Have you seen anyone take a smoke and run to the bathroom for a dump? It is not news! Smoking and shitting have been on the radar for many individuals and some have even picked up a habit of smoking while shitting together. As much as the scene seems to be gross, there is an actual connection between nicotine and having the urge to poop.
In this blog, we are going to understand how nicotine works in mysterious yet gross ways to evacuate the dump from your body. We will also share some insights that can help you get rid of this habit and tips for maintaining a healthy gut. So, if you have a habit of smoking first thing in the morning to take a dump, or know someone who is, then this blog is for you.
How Does Nicotine Work To Make You Poop?
Nicotine just like any other substance hits your senses and releases dopamine and epinephrine commonly called adrenaline. This results in increased blood pressure, and heart rate, and accelerates your digestion process. Apart from making you poop, nicotine has several side effects that can ruin your health.
- It creates an addiction that you might depend on for your mental and physical health.
- Increases the risk of cardiovascular conditions
- Contribute to irritability, cravings, or difficulty in concentration
- Bad for the respiratory system and can give way to infections
- Increases chances of heartburn because of acid reflux
- Immediate side effects are feeling nauseous, or dizziness
- Makes you age before the time
Link Between Nicotine And Bowel Movements
Nicotine is usually found in cigarettes, e-cigarettes, tobacco products, or cigars. These are highly addictive substances which can affect your mental health negatively. Many individuals have a way of being a chain smoker after using it only for a week. There are major drawbacks of nicotine that take you to your deathbed, but one, in particular, can be seen within 10 minutes of smoking.
Nicotine makes you poop. Yes, several studies have concluded that nicotine and diarrhea have a connection. Just like coffee, nicotine also has a laxative effect and acts as a stimulant that will make you poop. A study showed the rectal tone in participants who had either coffee, nicotine, or a placebo. The rectal tone is the measure of the tightness of your bum hole which affects the bowel movements.
Participants with 2mg of nicotine resulted in an increased rectal tone by 7%. Whereas, participants with coffee showed an increased rectal tone by 45%. Lastly, the placebo effect did not show any increase in the rectal tone. This brings us to the conclusion that coffee and nicotine both can act as a stimulant for bowel movements. Mixing them can certainly accelerate the process of digestion, and you might want to run for the toilets.
Another study suggests that nicotine affects your gut microbiome, leading to the increased phylum of Bacteroides, or the gut microbiota that inhabits the digestive tracts. With the decreased firmicutes, your gut loses the ability to ferment the dietary fibers and complex carbohydrates. All these scenarios lead to complications in the gut lining and cause diarrhea.
Link Between Nicotine And Digestive Tracts
With the added complications to your respiratory system, heart health, and digestion process, nicotine also affects your digestive tract. More studies are underway that indicate nicotine has adverse effects on your digestive tract, but smoking causes more damage to it. And since nicotine is a major component of smoking, here are the side effects of excessive and prolonged smoking:
- An increased risk of cancer in the colon, mouth, throat, stomach, and rectum
- Abnormal tissue growths in the gut or colon polyps
- Soreness in your intestine lining or peptic ulcers
- Crohn’s disease or inflammation in the gut
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD
- Pancreatitis
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD
Inhale A Fresh Start By Quitting Smoking
Quitting smoking is not an easy resolution to make around the new year, and it requires a lot more dedication and patience. You can sign up for a support group or a rehabilitation center for the long long process. Here are some tips that can help you to bring changes in your lifestyle which can help you quit smoking.
Coping With Withdrawal Symptoms
As soon as nicotine gives you an exciting feeling, it also takes away your ability to be independent. The initial days of quitting are going to be the most difficult as it will remind you of the “happy time” you had while smoking. The symptoms of withdrawal may include
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Restlessness
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Increased appetite
- Shakes
- Constipation
- Incessant coughing
- Cravings for a smoke
These symptoms indicate that there are still toxins in your body which are affecting you negatively. You can start by distracting yourself and focus on any TV show, news article, or book. Indulge in exercise and remind yourself why you are quitting this bad habit. After overcoming the temptation period reward yourself with an ice cream or anything that you like.
Try Therapy
Therapy does not necessarily mean medication or nicotine replacement therapy. You can opt for behavioral therapy, acupuncture, hypnosis, or motivational therapy. If these options seem far-fetched for your budget then indulge in self-nurturing. Surround yourself with loved ones who will help you quit and deal with the withdrawals. Communicate more about your feelings with your favorite person or work with your passion.
Conclusion
Nicotine is a necessary evil that needs to be banned from the surface of the market. But just like other poisons, nicotine has medicinal value and to date is under research work. Adapt to a healthy lifestyle by avoiding any use of nicotine or its by-products. Keep a regular schedule of exercise and a sufficient sleep cycle for a better tomorrow. Yes ! Nicotine Makes You Poop. But its after-effects are too dangerous.
Eat home-cooked meals instead of store-bought purchases or instant-cooked for a healthy digestion process. Start living the life that you have always dreamed of and stay away from toxic substances and people. Seize the day and let the smoke fade away!
References
- A gut bacterial amyloid promotes α-synuclein aggregation and motor impairment in mice. Sampson TR, Challis C, Jain N, et al. Elife. 2020;9 [PMC free article]
- Stopping smoking can cause constipation. Hajek P, Gillison F, McRobbie H. Addiction. 2003;98:1563–1567. [PubMed]
