Once you puff, you cannot stop. This phrase may hold true to people who start to smoke and then develop it into a habit. Probably smoking is one of the most popular vices in the world because cigarette is available almost in every country.

Nicotine is the lone compound in cigarettes that make it very addictive. As a drug, nicotine has a calming effect on people and has a nature of being addictive which is why it easily develops into a habit. People look for that kind of effect especially if they are in an environment heavy with pressure. But as in most studies, the good benefits of nicotine are outweighed by its bad effects.

Called an alkaloid, nicotine is an organic compound. This compound is made up of hydrogen, carbon, and may also contain oxygen. Alkaloid are popularly known for their stimulating effect. Caffeine in coffee is another popular alkaloid famous for being a stimulant. Nicotine is also found in tobacco plants, which were said to have originated from South America and North America.

The fastest way to absorb nicotine is via inhaling. Once it finds its way to the bloodstream it goes to a person's brain that identifies the substance and registers happy feeling. Many studies have validated that points to nicotine for the adrenaline-rush effect. Findings show that nicotine really boosts the memory, improve concentration, and may regulate weight.

Nicotine in cigarettes contribute in causing emphysema, cancer, stroke, and heart attack. But this compound is just one of the many other substances in cigarettes that cause these fatal ailments.

About one milligram of nicotine is said to be found in a single stick of cigarette. This volume could allegedly kill more than five people upon direct injection. But when puffing, most of it goes up into smoke and only a little amount (about 0.031 mg.) is absorbed by the body.