Effects of Caffeine and Nicotine on the Mind

Effects of Caffeine and Nicotine on the MindJodi HawkinsNicotine and caffeine be sum of m unrivalledys that some battalion do non con placer a dose, except well-nigh do acknowledge that they are habit-forming substances. The set up on the see and ashes are some topic else that just about do non consider signifi movet, however, some(prenominal) are highly habit-forming and affect numerous aspects of the mind and be. This theme will cover some of the misconceptions and myths and provide clarification of the effective nucleuss of nicotine and caffeine on the mind and body.Caffeine is probably one of the more than or less misconstrued drug of the two and near do not consider it much(prenominal) of a danger or consider that it has make on the body an an new(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) than simply producing a bit of nothing. Die hard caffeine drinkers will often complain of a chafe if they do not have their normal dose of caffeine, while it appears to have no effect on others no effect how much or how often they realise it. What must be understood about caffeine is that it is a drug, it is considered a mind-expanding drug, and has do on the body that must be taken into condition.Julien, Advokat, and Comaty (2011) discuss the known effectuate such as the effects on the central nervous system (CNS), the cardiac and respiratory systems, the diuretic effects, remediational effects including treatment of asthma and migraines, and describe caffeinism. Caffeinism is a clinical syndrome that occurs when on that point has been an overuse of caffeine and symptoms include anxiety, agitation, and insomnia as well as tachycardia, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias and gastrointestinal disturbances. This goes to show that caffeine is homogeneous many drugs in that it piece of ass be a good thing if used in moderation, but can have ominous side effects when used improperly or overused.Perhaps one of the most common therapeutic uses of caffeine is the use for migraine headache and headache in general. It can be found in combination with acetylsalicylic acid in several products due to the constriction of rootage vessels it causes. When the vessels constrict it decreases the blood flow to the brain by up to thirty percent which can reduce pressure to the brain relieving the headache (Julien, Advokat, Comaty, 2011).Consumption of caffeine that is elongate can cause several adverse effects such as headache, fatigue, osteoporosis, adrenal stimulation, and apathy, and also has the ability to cross the placental and blood-brain barrier and has the strength to cause fetal malformation if the fetus has not developed the enzymes necessitate for demethylation of caffeine (Gummadi, Bhavya, Ashok, 2012). So in essence, some of the desirable and therapeutic effects that are garnered such as headache relief and energy growth can reverse in overuse or prolonged use. And regular(a) though it is a drug, it is not a regula ted drug but is a much researched drug due to the therapeutic effects and the manifestly endless applications.Athletics is an application where caffeine is highly promoted in energy drinks, energy bars, and diet aids. Although caffeine is considered a stimulant and performance enhancing it is astray accepted and not regulated or banned from use in athletic competitions. McDaniel, McIntire, Streitz, capital of Mississippi, and Gaudet (2010) discuss some of the research done in estimate to athletic performance and caffeine use and the increase in zipper and power and ability to train longer when caffeine is used.Nicotine is another drug that is not inescapably considered a drug by the general public, although there is a general consensus that it is found in tobacco products and not necessarily good for the body. Unfortunately this assumption is mainly based on the incident that it is in tobacco and the tobacco is usually the focus of most mainstream media on with the effects of tobacco on the user and second-hand effects on people in the vicinity of the user. While tobacco is unhealthy, it is the nicotine contained in the tobacco products that causes the colony to the tobacco and should have more focus placed on it when discussing or reporting the negative effects of tobacco.Nicotine like caffeine is a psychoactive drug and is one of the three most widely used (the other two being caffeine and ethyl alcohol), and while it has no therapeutic applications in medicine it is nevertheless widely used and has a clean-cut toxicity (Julien et al., 2011). Nicotine use used to be limited to more handed-down cigars, pipes, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and snuff, but more recently it has been expanded to include other smokeless products as smoking has been more and more regulated. Some of the products that are currently flooding the market are strips, sticks, pellets, snus pouches, e-cigarettes (smokeless nicotine vapor electronic cigarettes). conventional cigar ettes contain between 0.5 and 2.0 milligrams of nicotine, but some of the smokeless applications such as the strips can contain just under a milligram to as much as four milligrams of nicotine in one use (Julien et al., 2011).Nicotine is confined through every site on or in the body and the elimination half-life in a chronic smoker is more or less two hours which necessitates a frequent administration to avoid withdrawal symptoms, and has effects on the peripheral nervous system, hear, and other body structures (Julien et al., 2011). In researching the addictive properties of nicotine, there is far less research found on the actual effects than there is on cessation from the addiction. Some articles say that nicotine is addictive as heroin while others say that one could not maybe ingest enough nicotine to equal the addictiveness of other drugs, and some(prenominal) types of articles have nine-fold peer reviewed sources to back up the claims.This actor has first- hand experien ce with nicotine and tobacco use/addiction, and while tobacco can be an enjoyable experience, it is this authors personal view that believes the research that claims that nicotine is highly addictive causation withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Withdrawal symptoms can include nervousness, agitation, mood swings, lack of concentration, and increase appetite as observed by the author. The increased appetite at time appears to be a nervous response to needing something to do with the turn over and mouth rather than an actual increase in appetite, but heedless it can and does often lead to weight gain upon cessation of smoking.Julien et al. (2011) come on reinforce this belief as abstinence symptoms listed include the previously mentioned along with restlessness, insomnia, and severe cravings, as well as pointing out that many times when smokers seek treatment for drug or alcohol addictions it is often more difficult to quit smoking than to quit other drugs. No matter how adverse th e effects of nicotine is on the body or mind, the primary line of work is that the products that nicotine are in cause far worse health problems than the nicotine does. various forms of cancer, increased risk of stroke, and heart attack are just a few physical problems presently related to tobacco use, and although e-cigarettes are touted as being relatively safe because they do not contain tobacco product the fact remains that they still contain a substance that is considered addictive.Any drug that is considered as addictive, can and will have adverse effects on ones body and should not be treated lightly, and as in the case of nicotine a drug that directly affects the brain is nothing to sneeze at. Nicotine induces physiological and psychological dependence in the majority of smokers and very few smokers seem capable of sudden edge of smoking without experiencing abstinence symptoms (Julien et al., 2011). What also must be taken into consideration is the effects of second-han d smoke that is experienced by others in the close vicinity of a tobacco smoker, and it is the carcinogens in the smoke and not the nicotine that causes the health problems that can be experienced when subjected to second-hand smoke.One thing that should be taken into consideration is that both nicotine and caffeine are considered drugs, addictive drugs that are also psychoactive and thus mood altering. According to the Bible our bodies are Gods temple, What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (I Corinthians 619, KJV) which would bring one to the conclusion that any substance that alters ones being and is not therapeutic (medically prescribed and necessary) should not be used. This does not mean that most people consider either nicotine or caffeine as a sin, but if the Bible is taken literally then both substances would be considered forbidden.While there are some religions that do consider caffe ine along with any other mood altering substance as forbidden, it is generally accepted as can be witnessed in almost any church kitchen for most contain coffee and coffee make appliances. Smoking is more frowned upon by most Christians, but as other vices in this day and age is not considered as bad as it once was Biblically speaking, just physically detrimental. In conclusion, the evidence is overwhelming that both nicotine and caffeine are physically and psychologically addictive, but caffeine is the yet one of the two that has therapeutic uses but still must be used in moderation to avoid adverse effects.ReferencesGummadi S N Bhavya B Ashok N 2012 Physiology, biochemistry and possible applications of microbial caffeine degradation.Gummadi, S. N., Bhavya, B., Ashok, N. (2012). Physiology, biochemistry and possible applications of microbial caffeine degradation. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 93(2), 545-554. 201401121455511055491090Julien R M Advokat C D Comaty J E 2 011 primer of drug exploitJulien, R. M., Advokat, C. D., Comaty, J. E. (2011). A primer of drug action (12th ed.). New York, NY Worth Publishers. 2014011214131192421770McDaniel L W McIntire K Streitz C Jackson A Gaudet L 2010 effects of caffeine on athletic performance.McDaniel, L. W., McIntire, K., Streitz, C., Jackson, A., Gaudet, L. (2010). The effects of caffeine on athletic performance. College Teaching Methods Styles Journal, 6(1), 33-37. 20140112152043315758228