5 Nicotine Benefits You Might Not Know
When you think of nicotine its bad reputation probably comes to mind, especially in tobacco products like cigarettes.
But, the truth is, nicotine might not be the substance you should be worrying about — it’s the carbon monoxide, tar, and other toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke that will cause serious damage to your health.
Believe it or not, there are actually a number of health benefits to nicotine being present in the body. In fact, in its pure form, nicotine is a remarkable nootropic packed with benefits for the mind and body.
In this article, we’ll explore 5 key nicotine benefits you may not know. Read on to find out more.
How can nicotine benefit you?
Nicotine isn’t without its benefits. When used correctly, there is a strong case to be made that the substance can provide cognitive benefits, such as:
1. Better attention span
Did you know that nicotine can improve your attention span? This is particularly noticeable in individuals with ADHD who struggle to concentrate or control impulsivity. Research has shown measurable positive effects on cognitive and behavioural inhibition in ADHD sufferers.
In the short term, nicotine may improve attention, decrease hyperactivity and impulsivity, and therefore regulate behaviour in people with ADHD. Vaping may mimic the effects of stimulant medications and increase cardiovascular activity, making it a form of self-medication for ADHD symptoms.
2. Enhanced short-term memory
Nicotine acts on the brain’s visual attention and attention processing regions, boosting memory and cognitive performance. For some users, nicotine can be a cognitive enhancer in the area of memory.
It’s suggested that nicotine helps with short-term memory. This is
because nicotine can contribute to the processing of stimulus information and help recall
information already present in your short-term memory more accurately.
3. Prevention against neurological conditions
Although there is no cure for neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s, there is evidence that nicotine can prevent degeneration and delay the onset of symptoms.
A biochemist at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland discovered that nicotine prevents the aggregation of beta amyloid, a protein that forms harmful plaques in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. Perhaps a step in the right direction for managing these diseases.
4. Reduction in mental health symptoms
Among those with mental health conditions, smoking is found to be most prevalent (approximately 70-80%) in patients with schizophrenia. Why? It’s thought that nicotine is often used as a form of self-medication.
This is because of the suggestion that nicotine raises dopamine levels and therefore temporarily reduces some of the negative symptoms of the conditions including paranoia and the ability to communicate more effectively when symptoms are present.
5. Improved reaction time
There is differing evidence around nicotine and reaction times. In some cases, smoking cigarettes has been shown to slow down reaction times, however, a number of studies show otherwise. Since nicotine increases your heart rate, this could increase reaction times too.
In sporting environments nicotine is recognised as a means to improve reaction times although isn’t deemed as an illegal enhancement drug.
Should you swap smoking for vaping?
What are your reasons for wanting to stop smoking? If you’re looking for a less harmful alternative to tobacco then vaping may seem like a sensible swap.
Not only will you potentially benefit from a number of nootropic advantages while avoiding the harmful carbon monoxide that’s present in cigarettes, but you can save money too!
Want to learn more about vaping? Check out our informative blog on all things vape and e-cigarette related and pop by our online vape shop to make your first order.