Nicotine is a poison that can lead to health problems in excessive amounts. Cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic bronchitis are just some of the long-term consequences of smoking. These usually develop very slowly, which is why smokers often do not immediately notice the health effects.
The amount absorbed while smoking is usually not high enough to cause a life-threatening poisoning. But what happens if nicotine-containing products are accidentally swallowed? What are the symptoms of nicotine poisoning and how high is the risk?
In this article, we want to tell you more about nicotine poisoning and introduce you to some alternatives to cigarettes.
What is nicotine poisoning?
Nicotine poisoning is often caused by swallowing cigarettes or rolling tobacco. Other products such as cigars, snuff or chewing tobacco, nicotine gums, or patches for quitting can also lead to a so-called nicotine shock, but the risk is rather low.
How much nicotine is dangerous?
The question of the lethal amount of nicotine has not yet been definitively answered by research. It is generally assumed that 300 to 600 mg of nicotine can be fatal. A cigarette contains on average about two milligrams of nicotine. To ingest a lethal dose, more than 200 cigarettes would have to be consumed. For e-cigarettes, this means that 8 ml of 6 mg/ml e-liquid would have to be consumed.
Whether the dose is fatal or not also depends on body weight and the source of the nicotine. Therefore, special care should be taken with children or pets to prevent swallowing nicotine-containing products.
Nicotine poisoning from smoking alone is unusual because the body can process nicotine quickly. After just two hours, the nicotine level in the blood halves. To consume a lethal dose, more than 200 cigarettes would have to be smoked at once.
What is the difference between acute and chronic nicotine poisoning?
Acute nicotine poisoning occurs when a nicotine-containing product is swallowed. This way, a particularly large amount of nicotine is absorbed at once.
Chronic nicotine poisoning, by contrast, develops over many years and initially goes unnoticed. Chronic intoxication is often developed by heavy and long-term smokers. Symptoms of chronic nicotine poisoning include damage to the vascular and nervous systems as well as the organs. To avoid chronic nicotine poisoning, there is only one way: quitting smoking.
What are the symptoms of acute nicotine poisoning?
Nicotine poisoning occurs in two phases. The first phase is characterized by a feeling of discomfort and nausea. Additionally, blood pressure may rise and a racing heart may be felt. Symptoms can vary from person to person and depend on the amount ingested. Other symptoms include confusion, panic attacks, increased salivation, and shortness of breath.
In the second phase, the body breaks down the nicotine and you begin to calm down. Blood pressure and heart rate decrease again. In some cases, depression occurs as a symptom; affected individuals also feel exhausted and breathing becomes shallow. Additionally, weakness sets in and diarrhea is a common consequence.
What is a nicotine shock?
A nicotine shock or nicotine flash can occur when there is an overload of nicotine effects in the brain. This happens more often with e-cigarettes, as they have a higher nicotine strength. Symptoms include nausea, sweating, trembling, fatigue, vomiting, and intestinal cramps. The likelihood of a nicotine shock is higher than that of nicotine poisoning.
What to do in case of an overdose?
Even with a mild overdose, the body sends signals. If symptoms such as headaches or nausea occur, you should definitely take a break and avoid nicotine.
How dangerous is swallowing snus?
Since there is no combustion process with snus, it is considered less dangerous than cigarettes. Accidental swallowing of snus does not pose a particularly high risk because the amounts of harmful substances are lower than in cigarettes. To cause nicotine poisoning, several pouches would have to be swallowed in a very short time.
Even though snus does not pose a great danger, it should still not be swallowed, as it can cause stomach upset. Snus comes with varying nicotine levels: edel Onyx, for example, has a high content of 25 mg/g. VELO Mighty Peppermint has a nicotine content of 15.5 mg/g. Edel CBD Mint contains no nicotine at all and is a very good alternative to smoking.
