The good feeling the smoker experiences is deceptive. It is actually a side effect of the body's struggle to rid the system of nicotine, which is a poisonous substance (Nicotine is marketed as an insecticide, under the trade name of Black Leaf 40). When a person smokes a cigarette, he or she inhales about 1.2 mg of nicotine (and other toxic substances). The body's defense mechanisms are immediately activated to minimize the spread of these poisons and to process and expel the nicotine quickly. The heart beats faster, increasing blood flow and blood pressure. More oxygen is carried to the brain, sugar is released into the bloodstream by the liver, and as a result of the body speeding up the smoker experiences an energy lift and "feels good" ... more inclined to face the problems of daily existence.

After about 15 minutes, the person begins to feel pleasantly relaxed as the body processes slow down. This is due in part to a reaction to the initial stimulation brought about by the nicotine, and probably also due to the sedative effects of carbon monoxide (which is present in cigarette smoke in concentrations 400 times greater than the permitted environmental level). After a while, the adrenaline activated "lifts" are used up, and the level of blood sugar rapidly decreases. This causes the smoker to feel uncomfortable and fidgety - a condition commonly referred to as "smoker's tension." This is usually relieved by smoking another cigarette. And the cycle begins anew.

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