URMC / Encyclopedia / Content Take the Nicotine Quiz Nicotine, one of the main chemicals in tobacco, is the primary reason that smoking is so addictive. Even though most smokers know that smoking is bad for them, they find it difficult to quit because of nicotine's effect. 1. Nicotine causes which of these changes in the body? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Nicotine temporarily increases the heart rate by two to three beats a minute and increases blood pressure in the short term because it constricts blood vessels. A. Lowers body temperatureB. Increases heart rateC. Increases blood pressureD. B and C 2. What happens when nicotine comes into contact with the brain? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is This neurotransmitter produces a "natural high" within 7 to 10 seconds of inhaling. Nicotine is a central nervous system stimulant and also decreases the sensation of pain. A. Tissues swellB. Dopamine is releasedC. Nerve centers shut downD. Adrenaline decreases 3. How does dependence on nicotine develop? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Nicotine changes nerve signals that control physical actions, behavioral control and memory. That's why a certain remembered scene or a smell can trigger a craving for cigarettes. A. Nicotine alters the pattern of nerve signals in the brainB. Peer pressure makes it hard to quitC. Mental habit is too hard to breakD. Physical craving is too strong 4. What's the most common reason for not quitting? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Stress is also one of the main reasons given for relapsing when trying to quit. Although we all have stress in our lives, smokers use nicotine to help them cope with stress. When trying to quit, a smoker needs to find alternative ways of coping with stress. A. Smoking relieves stressB. Craving is too strongC. Worried about weight gainD. Enjoy it too much 5. A water pipe, or hookah, is a safer way to smoke tobacco because it gives you less nicotine. You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is The water in a hookah filters out only a very small amount of nicotine. In fact, smoking a hookah can often give a person more nicotine. This is because a hookah user may inhale a larger amount of smoke in a single session, and spend a longer period of time smoking. A. TrueB. False 6. Medications are available that can help people quit their dependence on nicotine. You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Your health care provider may be able to prescribe a medicine that can help you quit using nicotine. There are also over-the-counter medicines that work well to help people quit smoking. A. TrueB. False 7. Which has less nicotine than cigarettes? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Tobacco dip and snuff actually have more nicotine than cigarettes. Holding dip in your mouth for 30 minutes can give you as much nicotine as smoking three cigarettes. Two cans of snuff have as much nicotine as 10-1/2 packs of cigarettes. A. Tobacco dipB. SnuffC. BothD. Neither 8. Self-help materials are the best way to quit using nicotine. You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Studies have shown that working with others to help you quit works better than trying to quit on your own. People who talk with a health care provider in person or on the phone, or go to support groups have better success rates. A. TrueB. False Your score was: Medical Reviewers: Nelson, Gail A, MS, APRN, BC Pierce-Smith, Daphne, RN, MSN, CCRC