Many people cannot imagine morning or afternoon coffee without cigarette smoke and aroma. It is very difficult for non-smokers to understand the dubious pleasure of such a combination, in which all the colors of the coffee blend, its natural taste and aroma are lost. However, smokers simply go crazy if they are deprived of this little joy, at least for a while.
Ardent fans of the tandem of coffee and cigarettes see this as something romantic and mysterious. And, perhaps, at such moments they imagine themselves as the heroes of the film of the same name by Jim Jarmusch. But not a single smoker even wants to think about the fact that an exquisite tradition, which has become a daily habit, carries with it a huge health hazard, even death. In their combination, coffee and cigarettes target the most important systems of the human body, which include the heart, stomach, blood vessels and nervous system.
- Coffee, cigarette and cardiovascular system
- Coffee, cigarette and cholesterol
- Nicotine, caffeine and the gastrointestinal tract
- Coffee, cigarette and nervous system
The effects of coffee and cigarettes on the nervous system
Many people believe that if you drink a cup of coffee in the morning, you can wake up faster and become more alert.
Actually this is not true. Coffee enters the nervous system in the form of a neurochemical or, as it is also called, adenosine, which is produced by neurons throughout the day. And the more cups of coffee you drink, the more it is produced, which leads to exhaustion of the nervous system. Caffeine in combination with nicotine leads to blocking of receptors, disruption of monitoring of the nervous system for adenosine content. In this case, internal brain stimulants such as glutamate and dopamine are released and begin to perform their functions. Thus, a person can feel the effect of vivacity and a surge of strength. The long-term habit of drinking coffee with a cigarette loses its strength over time, so a person increases the dose of nicotine and caffeine.
If you drink more than 3-4 cups of coffee and smoke about 15-20 cigarettes a day for several years, then the likelihood of developing neurosis is very high. The combination of caffeine with nicotine leads to behavioral deviations, irritability, increased anxiety, lethargy and depression. Caffeine and nicotine are a kind of drug, and addiction to their combination is much more dangerous. Without drinking coffee or smoking a cigarette in the morning, a person turns into a sleepy fly. The person feels defeated and depressed.
Drinking coffee with a cigarette for more than six months leads to irreversible destructive processes in the brain. Nerve cells are unable to withstand the effects of nicotine tar and caffeine for long. In addition to increased heart pressure and rapid heartbeat, brain cells are depleted, resulting in the development of dysfunctional disorders.
Therefore, many coffee lovers, in combination with tobacco smoke, often feel a loss of strength and weakness when making sudden movements or turns.
Why do you want to smoke when you drink and after alcohol?
The relationship between smoking and drinking alcohol is clear: 85% of adults who regularly drink alcohol smoke cigarettes.
Scientists in the field of neurophysiology from the Medical University of Missouri have found out why during the feast the desire to take a smoke break so often arises. The results of the scientists' research were published in the scientific journal Journal of Neurochemistry.
The study found that both alcohol and cigarettes together affect the basal region of the brain, but with different effects. This part of the brain contains neurons responsible for the production of acetylcholine, the wakefulness hormone.
Alcohol itself causes drowsiness, an effect well known to anyone who drinks at least occasionally. But if you add cigarettes to alcohol, the effect will be the opposite - a person is able to stay in the ranks for hours, while smoking up to a pack of cigarettes and consuming a huge amount of alcohol, which without nicotine would force you to stop the feast much earlier.
There are other effects from the combined effects of nicotine and alcohol on the body:
- Both alcohol and nicotine promote the release of dopamine, a hormone responsible for pleasure and a feeling of satisfaction.
- Nicotine enhances the euphoric effect of alcohol - the mood rises and euphoria sets in earlier and with less drinking.
- A study with regular cigarettes and a placebo (some of the subjects were given cigarettes without nicotine) found that nicotine is the catalyst for alcohol and the source of pleasant sensations and relaxation, and not any other aspects of smoking, including the process itself.
As a result, it turns out that alcohol always enhances the pleasure of smoking, and smoking enhances the pleasant sensations from alcohol. Additionally, there is another effect of alcohol: a decrease in the body’s controlling functions. A person does not evaluate his actions very adequately and acts “without brakes.”
In addition, alcohol intoxication does not make you feel that you have already smoked a lot - in a sober state, a person from such an amount of nicotine and other substances in cigarettes would simply feel ill or begin to feel sick.
Smoking and alcohol are two bad habits, dangerous even in themselves. When they are combined, both the amount of alcohol and the number of cigarettes increases, which means the harm to health and the body increases. It is highly advisable to try to completely abandon these bad habits or at least control the amount of cigarettes and alcohol.
While intoxicated, a person becomes liberated; he is often drawn to do actions that, being in a sober state, he would hardly do. Why do you want to smoke so much when you drink? Scientists decided to tackle this issue and found an explanation for this fact.
Fashionable, beautiful, but very harmful
“Coffee and cigarettes” is not only the name of the famous Jim Jarmusch film, but one of the most popular flavor combinations in the world. The very first morning cup of coffee with the same first cigarette is especially loved (and for good reason).
We'll tell you why you shouldn't combine coffee and nicotine, without being boring or calling for a healthy lifestyle.
Why do we love this combination so much?
It is not caffeine, but nicotine that is responsible for the persistent attachment to a cup of espresso with a cigarette and conversations about this and that. Firstly, nicotine addiction is usually formed in connection with something pleasant: cheerful conversations in the smoking room, a passionate date... or a cup of strong coffee.
Secondly, the biochemistry of the process is to blame. Nicotine enters the brain almost instantly, literally 10-15 seconds after the first puff. There it acts on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and stimulates dopamine levels in the pathways of the so-called “reward centers” in the brain. Along with this, nicotine provokes the release of the neurotransmitter glutamate (it is responsible for the transmission of nerve impulses from one nerve cell to another), serotonin, adrenaline and norepinephrine.
That is, in general, pure nicotine speeds up reactions and enhances thinking processes, has a positive effect on concentration and attention, and quite helps with stress. The problem is that all these processes are triggered only when nicotine is present in small quantities. As the concentration increases, sensitivity to it decreases until the receptors are completely blocked.
And that very first morning cup of coffee with the first cigarette is loved precisely because during sleep (that is, 7-10 hours without smoking), the receptors have time to recover. Having received a simultaneous charge of nicotine and caffeine, a person feels increased vigor, improved well-being and the joy of waking up.
Ministry of Health warns
So, both caffeine and nicotine stimulate the release of dopamine, cause addiction, and when paired they enhance their effects. But the constant production of dopamine artificially is not very beneficial for the brain. With constant simultaneous consumption of coffee and cigarettes, the nervous system is gradually depleted, and a person may feel constant irritation, insomnia and headaches.
Problems also arise with the cardiovascular system. Cigarettes increase blood pressure and have a vasoconstrictor effect, while coffee invigorates and “accelerates” the blood through the vessels. Together, this leads to an increased risk of stroke. In addition, nicotine and caffeine work together to increase the production of homocysteine, an amino acid found in the blood plasma. Accumulating in the body, homocysteine provokes the appearance of blood clots and atherosclerotic plaques.
And finally, coffee with a cigarette is a blow to the gastrointestinal tract. Drinking caffeine stimulates the production of secretions from the gastroduodenal system and the release of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. This in itself is not scary: bicarbonates contained in the gastrointestinal tract can neutralize excess acid. But nicotine, in turn, inhibits the production of bicarbonates, and lovers of the coffee-cigarette combination suffer from stomach problems (even peptic ulcers).
Well, at least a little bit?
In general, it’s not worth it. But if you can’t imagine life without a fragrant hot Americano in tandem with, say, a cherry cigarillo, follow simple safety rules.
- Do not smoke with coffee on an empty stomach. A hearty breakfast will save you from excess acidity.
- Reduce your cigarette consumption with a cup of coffee to 1-2 times a day. This way, you will simultaneously receive a high-quality tonic, and pay tribute to unhealthy habits, and not deplete the body.
Better yet, give up cigarettes altogether and opt for coffee in good company. If the above reasons are not enough for you, a beautiful date awaits you for drastic changes.
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May 31st is World No Tobacco Day.
Ready to take the first step?
Is it possible to smoke coffee - the answer for the curious
People who smoke quickly become addicted to nicotine.
In situations where there is no opportunity to smoke the coveted cigarette, they begin to feel physiologically and psychologically bad. In the brains of smokers who have not received a dose of nicotine, a plan of action begins to feverishly develop: what can be smoked instead of tobacco. What you can use:
- A mixture of herbs;
- Dried medicinal plants;
- Tea (infusion);
- Coffee.
What happens if you smoke coffee? The grains contain large quantities of nitric oxide, which, together with caffeine, increases the effect on the human body, similar to narcotic pleasure. While smoking coffee, hallucinations, memory loss, and epileptic seizures may occur.
Very quickly, the systematic consumption of large quantities of cigarettes with strong drink becomes a habit that does not bring pleasure. Smoking in itself is a very unhealthy activity, and in combination with an invigorating drink, you can cause irreparable harm to your health. Next time, before you reach for a pack of cigarettes in the morning and make yourself an espresso, think: is a momentary weakness worth your health, and perhaps even your life?
The myth and harm of the cigarette-coffee diet
The diet, in which the main components are cigarettes and coffee, is loved by models and show business stars, for whom appearance comes first. Health is the last thing people think about when it comes to multi-million dollar contracts.
Of course, no nutritionist would recommend such a diet to his patients. The mechanism of action of the diet is as follows: caffeine and nicotine simultaneously excite the nervous system, suppressing the feeling of hunger and reducing appetite. Do cigarettes and coffee make you lose weight? The cigarette-coffee diet involves a sharp reduction in incoming calories, due to which weight loss occurs.
The harm from such a diet is colossal: a deficiency of nutrients, toxic poisoning, and stress on the body lead to serious health problems.
By consuming virtually only cigarettes and coffee, weight loss is naturally guaranteed. But you need to think that in the near future you will have to pay for a slim figure with your health.
Coffee with cigarettes: what's the secret?
Many people who smoke consider themselves coffee lovers, and then very often I ask them: “Okay! Then tell me, what types of coffee do you like, what kind of roast?” Most cannot answer. Or they name the brands under which coffee is sold. Of course, I agree that it is not necessary to understand the types of coffee to enjoy this drink. The only reason why they consider themselves amateurs is different - they drink gallons of coffee.
Tobacco smoke has nothing to do with romance, and even more so it cannot make a person interesting and creative. Despite what we think and what we feel, cigarette smoke is a poisonous smoke that contains more than 250 toxic compounds that are unlikely to promote mental performance. Smokers are unaware that for most of their lives they are exposed to the toxicity that smoking creates that they don't feel because they live with it.
Because of this poisoning, a smoking person experiences chronic apathy associated with a lack of energy. It is completely understandable why coffee becomes important for these people, especially in the morning. They don't realize that they now just need an extra stimulant. That's the whole magical connection between coffee and smoking.
How to quit smoking yourself?
There is nothing strange in the fact that after people quit smoking, some stop drinking coffee altogether, only because they begin to feel the bitter aftertaste of the drink, which they simply did not notice before. Most people who quit smoking start drinking less coffee.
And if you really truly love coffee, you can enjoy it even after you quit smoking! You don't become some other person, I mean your character. You will have more energy, a better mood and many other benefits when you quit smoking. If only because you will stop harming yourself and stop poisoning yourself every day! And a cigarette has nothing to do with life!
Cigars and coffee
Cigar connoisseurs often prefer to combine smoking with drinking alcohol and coffee.
Among alcoholic drinks, preference is given to cognac or brandy. It is believed that cognac and coffee are able to fully reveal the aroma and taste characteristics of a cigar. Those who smoke cigars are sure that it is much safer for their health than cigarettes. This feeling is due to several factors: the cost of cigars, appearance, composition, smoking style. Cigars are smoked much less often than cigarettes, and this is considered a kind of ritual. But is it true that cigars are not as harmful as cigarettes?
- Cigars have a higher nicotine content than cigarettes. As for tars, there are no less of them in cigars. The only advantage of smoking cigars is that you smoke them without inhaling, so less smoke enters your lungs.
- Getting used to cigars happens just as quickly as to cigarettes. But here a more psychological type of addiction works, since cigars are not smoked often, with elite alcohol and good espresso. This creates the appearance of some kind of initiation, which becomes increasingly difficult for a person to refuse over time.
It follows that smoking both cigarettes and cigars is harmful to health, which is greatly enhanced when combined with caffeine.
How does coffee with a cigarette affect the stomach?
If you consume real Arabica beans, without the nicotine stick, you will simply get a boost of energy for the whole day. When combined with a cigarette, the components irritate the mucous membrane, causing heartburn and forming excess stomach acid. The tandem of a cigarette and coffee is a real threat of stomach ulcers and other similar diseases.
This statement does not mean that you can forget about the invigorating drink. It is enough to follow a few rules:
- Don't drink instant coffee;
- Consume it after meals. This will help avoid metabolic disorders.
Also, caffeine, when combined with cigarettes, is a deadly poison for the liver, and also washes calcium from the body, which is especially harmful at a young age.
The hit of caffeine and nicotine to the heart
Scientists have proven that systematic consumption of caffeine and tobacco smoke puts a great strain on the heart.
Nicotine and other toxic tars cause vasospasms, and caffeine narrows them and makes the aorta inelastic, thus putting a double load on the heart. Nicotine helps increase the level of homocysteine, that is, an amino acid that is created during the breakdown of food proteins. Regular consumption of coffee also helps to raise amino acid levels, so the tandem of caffeine and cigarette smoke often causes a heart attack or stroke.
Coffee and cigarettes are especially dangerous for people with high heart pressure. Drinking a cup of coffee and a cigarette on an empty stomach causes a strong blow to the heart. Cigarette smoke and caffeine cause increased heart pressure and rapid heart rate.
People who drink about 5-6 cups of coffee a day and at the same time smoke 15-20 cigarettes put themselves at risk of heart disease.
When the body is exposed to toxic substances from cigarettes and caffeine, cholesterol levels increase. Caffeine, penetrating into the blood, leads to loss of elasticity of the aorta, narrowing of small vessels and blood viscosity. All these changes cannot but affect the functioning of the heart. Nicotine, in turn, causes a narrowing of the lumen in the blood vessels. The combination of coffee and a cigarette puts a powerful strain on the heart.
Why is the combination of coffee and tobacco smoke dangerous?
The combination of coffee and a cigarette has a negative impact primarily on a person’s appearance. Despite the fact that coffee is often used for cosmetic purposes, for example, in scrubs or masks, its consumption leads to premature aging.
Caffeine and nicotine cause dehydration, and this negatively affects the skin.
This bad habit leads to the formation of redness and burst blood vessels on the face. Tobacco smoke with caffeine has a negative impact on dental health. A characteristic yellowness and plaque appears. The tandem of coffee and cigarettes has an irritating effect on the genitourinary system and dehydrates the body. Coffee has a diuretic effect, and nicotine dulls the feeling of thirst, so the body loses nutrients and minerals. Coffee with a cigarette is especially dangerous for those who have kidney and bladder diseases.
Scientists have proven that caffeine and toxic tar from cigarettes reduce the number of active sperm in the seminal fluid. In women, long-term consumption of coffee and cigarettes can negatively affect fertility.
