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Definition

Tobacco use disorder occurs when the use of tobacco harms a person’s health or social functioning, or when a person becomes dependent on tobacco. Tobacco may be consumed in the form of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco products (eg, snuff, chewing tobacco), cigars, or pipes.

This condition can be treated. Talk to your doctor if you think you have tobacco use disorder.

Causes

Tobacco products contain nicotine, which is transported to the brain and causes pleasurable sensations. The effects of nicotine dissipate within a few minutes, however. This cause tobacco users to continue using tobacco to maintain the pleasurable effects and prevent withdrawal. Other chemicals in tobacco products may also contribute to tobacco use disorder.

Risk Factors

The following factors increase your chance of developing tobacco use disorder. If you have any of these risk factors, tell your doctor:

• Schizophrenia
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Bipolar disorder
• Major depression
• Other mental illness

Symptoms

If you experience any of these symptoms, do not assume it is due to tobacco use disorder. These symptoms may be caused by other health conditions. If you experience any one of them, see your physician.

• Nicotine “highs”
  • Increase in blood pressure, respiration, and heart rate
  • Hyperglycemia (abnormally high blood sugar level)
• Nicotine withdrawal
  • Irritability
  • Craving
  • Thinking and attention problems
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Increased appetite
  • Nervousness
  • Headache
• Tobacco-related health problems
  • Smoker’s cough
  • Hot flashes in women

Throat Cancer

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Consequences of tobacco use disorder include:

• Cancer, including cancers of the larynx (voice box), oral cavity, throat, esophagus, lung, and colon
• Chronic bronchitis
• Emphysema
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Miscarriage, premature delivery, stillbirth, infant death, low birth weight, or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
• Shorter life span

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. He or she will ask you specific questions about your tobacco use, such as how long you have been using tobacco and how often you use it.

Your doctor can test your lung function and compare the results to those of a non-smoking person. The results can be given to you as your “lung age.” Knowing your “lung age” right after having the test done may help you to stop smoking.

Treatment

Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment options include the following:

Secondhand Smoke Exposure

Even if you are not a smoker, exposure to smoke from tobacco products on a regular basis is dangerous, sometimes even life-threatening.

Here are the US Surgeon General’s conclusions about effects from inhaling secondhand smoke:

• Secondhand smoke exposure causes disease and premature death in children and adults who do not smoke.
• Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), acute respiratory infections, ear problems, and more severe asthma. Smoking by parents causes respiratory symptoms and slows lung growth in their children.
• Exposure of adults to secondhand smoke has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system and causes coronary heart disease and lung cancer.
• The scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
• Separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings cannot eliminate exposure of nonsmokers to secondhand smoke. But eliminating smoking in indoor spaces fully protects nonsmokers from exposure to secondhand smoke.

Prevention

The best way to prevent tobacco use disorder is to never use tobacco products. Tobacco products are highly addictive. Also, avoid regular exposure to secondhand smoke.