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How Smoking Changes Metabolism

Smoking's effect on the metabolism is the main reason that smokers say it feels so "good" to smoke. The feelings of energy, pleasure and relaxation are actually nicotine's ability to regulate neurochemicals in the brain. The feelings are why smokers are so dependent on the drug. Increased metabolism is the body's response to several environmental changes brought on by smoking. The change in metabolism that smoking creates is reversible. Once a smoker quits, it may take up to a year for the body to regulate.

  1. Heart Rate

    • Smoking lowers the oxygen levels in the blood stream, making the heart pump harder to push blood to the muscles and the brain. Because the heart has to work harder, the body needs more fuel, so it triggers a response in the brain for extra energy.

    Blood Sugar Control

    • Immediately after the smoker takes a drag on a cigarette, his body releases stored sugar and fats into the blood stream. This is the main reason smokers report a feeling of energy after smoking. This extra fuel triggers the metabolism to burn at a higher rate.

    Adrenaline Release

    • Higher levels of fuel in the system charge the metabolism and encourage a release of adrenaline. The body releases a second burst of adrenaline triggered by the stress as nicotine leaves the system and triggers the body's desire for another cigarette, thereby starting the process over again.

    Dopamine Release

    • Nicotine releases dopamine into the system by attaching itself to the neurotransmitters in the brain that control pleasure responses. This feeling of euphoria creates a heightened sense of energy. At the same time, nicotine blocks the absorption of dopamine so the body locks into overdrive and develops a heightened need for continued pleasure.

    Hunger Signals

    • Smokers often confuse hunger signals with the desire to smoke. They light up rather than eat, which leads to weight loss or ability to control weight. The feeling of pleasure from the dopamine release in the brain rewards the smoker for the "right" choice, cementing the inaccurate recognition to the body's hunger signs.

    Recovery After Quitting

    • Quitting a nicotine addiction completely unbalances the system for several weeks. The metabolism takes the longest to re-establish itself because of the many levels nicotine impacts on its release. Exercise can help overcome the hold nicotine has on metabolism. Exercising boosts the metabolism for up to 24 hours. Exercise also releases dopamine for the feeling of pleasure in place of nicotine. Exercise does not block the re-absorption of dopamine, so the body can once again learn to regulate and stabilize its pleasure response.

      Blood sugar returns to normal within two hours after quitting. It takes the brain several weeks to adjust to having to regulate blood sugar levels on its own. This can create feelings of anxiety, stress and mood swings. Recognizing these symptoms for what they are can help you ride out the withdrawal from nicotine. They are completely normal and will not last forever.

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