tar out of the tobacco?
A: Tar provides most of the flavor for your cigarette.
Less tar, less flavor!
Q: Why don't the cigarette companies just take the
nicotine out of the tobacco?
A: You'd stop smoking and they wouldn't get your
money!
Q: Isn't it better to switch to a low tar, low nicotine
cigarettes?
A: No, even though it they may feel better on your
chest, chances are you will puff harder and smoke more of each cigarette
to get the nicotine.
Q: I have a hard time quitting smoking. Is there
a safer way to get nicotine?
A: Yes, you can get clean nicotine in a nicotine
patch, gum, nasal spray, lozenge, or inhaler; these products donít
have tar.
Q: Wonít I get hooked on nicotine in the patch,
gum, nasal spray, lozenge, or inhaler?
A: Most people find it easy to get off nicotine medicines
after a few months. Cigarettes get you addicted by delivering nicotine
quickly to your brain. Nicotine in smoke enters your lungs as a vapor
and reaches your brain in 7 to 10 seconds. That is why most smokers
feel satisfied after one or two drags on a cigarette. Products like
the nicotine patch, gum, nasal spray, lozenge, or inhaler deliver
nicotine slowly. Nicotine gets absorbed through the skin or through
the lining of the nose or mouth.
Q: Does nicotine replacement really work, or is it
just another way to get money out of smokers?
A: Nothing will work unless you want it to. Nicotine
medications can help by dulling your cravings for a cigarette and
are proven to increase your chances of quitting. |
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