Effects of quitting smoking on the body

Smokers fall in love with cigarettes because of the nicotine. The nicotine is a stimulant that helps to reduce stress and relax. Quitting smoking can be hard because it comes with a number of withdrawal symptoms. The body and the mind both go through a physical withdrawal when you quit smoking. This blog will look at what happens to the body and the mind when you quit smoking. It will discuss the different methods that can help you quit smoking.

Nicotine is a psychoactive substance that causes addiction and causes the production of dopamine. Dopamine is responsible for pleasure, determination, and joy. When it falls, there is a desire to make up. Smokers have a constant dopamine deficiency, so tobacco is needed to compensate for it.

Nicotine withdrawal

In other words, nicotine withdrawal. It appears with prolonged smoking and then refusal. During the use of nicotine, the metabolic processes in the body change. A deficit breaking is obtained with a sharp rejection or a decrease in dosage, manifested by unpleasant, painful symptoms.

Smoking cessation symptoms

The clinical picture of withdrawal from cigarettes will be as follows:

• cough with dark sputum;
• cardiopalmus;
• violation of the digestive tract;
• insomnia;
• unstable blood pressure;
• increased appetite.

Withdrawal stages

A cancellation crash occurs quickly. A few hours after the last cigarette, there is a strong desire to smoke. Headache, discomfort, irritability, anxiety, and concern may appear. On the third day, a peak state of withdrawal occurs, lasting up to several weeks.

During this period, a person constantly thinks about whether to smoke or not. A person becomes more irritable and reacts sharply to many questions, possibly falling into depression.

On the 4th-5th day, sleep becomes disturbing; there is a desire to “seize” the urge to smoke. On the sixth day, there is bitterness in the mouth, sweating, and hand tremor. The person becomes whiny and aggressive. On day 14, the emotional and psychological state improves. During this period, it is essential not to break loose, as weak traction remains.

Important! After two weeks of quitting smoking, the main mistake is deciding to smoke one cigarette. This will lead to a breakdown and a new addiction.

What happens if you quit smoking abruptly

If you quit smoking abruptly, you will experience the following symptoms and changes:

• increased blood flow. This is due to the active flow of blood to the brain and heart;
• improves the work of the digestive tract;
• the immune system is restored;
• saturation of the body with oxygen.

In addition to the positive aspects, there may be side effects:

• dizziness;
• dyspnea;
• loss of appetite;
• cough;
• insomnia;
• lungs may hurt immediately after smoking;
• emotional instability.

Example 

A 38-year-old patient decided to get rid of his addiction for 20 years. Started immediately and abruptly. During the first few days, there were no significant changes. A week later, the mood worsened, and nervousness and increased aggression appeared. S. began to react sharply to any stimuli. He noted that breathing became more accessible, the smoker’s cough almost disappeared, and shortness of breath disappeared. Cravings for nicotine have not diminished. Two weeks later, the patient started smoking again.

What happens to the body if you quit smoking

During the rehabilitation period, tangible changes occur in the body.

Changes in the lungs

Those who smoke have a high risk of developing bronchitis, emphysema, and COPD. After quitting smoking, the following changes occur in the lungs:

• tarry substances that come with tobacco come out;
• the respiratory volume of the lungs increases by 10 percent;
• asthma attacks, cough stop;
• ciliated cells are restored;
• The risk of serious illness is reduced.

Changes in the cardiovascular system

Oxygen starvation occurs when smoking can lead to a heart attack. During the withdrawal period:

• normalization of vascular tone;
• enrichment of blood with oxygen;
• normalizes blood pressure and heart rate;
• Stops cardiac hypertrophy.

Changes in the gastrointestinal tract

During the rehabilitation period, the risk of dyspepsia, diseases of the oral cavity, and gastritis is significantly reduced. There is a restoration of the gastrointestinal tract, liver epithelial cells, the work of the digestive glands is normalized, and appetite improves. The result is an increase in body weight.

Back pain

Not often does there itching and pain in the spine. This condition occurs due to increased nervous excitability. This leads to muscle strain. It has been established that nicotine can block the pain impulse. Therefore, pain is not always detected if there are problems with the musculoskeletal system. With the refusal of nicotine, pain appears.

Runny nose

Nasal congestion during smoking cessation is a reasonably common occurrence. Nicotine dilates blood vessels. Its absence leads to its narrowing. Due to the disturbed balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide, swelling of the nasal mucosa appears. Due to the vessels’ fragility and swelling, blood impurities are observed in the mucous discharge from the nose.

Treatment of the withdrawal syndrome

Modern narcology offers a wide range of drugs that can improve health when quitting smoking. The methods of therapy are similar to the principle of coding against tobacco. By themselves, drugs are not able to completely get rid of addiction. But they can alleviate the withdrawal syndrome. Coupled with therapy with psychotherapeutic methods, there is a chance to eliminate the habit. There are two types of replacement therapy.

The most popular is the anti-nicotine patch. With the proper remedy, the body will not even understand that cigarettes have been refused.

The patch must accurately mimic the individual smoking pattern. In addition to the patch, there are special sprays, chewing gums, and mouthwashes. The main disadvantage of these funds is that if you skip one dose, the entire treatment is reduced to zero.

The second type is drugs that block receptors responsible for the reaction to nicotine intake in the body.

Equally famous is aversion therapy. In this case, various homeopathic remedies, herbal infusions, teas, and the development of a stable conditioned reflex to tobacco are used.

Is it safe to quit smoking during pregnancy?

Nicotine itself causes a large number of adverse effects. During pregnancy, it causes:

Ways to get rid of addiction

Doctors offer the following options:

• Conduct self-analysis and identify the reason “why do I want to smoke now?”. This allows you to understand the reason, assess the need to resort to a cigarette, and makes it possible to resolve this issue without resorting to cigarettes. A person begins to smoke often because he is bored and has nothing to do with himself. In this case, the solution to the problem is simple – to keep your brain busy. In stressful situations, sedatives can be used. Ah, smoking after eating is a simple habit that you can also get rid of;
• if it is not possible to resolve the issue on your own, specialists come to the rescue who help to cope with the reasons that encourage smoking and offer conservative treatment;
• The use of medicines is allowed after consulting a doctor.

It is worth remembering that the WHO does not provide comprehensive information on the effectiveness of electronic cigarettes in replacement therapy.

Sharply or gradually – which is better

Abrupt quitting is recommended for those who smoke one pack a day or less. In this case, the day “X” is selected. Everything that reminds me of smoking is removed (lighters, ashtrays, empty packs, ashes, etc.). If possible, smoking companies and premises should be avoided. This method causes a minimum of discomfort.

Usually, the first five days are the most difficult, then the state of health improves. Psychological discomfort will be present prolonged, so the risk of breakdowns is high.

Gradual cessation is recommended for people with many years of the smoking experience, the elderly. The essence of the method is to gradually reduce the number of cigarettes smoked per day and then switch to light cigarettes. With a gradual refusal, doctors advise smoking a cigarette only up to half, not asking someone if your pack is over. Still, it is desirable to purchase various brands of cigarettes.

How does your appearance change after quitting smoking?

Changes in appearance occur gradually for the better. After a month, you can notice an improvement in complexion, the elasticity of the skin increases, and fine mimic wrinkles are smoothed out. After two months, the unhealthy face disappears, the amount of elastane and collagen in the skin increases significantly, and pimples disappear.

FAQ

How many days does nicotine leave the body?

The half-life of nicotine occurs in a couple of hours, and cotinine leaves the body in 36 hours. Nicotine stays in the human body for 48 hours. If menthol cigarettes are used, the nicotine output is increased by three hours. The maximum elimination period of the neurotoxin is three days.

How not to start drinking when you quit smoking?

There are cases when people start drinking alcohol when they give up cigarettes. Another replaces one dependency. To prevent this, it is better to turn to neurologists and psychologists. They will help you cope with withdrawal and choose a course of therapy.

Why do you still want to smoke after a long time?

This is because smoking makes people mentally dependent on it. Psychologists help people who smoke get rid of it. They allow you to figure out why you want to eat and eliminate it. Usually, this is caused by depression, boredom, and anxiety.