Okay, well basically, I want to quit smoking, I have a calendar, I've tried for months, and it's not good. I don't have IBS, but it sure does show up when I smoke, otherwise my stomach is an iron belly, but not when I smoke.



I've been smoking for 10 years by the way, and I'm 25, I started at 16 and it's been terrible ever since. I use it to get through tough loads of school work, etc., but I know I don't need it and I know that mentally I'll be sharper and get even better grades than I am now if I quit. I am trying to increase my academic potential, my mental potential, and I have a hunch that quitting smoking will help me greatly, which is why I'm sending my query here. I don't want a hunch, I want to know.



When I smoke, I know effects of heart rate increase, blood flow decrease, etc., but what about neurons? I feel shaky and nervous when I smoke, it affects my social life, how do cigarettes affect neuron action potentials?



I am in a radiography class, so you can imagine that shaky hands aren't good when trying to take a radiograph of my own hand for practice, etc.



Ultimately my question is: Do cigarettes affect neuron action potentials, do they make them misfire (i.e. shaky hands, nervousness + anxiety)?