Effects of Nicotine use in Aviation BY LT MATTHEW THAYER HALL
It is no secret that an aviator’s health is of huge importance to themself, to flight surgeons and to the military in general. Although medication use is a meticulously guarded aspect of aviation health, supplement use has more nebulous rules. One supplement in particular has managed to fly under the radar since the beginning of aviation. Nicotine is a supplement/drug in common use, but there is little regulation or guidance regarding its use in aviation. Nicotine is a chemical obtained commonly from tobacco products. Biochemically it has a simple structure. The power of nicotine to interact with the human body is profound. Neuroscientists have even labeled certain nerve receptors “nicotinic” due to their high attraction to the nicotine molecule. Nicotine also activates receptors in muscles, arteries, veins, lungs, intestinal and urinary tract. Nicotine may be delivered into the body in a number of different ways. Cigarettes generally contain one to three milligrams of nicotine. With the paradigm shift away from cigarettes and other tobacco products, the delivery method best described as “inhalation” is becoming increasingly common. The biggest change in inhalation of nicotine has been the development of vaporizers (atomizers, e-cigarettes, etc.) which purportedly deliver nicotine without the harmful components found in traditional cigarettes. Nicotine may also be delivered transdermal (through the skin) with nicotine patches. Nicotine patches and gum, ranging from one to three milligrams per dose, are typically used to aid in smoking cessation. Nicotine functions as a stimulant. Other notable stimulants include caffeine, pseudoephedrine, cocaine, MDMA, and meth amphetamines. Reported benefits of nicotine include increased concentration, appetite suppression, aiding in November-December 2015
Photo Illustration by Visual Information Specialist John Williams
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