Smoking is a drug addiction that is very difficult to cope with. Cigarettes are quickly introduced into the lifestyle, and without them a person feels overwhelmed. Anyone who's ever tried to break a destructive habit knows it's not easy. After prolonged smoking, the body reacts negatively to the absence of nicotine, so complete refusal from cigarettes is accompanied by "withdrawal syndrome". Before making a difficult decision, you need to know what will happen to the body and how to survive this periodbe able.
Pros and cons of quitting smoking
A person who decides to quit smoking experiences some uneasiness at the beginning of a difficult journey. Change scares smokers, so many give up the idea and go back to smoking. The lack of nicotine manifests itself in various symptoms that indicate the onset of stress from smoking cessation. If the smoking experience is long, recovery will be painful and lengthy. The process of restructuring is always accompanied by psychological and physical discomfort:
- Reduced immunity - a former smoker is prone to frequent colds. If earlier nicotine served as a doping, then without it the body gets severe stress. Against this background, ARVI, acne, stomatitis, etc. appear;
- There is an intense cough with brown sputum - you do not need to be afraid of this, because thanks to coughing, the respiratory tract is cleared of soot and soot. Over time, the ciliated epithelium resumes its work, pushing out the mucus and sputum accumulated in the bronchi;
- Irritability, nervousness, depression - when nicotine can no longer get into the body, withdrawal occurs. It takes several days. During this period, the ex-smoker haunts people who inhale tobacco smoke, he dreams about the whole process, the smell drives him crazy and causes a strong desire to smoke. If earlier nicotine activated pleasure receptors, now their work is inhibited. A person shows aggression, breaks down with loved ones. Relatives should support the former smoker, distract him, interest him in new hobbies. Gradually, the craving will subside, but the craving to smoke won't go anywhere;
- Headaches and abdominal pain appear - within a few weeks the body will be cleansed of nicotine decay products, due to which the functions of all organs and systems will normalize. The lack of nicotine leads to vasospasm, abdominal pain and stool disorders. Unpleasant symptoms disappear after 2-3 weeks.
A person who has quit smoking feels very hungry, suffers from insomnia and complains of a slow heartbeat. He begins to rush to eat, which leads to obesity. All these symptoms are complemented by a bad mood and irritability. But there are also benefits to quitting smoking:
- breathing is restored within 7 days;
- bad breath disappears;
- the sense of smell returns and the taste buds begin to work normally;
- after a month, dark circles under the eyes disappear, the skin becomes more elastic, its color improves;
- blood circulation is normalized, blood vessels are tightened, potency in men improves.
In addition, the blood is saturated with oxygen, which nourishes all cells. As a result, the skin and internal organs are less susceptible to aging. The body is cleansed of toxins and toxins, immunity increases. After a few weeks, the volume of the lungs returns to normal, and the symptoms of chronic pathologies of the respiratory system often disappear. But the main benefit of quitting smoking is reducing the risk of high blood pressure, lung cancer, stroke and heart attack.
Important!
The removal of nicotine does not mean a complete cleansing of the body from its decay products that have accumulated over the years. Recovery is gradual, usually over months or sometimes years.
Changes in the body throughout the day
Any narcologist will tell you what happens in the body of a man who has decided to finally get rid of nicotine addiction. Doctors say the benefits of quitting smoking are huge, but you need to be patient while the body recovers. The liver produces endogenous nicotine, which maintains normal metabolism. Tobacco nicotine is unlike your own and comes in larger quantities. When levels of the substance drop, the body becomes deficient in nicotine and demands a new dose. If it cannot be supplied from the outside, the liver begins to produce endogenous nicotine again. After 3 days, a person can already do without a cigarette, but cravings remain.
When we talk about psychological dependence, the situation is more complicated. There are many reasons for the pathological craving for smoking, it can be an innate tendency to addiction, difficulties in communicating with people, the desire not to attract attention, etc. It is difficult to get rid of such addiction, and the more experience, the more difficult it becomesfor a person on the path to a healthy life. The situation is complicated by smoking friends, in whose company you have to be constantly. In order not to look like a "white crow", many people again inhale harmful smoke, such a craving lasts for years and does not let go of a person. A psychotherapist will help to get rid of it, who will find out the causes of the pathological addiction and will be able to motivate the patient.
What are the first 10 days without nicotine like?
Consider how the body recovers after giving up a cigarette and what accompanies it:
- The first day- The blood is cleaned of carbon monoxide and saturated with oxygen. A person is proud of himself, sure that he was able to break a bad habit and is ready to go to the end. At this stage, the craving for cigarettes is small and is easily interrupted by such suggestions as "I'll quit smoking". Sometimes a person has dizziness, weakness, mild anxiety. On the first day it is difficult to fall asleep, eat, which is sleepsuperficial and sensitive;
- Second day- the ciliated epithelium begins to work better, the production of mucus in the lungs decreases, the first signs of a withdrawal syndrome appear. The euphoria persists, but irritability and nervousness appear. Cravings can be suppressed with self-hypnosis, and sleepiness is replaced with energy. At the physiological level, there are such changes as an increase in appetite, a person is attracted to foods with a pronounced taste. Cough intensifies, shortness of breath develops, abdominal cramps, frequent urges to go to the toilet. It is difficult for a person to fall asleep, itching is possible, the skin is tight;
- The third day- The restoration of the bronchi and ciliated epithelium begins. The blood vessels are tightened, the craving for nicotine at the physiological level is reduced. On the 3rd day, nervousness increases, addiction manifests itself more, a person does not know how to be distracted and what to do. Sleep disturbing, often interrupted. Appetite increases sharply, a person is attracted to "sweets", belching and heartburn appear. When bending over, the head spins, the heart "shrinks", there is noise in the ears. The skin is scaly, small dry acne isvisible on it;
- fourth day. Blood flow to the brain normalizes, and the stomach and pancreas continue to recover. Aggressiveness gradually decreases, irritation can be stopped with medication. Many people improve their mood, but absent-mindedness is noted, sleep is still superficial. It is possible to increase blood pressure, tinnitus, slight dizziness. Urination normalizes, but there is constipation. The appetite is reduced, cravings for certain foods become noticeable. A person feels a viscous lump of mucus in the throat, a cough appears. Many develop swelling of the face, fingers, and ears;
- The Fifth Daywithout cigarettes - ulcers heal on the tongue, vascular tone normalizes. Some sections of the broncho-pulmonary system are being rehabilitated, the work of the intestines is still disturbed. On the 5th day, euphoria disappears, the state of health worsens, there is a desire to smoke. At this point, it is easy to let go, you cannot succumb to insidious cravings. Food becomes tastier, but this only applies to dairy products, citrus products, etc. Loose mucus is felt in the chest area or throat, making it difficult to breathe. Thick, dark sputum is coughed up intensively;
- On the sixth daymucus secretion increases, the work of the stomach and pancreas normalizes. Withdrawal syndrome grows with renewed vigor, there is tearfulness, insomnia and irritability. A person is looking for cigarettes, it is difficult to restrain himself, but it is necessary. Against this background, vegetative disorders in the form of sweating, tremors and nausea become noticeable. Sometimes there is pain in the hypochondrium, bitterness in the oral cavity, increased thirst. The dark phlegm is still coughing up, threads of blood can be seen in it;
- seventh day- physical cravings practically disappear, the body works quietly without the usual dose of nicotine. From that day begins a full recovery. The person is devastated but is already aware that smoking is a kind of ritual and not a physical need. It is important to fully protect yourself from anything related to tobacco products. The motivation to quit smoking is renewed. The phlegm does not go away, the cough is intense. Intestinal tone is normalized, but constipation can occur periodically. A week without cigarettes has a positive effect on appetite, but heartburn occurs with fatty foods.
Important!
The first five days are the hardest for a person quitting smoking. He experiences a strong "breakdown". At this point, the risk of breakage is highest.
The eighth day is marked by the activation of smell and taste buds. The tissues in the lungs continue to recover, but the vessels in the brain have not yet strengthened. The beginning of the second week is calmer on an emotional level. Irritability, aggression and depression are less pronounced. The psychological dependency is still there, sometimes intensifying. A person complains of a feeling of detachment and the loss of something important, sleep is still disturbed. Food acquires a new taste, a person seizes stress, as a result of which body weight increases.
The ninth day is accompanied by an improvement in the condition of the gastric mucosa and digestion. The bronchopulmonary system continues to regenerate, hematopoiesis normalizes. It is difficult for people who are in the company of smokers to restrain themselves, but the smell of tobacco is already disgusting. Possible heartburn, abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea replace each other. At this time, it is easy to catch ARVI, herpes and an allergic reaction appear.
Tenth day - the recovery process continues, immunity gradually improves. Cigarettes no longer cause painful thoughts, but people who smoke nearby provoke trouble. At this stage, a person needs the support of loved ones, as his own motivation begins to wane. The cough with phlegm persists and can be relieved by hot drinks or food. Many people produce gray or light yellow sputum that smells bad.
The last 4 days of the first phase of fighting a bad habit
On the eleventh day, the condition of the arterioles, which supply blood to tissues, improves. At the moment, metabolism and hormone levels are normalizing. This explains the change in the psyche, weight loss or weight gain. At the emotional level, aggression and excitability arise, the craving for nicotine intensifies, explained by the desire to find out if there will be disgust. Unpleasant symptoms, which are attributed to withdrawal syndrome, appear again. Internal tension, tremors and dizziness are the consequences of oversaturation of the brain with oxygen.
Important!
It is believed that you can abruptly quit smoking only if the experience does not exceed 5 years. In other cases, it is not recommended to take extreme measures. Before you get rid of nicotine addiction, you need to consult a doctor.
Twelfth day - chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract and lungs subsides, the protective functions of the body improve. The psyche is similar to day 11, a person still needs the support of loved ones. Non-heavy smokers notice improvement in facial skin, cough decreases, and digestion is restored.
Thirteenth day - there is active cell renewal, the vessels are unstable. A person may try to smoke out of curiosity. There is malaise, jumps in blood pressure, weakness, heaviness in the back of the head.
The fourteenth day is characterized by the healing of the bronchial mucosa, the vessels are sufficiently nourished, the tissues are restored. This day is psychologically difficult, some try again with a cigarette, motivating their behavior with the fact that they managed to last a long time and 1 dose of nicotine does not harm. At the physiological level, the cough subsides, the yellow color of the skin gradually disappears, lethargy, weakness and drowsiness appear.
Changes after quitting cigarettes will persist for a long time, full recovery occurs after a few years. After 8-10 months, the yellowing of the teeth disappears, the lungs increase in volume, the condition of the skin and nails improves. If a person used to smoke more than one pack a day, then a year after quitting cigarettes, the risk of stroke or heart attack is reduced by 2 times and the risk of cancer by 3 times. The effect is visible on the first day when nicotine leaves the body. Breathing becomes easier, the bronchi are freed, blood pressure drops.
How can you help yourself
If a smoker decides to finally break the addiction, immediate action must be taken. The motivation can be the desire to conceive a baby, to maintain health, etc. If you have a goal in mind, it will be easier to give up cigarettes. First of all, the body should receive a maximum of useful substances and vitamins. In the morning on an empty stomach it is recommended to drink 1 glass of warm milk. It is advisable to spend more time outdoors and to exercise. New hobbies will help you forget, and it will be easier to survive the breakup with an addiction.
Some people find it easier to fight nicotine addiction with friends or family. If there are none, read online reviews for inspiration, maybe there is an online friend who needs support as well.