Everyone knows smoking is bad for your lungs, but have you thought about the toll it takes on your brain? Research has shown that smoking can interfere with important cognitive processes, like learning, concentration and memory.<\/p>\n
Cigarettes and Your Brain<\/strong><\/p>\n A \u2018smoke break\u2019 can give you the illusion of better concentration by helping you to feel more alert, but it\u2019s actually having the opposite effect. Cigarettes reduce the supply of oxygen to the brain, as the carbon monoxide they contain binds to the haemoglobin molecules in your red blood cells in a much stronger way than oxygen does. The lowered oxygen supply affects your brain by causing mental fatigue and poor concentration.<\/p>\n The long-term build-up of toxic chemicals like carbon monoxide can cause damage to your brain, especially in the areas of learning and memory.<\/p>\n Did you know?<\/em><\/strong> Nicotine (cigarette) addiction actually causes physical changes your brain. The brain develops extra nicotine receptors, in order to accommodate the large doses of nicotine it\u2019s getting from the tobacco. That\u2019s why you experience nicotine withdrawal when you try to quit.<\/p>\n What the Studies Say<\/strong><\/p>\n Studies conducted around the world (including the United Kingdom, America and Sweden) have revealed the following worrying data about smoking and brain function:<\/p>\n