Cigarettes And Their Destruction Of The Brain

Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable death and disease all over the world. Addiction to cigarettes has been associated with a number of serious and even fatal side effects and a variety of health risks. New research has reported that there is direct connection between smoking and brain damage. Read on to know more about the processes that damage the nerve cells of smokers or of those who consume tobacco.

Smoking and brain damage

Researchers have reported that a compound present in tobacco incites the white blood cells in the central nervous system to attack healthy cells, resulting in severe neurological damage. This compound, known as NNK, is a chemical substance that becomes carcinogenic after being altered by the body’s metabolic process. Unlike drugs or alcohol, NNK is not known to have a direct impact on the brain cells, but can cause neuro-inflammation – a condition that causes disorders such as multiple sclerosis.

Second hand smoke and brain damage

While other negative effects of tobacco usually result from smoke or tar, brain damage due to NNK can also be caused by chewing tobacco. Studies have also suggested that this neuro-inflammation condition can also be caused by second hand smoke. The concentration of NNK can range from 20-310 nanograms in the tobacco present in cigarettes. However, NNK is a part of cigarette smoke too and indoor smoke-filled air can contain up to 26 nanograms of NNK. This means that increased NNK intake is linked to both direct as well as passive smoking.