To begin with, nicotine is a pyridine alkaloid found in plants of the Solanaceae family, mainly in the leaves and stems of tobacco, in other words, nicotine is a poison that acts as a neurotransmitter that saves the plant from being eaten by animals.
Nicotine enters a person in various ways, from smoking tobacco to snuff. The one thing here is that nicotine, regardless of the method of penetration, enters the bloodstream and enters the brain through a large circle of blood circulation.
This is where the fun begins !!! In our central nervous system, there are various neurotransmitters (biologically active compounds that govern our actions), and one of them is ACETYLCHOLINE, which is the main neurotransmitter of the PARASYMPATIC nervous system of a person (this system is activated in a calm state of the body, for example, when lying on a hammock after a hearty lunch , i.e. the gastrointestinal tract is activated, the vessels dilate, the work of skeletal muscles is inhibited, etc.). Briefly about how neurotransmitters work: they are located in neurons (cells of the nervous system) from there neurotransmitters are released to acetylcholine receptors, which perceive only them, roughly speaking, translate the signal into action. So, nicotine is an ANTAGONIST of acetylcholine (which means it has almost the same properties as a neurotransmitter, but at the same time occupies a place in the receptors in the latter), i.e. nicotine entering the brain cells, together with acetylcholine, is released onto the receptors and takes their places, preventing itself from moving and, most importantly, enhances the activation of the relaxation of the body many times (except for the gastrointestinal tract system, therefore, after the same smoking, a person does not want anything there is). Because of which, acetylcholine becomes unnecessary and removed. As a result of long-term smoking, the body ceases to produce the required amount of acetylcholine, since nicotine performs its function - this is how NICOTINE DEPENDENCE begins (that is, for the normal functioning of the body, the intake of nicotine is necessary, since there are no neurotransmitters of its own).
An interesting fact: after consuming food, smokers increase the desire for a cigarette, since the body activates the parasympathetic system and, due to the lack of neurotransmitters, they need nicotine.
HOW TO GET RID OF NICOTINE DEPENDENCE ?!
With abstinence from nicotine, the body will begin to resume the production of acetylcholine (this happens for everyone at a different rate, but on average it takes several weeks). The main problem here is BRAKING, which is a consequence of a lack of acetylcholine and a lack of nicotine, that is, there is no one to do the work, so the body requires a smoke to resume the supply of nicotine and normalize the central nervous system.
In order for the period of renewal of acetylcholine to pass gently and with a minimum amount of “breakdowns”, it is necessary not to interfere with the body and to actively include the parasympathetic nervous system at a minimum. Let's say a person has eaten, or returned from work and begins to rest, the body turns on the parasympathetic system and begins to demand nicotine. When feeling the beginning of withdrawal, a person needs to start some activity that does not need the expenditure of any energy, for example, WATCHING FILMS, GAMES, COMMUNICATION, SLEEP, etc. , so the parasympathetic nervous system turns off and the body does not require nicotine to regulate this system, while acetylcholine begins to renew its resources with the same force, that is, we do not inhibit its renewal.
Thank you for your attention!!!
Criticize and leave questions !!!