Health And Me Desk

Why People With Mental Health Conditions Are More Likely To Struggle With Tobacco Addiction

A cigarette after stress. Chewing <span>tobacco</span> during the day. Smoking to “calm the nerves” 

But modern science is forcing us to confront the difficult truth; Tobacco does not treat mental health symptoms, in fact it quietly deepens it. 

As Oncologists and physicians, we often see patients who say, “smoking makes them feel normal.” However, in reality, what they are experiencing is nothing more than the temporary relief from <span>nicotine</span> withdrawal not genuine emotional regulation.

<h2>Nicotine Creates A Cycle of Temporary Relief And Dependence </h2>

When we <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/the-safer-than-smoking-myth-doctors-warn-vaping-may-carry-its-own-lung-cancer-risks-article-155224134" data-type="tilCustomLink">smoke or chew tobacco</a>, nicotine stimulates dopamine release in the brain, creating a short-lived sense of relaxation or control. But overtime it leads to brain depending on nicotine to achieve the same baseline feeling again and again. The result is a vicious cycle of dependence, irritability, anxiety, and worsening emotional resilience. 

Several large studies now show that long-term tobacco use is associated with higher rates of anxiety, depression, sleep issues and substance dependence. A 2023 review published in BMJ found that smoking cessation will result in improvements in both anxiety and depression and an improved mood with benefits comparable to antidepressant treatment in some individuals.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/lung-health-after-40-natural-changes-warning-signs-and-ways-to-protect-your-lungs-article-155385926" data-type="tilCustomLink">Lung Health After 40: Natural Changes, Warning Signs And Ways To Protect Your Lungs</a>

<h2>Tobacco May Worsen Anxiety, Depression And Sleep Problems </h2>

This has serious implications for the urban Indian population in regard to the increasing prevalence of mental exhaustion, lack of social support, digital overload, work-related stress and lack of sleep. Tobacco often enters quietly during vulnerable moments of college pressure, workplace stress, loneliness, grief and gradually shifts from “social habit” to psychological crutch. 

Although they think they believe in tobacco, many of them use it, thinking that they are using it to cope with their emotional symptoms, when in fact they are making the symptoms worse. 

Also, recognize the biology of tobacco use. For example, the use of <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/smoking-could-be-a-bigger-issue-for-people-with-disability-article-151760442" data-type="tilCustomLink">nicotine</a> will result in long-term changes in how well your body handles emotional stress because of the role of long-term nicotine exposure in altering the system of cortisol regulation and the stress response pathways in neurons. So, with time, it will become harder and harder for a person to control his/her emotional response to stress because his/her body will not be able to do it. Thus, tobacco has a negative influence on the recovery process from emotional responses to stress, rather than a beneficial one.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/air-pollution-may-increase-the-risk-of-painful-rheumatoid-arthritis-flares-study-finds-article-155322612" data-type="tilCustomLink">Air Pollution May Increase The Risk Of Painful Rheumatoid Arthritis Flares, Study Finds</a>

<h2>How Nicotine Alters The Body’s Stress Response? </h2>

Smoking vs Your Lungs: Who Wins? #nosmokingday #smoking #cigarette

Tobacco is a significant preventable risk factor for oral, head and neck, lung, oesophageal, pancreatic and bladder <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/studying-live-cancer-cells-could-transform-drug-discovery-researchers-turn-cell-biology-into-live-cinema-article-155393788" data-type="tilCustomLink">cancers</a>. When many patients arrive at cancer centres, the addiction to tobacco is already set, and it is even more difficult to quit while receiving cancer treatment. 

This is why it is important to help move the conversation on tobacco beyond cancer. Now, it's more than just a public health issue; it also includes issues of mental health. Individuals experiencing emotional difficulties should not think that they are being judged. They have to learn to find alternative coping strategies, get psychological support early on in their lives, sleep well, exercise, be part of the community, and access timely medical support. The goal of this care is not just to support someone in quitting tobacco, but to provide support for them to stop needing tobacco in order to feel good.

<em>By Dr Amit Chakraborty, Consultant Oncologist, Saifee Hospital, Mumbai</em>

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A cigarette after stress. Chewing tobacco during the day. Smoking to “calm the nerves”  But modern science is forcing us to confront the difficult truth; Tobacco does not treat mental health symptoms, in fact it quietly deepens it.  As Oncologists and physicians, we often see patients who say, “smoking makes them feel normal.” However, in reality, what they are experiencing is nothing more than the temporary relief from nicotine withdrawal not genuine emotional regulation.Nicotine Creates A Cycle of Temporary Relief And Dependence  When we smoke or chew tobacco, nicotine stimulates dopamine release in the brain, creating a short-lived sense of relaxation or control. But overtime it leads to brain depending on nicotine to achieve the same baseline feeling again and again. The result is a vicious cycle of dependence, irritability, anxiety, and worsening emotional resilience.  Several large studies now show that long-term tobacco use is associated with higher rates of anxiety, depression, sleep issues and substance dependence. A 2023 review published in BMJ found that smoking cessation will result in improvements in both anxiety and depression and an improved mood with benefits comparable to antidepressant treatment in some individuals.Also read: Lung Health After 40: Natural Changes, Warning Signs And Ways To Protect Your LungsTobacco May Worsen Anxiety, Depression And Sleep Problems  This has serious implications for the urban Indian population in regard to the increasing prevalence of mental exhaustion, lack of social support, digital overload, work-related stress and lack of sleep. Tobacco often enters quietly during vulnerable moments of college pressure, workplace stress, loneliness, grief and gradually shifts from “social habit” to psychological crutch.  Although they think they believe in tobacco, many of them use it, thinking that they are using it to cope with their emotional symptoms, when in fact they are making the symptoms worse.  Also, recognize the biology of tobacco use. For example, the use of nicotine will result in long-term changes in how well your body handles emotional stress because of the role of long-term nicotine exposure in altering the system of cortisol regulation and the stress response pathways in neurons. So, with time, it will become harder and harder for a person to control his/her emotional response to stress because his/her body will not be able to do it. Thus, tobacco has a negative influence on the recovery process from emotional responses to stress, rather than a beneficial one.Also read: Air Pollution May Increase The Risk Of Painful Rheumatoid Arthritis Flares, Study FindsHow Nicotine Alters The Body’s Stress Response?           Tobacco is a significant preventable risk factor for oral, head and neck, lung, oesophageal, pancreatic and bladder cancers. When many patients arrive at cancer centres, the addiction to tobacco is already set, and it is even more difficult to quit while receiving cancer treatment.  This is why it is important to help move the conversation on tobacco beyond cancer. Now, it's more than just a public health issue; it also includes issues of mental health. Individuals experiencing emotional difficulties should not think that they are being judged. They have to learn to find alternative coping strategies, get psychological support early on in their lives, sleep well, exercise, be part of the community, and access timely medical support. The goal of this care is not just to support someone in quitting tobacco, but to provide support for them to stop needing tobacco in order to feel good. By Dr Amit Chakraborty, Consultant Oncologist, Saifee Hospital, Mumbai

why people with mental health conditions are more likely to struggle with tobacco addiction

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