Nicotine Disorder Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Nicotine disorder is caused by tobacco use. This includes a very strong desire to smoke cigarettes, making it difficult to control oneself so as not to smoke. In fact, people with nicotine disorders still smoke even though it has dangerous consequences. They also prioritize smoking over other activities and obligations.
Though smoking is the main cause of death in the world besides cancer, heart disease, blood vessels, and lungs. Until now, there are around 1.3 billion smokers in the world. Most (84%) are in developing countries, including Indonesia. If the smoking habit continues, by 2020 there will be 10 million people who die from smoking every year.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of nicotine disorder include:
• Increased blood pressure
• Heart palpitations
• Weight loss
In addition, nicotine dependence can also affect a person’s attitudes and habits. For example, it becomes difficult to sleep, muddled speech, and changes in emotions (becoming more sensitive).
Reason
This disorder is caused by the nicotine contained in cigarettes. This dangerous substance can interfere with the work of the brain so that it can cause addiction. This makes a person very likely to suffer from nicotine addiction.
Besides nicotine, cigarettes contain various other substances that can damage blood vessels, causing stroke, heart disease, kidney disease, impotence, and so on. Cigarettes also contain many toxins that can cause lung disease and cancer. Not only that, genetic factors can also have an influence on nicotine disorders.
Diagnosis
The doctor will first conduct a series of medical interviews to diagnose nicotine disorders. During the interview, the doctor will ask about your symptoms, smoking history, previous medical history, family history of disease, and other relevant information.
Then the doctor will carry out a series of physical examinations to check vital signs and signs that lead to nicotine disorders. Such as checking blood pressure, heart, lungs, and so on.
Furthermore, the doctor will carry out a supporting examination if there are special indications. Nicotine dependence can be diagnosed by the presence of two of the following eleven symptoms that have occurred within the last 12 months:
• Smoking more than usual
• Inability to reduce smoking
• Spending more time on smoking than doing other important activities
• There is a strong urge to smoke and it is difficult to stop
• Smoking causes an inability to carry out responsibilities at work, school, or at home
• Continue to smoke even though you have social problems caused by smoking
• Reduce social, work or recreational activities due to smoking
• Repeated smoking in dangerous places, for example smoking on the bed
• Continue to smoke even though there are physical or psychological problems triggered by smoke
• The emergence of nicotine tolerance which is marked by an increase in the number of cigarettes smoked to cause the same effect as before
• The emergence of nicotine withdrawal symptoms, namely nausea, dizziness, weight gain, constipation, etc.
Complications
Complications of nicotine disorders include heart, lung, cancer, and death problems. Complications usually appear in your 40s and get worse over time. The longer someone smokes, the higher the chance of complications that will occur.
Treatment
In general, the treatment of nicotine disorders is carried out with nicotine replacement therapy and special drugs. The therapy works by replacing the nicotine that was previously obtained from tobacco with nicotine that is given through patches on the skin. It can also be nicotine gum, nicotine nasal spray, nicotine tablets, and others.
Little by little the dose is reduced so that the patient can stop completely. About 50-70% of patients successfully quit smoking this way.
Another way is by administering buspiron and varenicline drugs. Both of these drugs work on the body to reduce nicotine dependence on the body. However, apart from these two therapies, family support and close people are also very important to determine the success of the patient to be free from nicotine.
Prevention
To prevent nicotine disorders, of course not smoking or quitting smoking is the main key. Smoking prevention can be done by educating about the dangers of smoking. Currently, information about the dangers of smoking can be obtained from various sources—both from counseling conducted by health workers, books, the internet, television, magazines, and other media.
Families also have an important role in preventing nicotine disorders. Parents need to educate their children not to smoke from an early age, and to set a good example for their children by not smoking.
For those of you who are already smoking, immediately find a way to quit smoking. Indeed, to quit smoking requires effort and a strong intention. Therefore, quitting smoking must also be supported by the family and the surrounding environment.
You can also try to quit smoking by following programs available from trusted websites or joining groups that are
want to quit smoking. If it’s hard to do it yourself, don’t hesitate to consult a doctor. Your doctor can provide you with an effective program.
The important thing to remember is: smoking doesn’t make someone cooler or more social. On the contrary, someone who gets a disease caused by smoking, such as heart disease or cancer, cannot carry out his routine activities again in the future. Is it cool and slang? Of course being able to live healthy into old age would be much cooler. Think about your future!