Secondhand Smoke Can Trigger Strong Cravings at Brain Level
If a smoker is trying to quit, even experiencing secondhand smoke can set off powerful cravings at the brain level, says a recent research study.
Using PET scans, the study, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, compared the effects of smokers to non-smokers as they were placed directly in the path of secondhand tobacco smoke. Results showed that the brain reactions from secondhand smoke indicated nicotine was adhering to receptors, shedding new light on why so many smokers struggle to quit.
For the participants in the study who were smokers, their cravings for nicotine rose by around 23 percent when they were placed in an area with secondhand smoke. If these people work near people who smoke, live with them, or frequent areas where smokers go, researchers believe their journey to kicking the habit will be even tougher, according to a Press TV article on the study.
Because even small amounts of nicotine in the secondhand smoke seemed to provide enough nicotine to modify the way the brain functioned, researchers believe higher levels of nicotine exposure from secondhand smoke may be linked to some people's tendencies to smoke and become addicted to it.
Additionally, researchers speculate that the results of secondhand smoke on children may be even more dangerous than once perceived - especially in terms of their likelihood to become smokers as adults.
This study and others, say researchers, draws more attention to the necessity of efforts to eliminate smoking from public institutions and those where children are present.
