Side Effects of Quitting Smoking

In your quest to fight your smoking addiction, it is important to keep the benefits of a smoke free life in mind - such as better health for yourself and for those you love, whiter teeth, no more tobacco smell on your body and clothes, plus many others. However, it is also imperative to know what you are dealing with. There are certain hurdles that you have to jump through to finally and completely kick the habit. A number of these hurdles may come from external variables, but most challenges come from within your body in the form of side effects of quitting smoking.

The first step in quitting smoking is to be aware of what will happen. Understanding what your body will go through is the most ideal way to prepare yourself for the side effects of giving up smoking. Not knowing what to expect may set you back a few steps and distract you from your goal of quitting. Although the effects of giving up cigarettes can be extremely unpleasant, bear in mind that these are often temporary and can be dealt with.

Physical and Psychological Effects of Quitting Smoking

The side effects of kicking the habit can be classified as physical and psychological. The initial 2 weeks are deemed to be the hardest, with symptoms exacerbating within 48 to 72 hours after quitting. These symptoms will completely subside only after 12 weeks, and only then will you feel at ease once more.

The initial psychological impact of quitting includes irritability, anxiety, and an intense urge to smoke. With time, you may experience some tremors in your hands and feet as well as excessive sweating. Later on, you may suffer from intense depression that accompanies withdrawal. This initial depression can manifest as grief, as if you have recently lost something very important. The best course of action is to simply endure this sensation of sadness, keeping in mind that this is just a normal part of the healing process. Allow yourself to come to terms with your "loss" and wait for the feeling to pass. In addition to depression, you may also experience confusion, insomnia, mood swings, plus a sense of neediness, helplessness, and vulnerability.

Initial depression may potentially progress to long-term depression, especially in cases where the person already has a predisposition to the condition.

The physical side effects of quitting include gastrointestinal difficulties like intestinal cramps, constipation, nausea, and headaches. You may also suffer from respiratory disturbances such as colds as your lungs are starting to clear.

Additionally, a majority of smokers have been observed to gain weight after kicking the habit, although this may not apply to everyone. If your figure is your primary concern, you are advised to compensate by doing extra exercise and/or going on a weight loss plan.

Acknowledging the side effects of quitting smoking will prepare you for these symptoms as they manifest. Remember that these symptoms will normally disappear after a few weeks. The only long-term repercussion of quitting is a positive one, that of a general improvement in your overall health.

Don't Get Smoked by a Cigarette

If you are addicted to smoking, you know that quitting is not easy. Chances are you have tried before. Some times it takes multiple attempts before you can successfully quit smoking. It is important to realize that as with any addiction, the more you refrain from smoking, the easier it will be. The most difficult time is in the first two weeks. Once you can abstain from smoking for two weeks chances of permanent success are great. You might find that speaking with your health care provider is the best way to begin quitting. Your health care provider might determine that the best course of treatment is a prescription method to help fight cravings.

The benefits for quitting smoking are vast and if you are on a diet and exercise program while smoking you are causing serious damage to your body. By quitting smoking you will increase oxygen production and derive more benefits throughout your workouts. Smoking also robs the body of vital nutrients, particularly vitamin C, and can cause premature aging. Though many are concerned that if they quit smoking they will gain additional weight, it is better to gain a few pounds that can be burned off through exercise, then to suffer from lung cancer. If you want to live a truly healthy life, you have to quit smoking. Smoking has no place in a healthy lifestyle.

Smoking is a physical addiction and your body will crave nicotine until you get passed the first several weeks. Avoiding situations where you know people will be smoking is important and can reduce the amount of temptations you are surrounded by. Preparing for temptations and craving is an important aspect of getting through the first two weeks. Keeping the hands busy can help you resist the urge to smoke. Most people do not realize this but the hand motion of smoking, bringing the cigarette to you mouth, is also a very hard habit to break.

So if you have a hobby, consider spending more time to your hobby. If you do not have one, then now is a great time to begin one. Activities such as carpentry, building projects, gardening, knitting, crocheting, sewing, playing sports, baking, scrap booking, or playing an instrument can occupy your mind and help you resist cravings. Understand, we are people of habit, if you are a smoker you probably smoke after certain enjoyable events, like eating food; many people are in the habit of smoking after a big meal. Habits can be broken with discipline and hard work, and new good habits can be made.

When you feel as though temptations are strong, try taking a brisk walk. Breathe deeply and remind yourself that you are enjoying fresh, clean air in your lungs. Since you might become more irritable or anxious, try adding several yoga workouts to your routine. Yoga can help fight cravings, reduce stress and tension, and relax your body. The breathing techniques can be performed anywhere and will help you overcome the urge to smoke.

Get Help to Stop Smoking

The battle against nicotine dependence is long and arduous and people need help to stop smoking. Many smokers have been known to try and fail. And yet, today, more and more smokers are finding it difficult to smoke freely and hence find them selves having to give up or cut down on smoking. The health implications too are monumental and have reached a stage where some smokers have no option but to give up completely. But it is not easy to quit smoking.

Nicotine dependence is something that needs sustained effort, medical supervision and determination in most cases. There are many clinics and dependence centers that are offering programs that help to stop smoking. These programs offer a combination of physician's supervision, anti-dependence drugs, counseling sessions and group therapy. Quitting is not the only issue here, but being able to stay off nicotine is the primary factor.

Over and above programs that help to stop smoking, a number of branded non-prescription remedies are also available these days. These include Nicotine Gum, Nicotine Patches, Nicotine Nasal Sprays, Nicotine Inhalers and Nicotine Lozenges. These are either chewed, fixed to the skin, sprayed into the mouth, sprayed into the nasal cavity or sucked like candy respectively. However, they all work on the basis of small doses of nicotine being released into the system in decreasing amounts. This is done in order to reduce dependence on nicotine while slowly being weaned off it.

Prescription drugs too are available such as Varenicline and Bupropion. These need to be taken under medical supervision and do not contain any nicotine. Varenicline helps to cope with nicotine withdrawal symptoms while controlling the craving itself. Bupropion is easy to consume in pill form and tends to have some side effects. You need to know what are the possible side effects you may experience.

However, it is widely acknowledged that ultimately it is your own will power that can help to stop smoking, in addition to all these remedies. Be determined to achieve this goal and you will succeed.