6 Side Effects After You Quit Smoking

Making up your mind to quit smoking is easy but most of the people are afraid to cope up with the withdrawal symptoms that follow. It can be depressing for some people because physical and psychological symptoms are really hard to tolerate when they are activated.

This is not the same with everyone; this doesn’t mean that everyone who leaves smoking will experience the same nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

Read More: 20 FACTS ABOUT HOW SMOKING AFFECTS YOUR HEALTH

People who quit cigarette using cold turkey method experience worse symptoms than the individual who take help of smoking aids, counseling and support system that may include nicotine replacement therapy.

You can prepare yourself better by understanding the signs and the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal and learn how you will act when they will occur. You just have to remember that these symptoms are going to remain for less time as they will only create a temporary situation. A minimal preparation and persistent will help you through it.

1.  Nicotine Cravings 
 The desire to smoke a cigarette is commonly known as nicotine cravings, it is the most challenging and non-stoppable symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Nicotinic receptors present in the brain create the feeling of cravings. When you quit smoking the brain will not able to release the hormone that gives a pleasure affect that the body is used to it. The body has adapted the nicotine behavior and it craves for it as it is a physiological response. Nicotine cravings don’t last for more than 15 minutes. Though the cravings make a person really uncomfortable but make sure you won’t relapse and continuously remind yourself that this feeling will pass. If you think that there are chances of relapse you can use an alternative like chewing nicotine gum or taking a long walk.

2.   Weight Gain

         When you are quitting smoking, the urge to smoke has to be replaced by the something else (food). When you replace smoking with food, it will become a reason for weight gain. Soon you will experience unexplained hunger and you will feel the need to intake sweets, carbs or other food items. This will result in the excess eating of snacks and that will increase the body weight.

3.   Disturbance in Sleep

      Dopamine helps in sleep regulation so when the addict quit smoking, it creates a dysregulation of this hormone and this creates disturbance in sleep. Sleep problem is the common side effect of nicotine withdrawal.

4.   Persistent Cough

         When an individual quit smoking they develop a persistent cough and they feel scared when this happens. There is nothing to worry about as coughing is a sign that shows that your lungs are becoming better.

         When you smoke, the small finger-like projections in the covering of your air passage, called cilia, will progress toward becoming immobilized and finally they flatten out. After you quit, the cilia will come back to its typical shape and capacity, the poisonous deposits that are stored in the lungs are pushed out with the help of a cough.

        This symptom can be controlled by staying hydrated, using honey or use cough medicine to ease your throat from irritation.

5.    Mood Swings

          The most common symptoms of nicotine withdrawal are stress and irritation because it changes the function of central nervous system. This will cause an extreme change in mood, sudden irrational outbursts, it may take several physiological changes such as an increase in blood pressure, heart rate, memory problem, and problem in concentrating.

6.   Constipation

         In addition to the lungs and mind, the stomach related tract can be adversely influenced on the off chance that you quit smoking. Doing as such modifies the motility and compression of the digestive tracts, significantly moderating the speed by which food is digested.

          Every one in six smokers who leave cigarette will experience bloating or constipation that will last for one or two weeks.

Read More: WHY QUITTING SMOKING IS HARD