Tobacco is a substance that affects the nervous system. But few people know that nicotine is a carcinogen. In case of poisoning with this dangerous substance, the narrowing of arterial vessels occurs, their lumen decreases.
The smoker suffers from a disease of the throat and oral mucosa. With systematic poisoning, a disease of the heart muscle is most often manifested. Poisoning with a psychotropic substance is also characterized by the development of high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, oxygen starvation, degeneration of tissues in organs.
Causes of poisoning
The nicotine reaction starts when the poison breaks down in the body. Not only smokers can suffer from poisoning. The substance is ingested even through the skin of non-smokers. But most often the symptom occurs in those who use tobacco in large quantities.
If nicotine poisoning occurs, treatment shouldtake place in a timely manner and with high quality, because this substance negatively affects the nerves and the brain. A long-term smoker does not feel the negative effects of inhaled smoke due to the fact that the poisons contained in the cigarette burn out quickly. But a certain number of them can settle on the mucous membranes, in the upper respiratory tract. The main signs of acute nicotine poisoning begin to show – pale skin and dizziness. Patients who have suffered this condition need treatment and urgent preventive therapy, but it is prescribed only by a doctor.
What can be caused?
It is not uncommon for a child to show signs of nicotine poisoning. This is due to the carelessness of the parent, who keeps cigarettes in an accessible place. A small child explores any new and unknown object, tasting it. He is quite capable of swallowing part of a cigarette. In this case, the symptom will appear immediately and can lead to very serious consequences, up to the point that the child can be diagnosed with acute nicotine poisoning. To treat the baby, you must contact the inpatient department of the nearest hospital as soon as possible.
The passive smoker can also feel the manifestation of the disease. Especially if, due to certain circumstances, for example, while at work, he is forced to go to the place designated for smoking. And there, as a rule, there is a stench.
For the first time, nicotine poisoning was detected among specialists working in tobacco factories. Cause of poisoningbecame tobacco dust, covering the skin and penetrating the body through the respiratory tract. Today, many factories work in a special suit and respirator.
You can diagnose nicotine poisoning by taking a blood test.
Symptoms associated with nicotine poisoning
Doctors see a lot of patients who panic if they think about the effects of drugs on their bodies. And only some patients think about the dangers of smoked tobacco products. And they agree that the resulting nicotine poisoning should be treated as soon as possible. In practice, there are several ways to help, but the most common of them - the use of procedures to dilate the arteries or vasodilators. In both cases, the body receives substances that increase blood flow, which has a positive effect on the condition of the person as a whole.
Vasoconstriction (narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels) is the opposite of vasodilation. Caused by cold or certain drugs. Tobacco is also known for its vasoconstrictive properties. They can reduce blood flow, making the problem chronic.
Nicotine poisoning, the symptoms of which are important to know, causes narrowing of the arteries, contributes to the process of blood clots. In addition, a person, inhaling tobacco smoke every forty minutes, keeps the arteries in a spasmodic state. Peripheral arteries in the legs are especially sensitive. Every seventh smoker develops endarteritis.
Heart disease -sign of tobacco poisoning
Scientists have found that smokers suffer the most from angina pectoris. When nicotine poisoning occurs, the symptoms of angina pectoris are expressed in an increase in intracranial pressure and an increase in the load on the heart muscle. In such cases, the likelihood of ischemia is very high. A person may feel pressure in the chest and sharp pains. When diagnosing, it is necessary to exclude nicotine poisoning.
It is known that smoke in the body becomes active after a week and reaches the membrane of the brain, affecting two nervous systems: central and peripheral, which regulate the work of many organs and systems.
Further reactions of the human body are difficult to predict. There is a dependence on the doses and tolerability of this substance, so the reactions may be different. Intoxication in small doses often occurs in a novice smoker. Large amounts of nicotine poisoning - among those who are tobacco users with experience.
Forms of acute poisoning
There are two forms:
- Easy. It is characterized by increased salivation, nausea, rapid pulse, unpleasant sensation in the head, noise, fatigue. All this can turn into nausea and upset of the gastrointestinal tract. In general, the symptoms of acute nicotine poisoning persist for up to two days.
- Heavy. Caused by the adoption of tobacco in large quantities for a short period of time, which causes severe poisoning. This overdose can give intoxication,accompanied by nausea, blurred vision, hearing disorders (noise).
Most worry about the following: dizziness, irregular heart rate, the pupils of the eyes change. Some experience convulsions, shortness of breath, and even seizures.
Chronic poisoning often occurs in those who smoke tobacco for a long time and smoke more than one pack a day. The dose at which intoxication begins may be different for any person.
A lethal dose is between forty and eighty milligrams of nicotine taken at one time.
What should be done first?
Alcohol and nicotine poisoning are two types of intoxication that should be provided with prompt treatment from the narcological dispensary. This service has been withdrawn from the outpatient care system, so it is better to contact an ambulance or a specialized hospital directly. What steps can you take on your own? Before the arrival of specialists, first aid should be provided in case of nicotine poisoning:
- If possible, open a window in the room.
- In case of loss of consciousness, bring cotton soaked with ammonia to the nose.
- Make a mild saline solution and gastric lavage.
- Give the poisoned enterosorbent (activated carbon, "Smecta", "Polifepan").
- Prepare water. The victim should drink plenty of fluids in a fairly short period of time.
- Keep the victim calm, put him on the bed, preferably on the side (to preventsuffocation when vomit comes out).
If a life-threatening condition occurs, it is urgent to call an ambulance, indicating a symptom of poisoning. If the victim has lost consciousness, he must be laid on his knee sideways.
If there is a violation of cardiac activity - no pulse is felt or there is no pupil reaction to light - the following procedures are required quickly: chest compressions in conjunction with artificial respiration.
What else can smokers get sick with?
Remember! The longer and more regularly smoking occurs, the faster it leads to the development of chronic diseases. First, there is a failure in the nervous and cardiovascular systems from prolonged hypoxia - insufficient supply of oxygen gas. This leads to neurosis, hallucinations, mood swings, high blood pressure up to the development of chronic hypertension and stroke.
Very often, victims complain of a rapid pulse (tachycardia), a feeling of palpitations (strong tremors). There is a risk of developing myocardial infarction, varicose expansion of the vascular wall. In addition to all this, lung disease occurs in a large number of cases in a heavy smoker.
Pulmonary pathologies
The most common pathology is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). With it, an irreversible restriction of the flow of air into the lower respiratory tract is possible. This pathology does not allow the patient to take a "breath fully". Coughing may occur in the morning, and shortness of breathdoes not leave even in the normal state of rest, without physical exertion.
You need to remember: if you start using tobacco, there is a risk that nicotine poisoning will begin. Maybe the problem has not touched the reader, but it is important to heed the following statement: “Do not endanger yourself and get rid of cigarettes and other tobacco products in time so that there is no shortness of breath and other serious pathologies.”
How to treat poisoning?
In cases where nicotine poisoning is suspected, symptoms and treatment should be linked. Mistakes can lead to dire consequences and valuable time will be wasted. After determining the diagnosis in question, it is imperative to wash the gastrointestinal tract. Then the patient is prescribed active sorbents that remove the main toxin from the body.
When the patient's condition improves, the doctor must evaluate the consequences of poisoning. They may be different. Any organs can suffer from toxic substances, but the nervous system is most at risk.
Smokers need to once again think about how to give up bad habits as soon as possible and how dangerous nicotine poisoning is. The help of doctors in some cases may be powerless.
