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Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

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346 Substance Abuse<br />

EPINEPHRINE in the body. This causes immediate<br />

changes in the walls <strong>of</strong> the arteries, causing them<br />

to stiffen <strong>and</strong> narrow. With long-term use <strong>of</strong> nicotine-containing<br />

substances these changes become<br />

permanent <strong>and</strong> alter cardiovascular function, contributing<br />

to serious HEART conditions such as HYPER-<br />

TENSION (high BLOOD PRESSURE) <strong>and</strong> HEART FAILURE.<br />

The cardiovascular changes also affect the body’s<br />

tiniest arteries, which can result in restricted circulation<br />

in the fingers <strong>and</strong> toes (RAYNAUD’S SYN-<br />

DROME) <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> the blood flow to the PENIS, resulting<br />

in ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION. The only therapeutic<br />

use for nicotine is in nicotine replacement products<br />

to treat nicotine addiction (SMOKING CESSA-<br />

TION).<br />

See also ANTISMOKING EFFORTS; CANCER RISK FAC-<br />

TORS; CARCINOGEN; ENVIRONMENTAL CIGARETTE SMOKE;<br />

NEUROTRANSMITTER; SMOKING AND CANCER; SMOKING<br />

AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE (CVD); SMOKING AND<br />

HEALTH; WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME.

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