Everybody is well aware of the health risks that come with smoking, and similar dangers associated with vaping and e-cigarettes are also starting to become common knowledge as more people switch over as a means of quitting the habit.
However, among the serious long-term conditions that you leave your body vulnerable too when you're puffing away, there is in fact another seemingly harmless side effect of smoking that could leave your health in danger in the short-term.
It's something that's especially dangerous for new smokers or those who don't partake in the habit on a regular basis, so if that sounds like you then you might want to be careful.
You might have heard of a feeling that many smokers refer to as the 'niccy-rush', as it relates to the moment immediately after you inhale either a standard cigarette or a vape.
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This is typically associated with deep puffs that consume a larger amount of nicotine, and come with a lightheaded or airy sensation that has far more risks than you might expect.
The reason why it's more associated with people newer to the habit is because long-term smokers have likely become accustomed and desensitized to the feeling over the years, so they typically don't feel it as intensely.
It can crop up depending on the amount of nicotine you're consuming, if you've not had a lot to eat, or if you're cutting back with alternatives like nicotine pouches or snus, as these provide the 'rush' without any of the extras that come with a cigarette.
Many people relate a niccy-rush with a positive feeling, as you can even feel more alert or perceptive when experiencing it, yet medical experts have warned that it does come with some potentially major risks.
You're not likely to die or feel any long term effects from experiencing a niccy-rush, but it can feel unnerving, prompt a feeling a dizziness, and even bring on extreme headaches in new smokers that potentially leads to nausea.
Additionally, the most dangerous potential side effect of the niccy-rush is the likelihood of an increased heart rate, which is something that people with existing heart conditions or blood pressure issues will definitely want to avoid.
It's because of this that the risks are present far more in the short term compared to any long term conditions that might arise from smoking, but it's something to potentially consider when weaning yourself off smoking through other sources of nicotine.