Smoking is a drug addiction that is very difficult to deal with. Cigarettes are quickly introduced into the lifestyle, and without them one feels overwhelmed. Everyone who has tried to say goodbye to destructive habits knows that it is not easy to do this. After prolonged smoking, the body reacts negatively to the absence of nicotine, so complete cigarette rejection is accompanied by "withdrawal" syndrome. Before making a difficult decision, you need to know what will happen to the body and how to survive during this period.
The pros and cons of quitting smoking
Someone who decides to quit smoking experiences a bit of discomfort at the beginning of a difficult journey. The change scares smokers, so many give up their ideas and take up cigarettes again. Nicotine deficiency is indicated by a variety of symptoms that indicate the onset of stress as a result of smoking cessation. If the smoking experience is long, recovery will be painful and long. The process of restructuring is always accompanied by psychological and physical discomfort:
- Reduced immunity - ex -smokers are prone to frequent colds. If nicotine earlier serves as doping, then without it the body gets severe stress. Against this background, ARVI, acne, stomatitis, etc. appear;
- There is a strong cough with brown sputum - you do not have to be afraid, because thanks to the cough, the respiratory tract is freed from soot and soot. Over time, the ciliated epithelium continues its work, pushing out mucus and sputum that has accumulated in the bronchi;
- Irritability, nervousness, depression - when nicotine stops entering the body, withdrawal occurs. It lasted for several days. During this period, the former smoker closely follows the person who inhales tobacco smoke, he dreams of the whole process, the smell drives him crazy and causes a strong desire to smoke. If previously nicotine activated pleasure receptors, now their work is hindered. Someone shows aggression, harms a loved one. Relatives should support the ex-smoker, distract him, interest him in a new hobby. Gradually, the desire will diminish, but the desire to smoke will not go anywhere;
- Headaches and discomfort in the abdomen appear - in a few weeks the body will be cleared of the decomposition products of nicotine, by which the function of all organs and systems is normalized. The absence of nicotine causes vasospasm, abdominal pain, and impaired stools. The unpleasant symptoms will disappear after 2-3 weeks.
Someone who quits smoking feels very hungry, suffers from insomnia, complains of a slow heartbeat. She started rushing to food, which caused her to be overweight. All these symptoms are accompanied by bad mood and irritability. But there are also benefits to quitting smoking:
- respiration is restored within 7 days;
- bad breath disappears;
- the sense of smell returns and the taste buds begin to function normally;
- after a month, the blue circles under the eyes disappear, the skin becomes more elastic, the color improves;
- blood circulation becomes normal, blood vessels become tighter, potency improves in men.
Also, the blood is saturated with oxygen, which nourishes all cells. Due to this, the skin and internal organs are less prone to aging. The body is cleansed of toxins and toxins, immunity is increased. After a few weeks, lung volume returns to normal, and symptoms of chronic pathology of the respiratory system often disappear. But the main benefit of quitting smoking is that it reduces the risk of hypertension, lung cancer, stroke and heart attack.
Important!
The removal of nicotine does not mean a complete cleansing of the body from its decay products, which have accumulated over the years. Recovery occurs gradually, usually in a few months or sometimes years.
Changes in the body by day
Any narcologist will tell you about what is going on in the body of a man who has decided to finally get rid of nicotine addiction. Doctors say that the benefits of quitting smoking are enormous, but you have to be patient while the body recovers. The liver produces endogenous nicotine, which maintains normal metabolism. Tobacco nicotine cannot be compared to your own nicotine, and it comes in larger quantities. When substance levels drop, the body experiences nicotine starvation, demanding new doses. If it is not possible to get it from the outside, the liver begins to produce endogenous nicotine again. After 3 days, one can already do it without cigarettes, but the desire still remains.
If we talk about psychological dependence, the situation is more complicated. There are many reasons for a pathological desire to smoke, it can be a natural tendency to addiction, difficulty in communicating with people, a desire not to stand out, etc. It is difficult to get rid of such dependence, and the more experience, the harder it is for a person on the journey to a healthy life. The situation is complicated by smoking friends, where you have to always be in the company. In order not to look like a "white crow", many people once again inhale harmful smoke, such a desire lasts for years and does not let go of a person. A psychotherapist will help get rid of it, who will find out the cause of the pathological addiction and will be able to motivate the patient.
How about the first 10 days without nicotine
Consider how the body recovers after quitting a cigarette and what accompanies:
- First day- Blood is purified of carbon monoxide and saturated with oxygen. A person is proud of himself, for sure he can overcome bad habits and be ready to go to the end. At this stage, the desire for cigarettes is mild, easily distracted by suggestions such as "I quit smoking. " Sometimes a person experiences dizziness, weakness, mild anxiety. On the first day, difficult to sleep, eat, sleep is shallow and sensitive;
- The second day-the ciliated epithelium begins to function better, the production of mucus in the lungs decreases, the first signs of withdrawal syndrome appear. Euphoria persists, but irritability and restlessness appear. Cravings can still be suppressed with self -hypnosis, drowsiness being replaced with energy. At the physiological level, there are changes such as increased appetite, a person is attracted to food with a clear taste. Cough intensifies, shortness of breath develops, abdominal cramps, frequent desire to go to the toilet. Difficult for a person to sleep, itching possible, tight skin;
- The third day- recovery of the bronchi and ciliated epithelium begins. Blood vessels become tight, the craving for nicotine at the physiological level decreases. On the 3rd day, the anxiety increases, the dependence becomes more real, one does not know how to be distracted and what to do. Sleep is disturbed, often disturbed. Appetite increases dramatically, a person is attracted to "sweets", belching and heartburn occur. When bending, the head rotates, the heart "shrinks", noise in the ears. The skin is peeling, small dry pimples appear on it;
- forth day. Blood flow to the brain becomes normal, the stomach and pancreas continue to recover. Aggression is gradually reduced, irritation can be stopped with medications. Many people improve their mood, but unconsciously observed, sleep is still shallow. It is possible to increase blood pressure, tinnitus, mild dizziness. Urination becomes normal, but there is constipation. Appetite decreases, cravings for certain foods are noticeable. Someone feels a lump of viscous mucus in the throat, a cough occurs. Many suffer from swelling of the face, fingers and ears;
- The fifth daywithout cigarettes - ulcers heal on the tongue, vascular tone becomes normal. Some parts of the bronco-pulmonary system are being restored, bowel work is still disrupted. On the 5th day, the euphoria disappears, the health condition worsens, there is a desire to smoke. At this time, it is easy to escape, you can not succumb to treacherous desires. Food becomes tastier, but this only applies to dairy, citrus products, etc. Loose mucus is felt in the chest area or in the throat, which makes it difficult to breathe. Viscous dark sputum is coughed up intensively;
- On the sixth dayincreased mucus secretion, the work of the stomach and pancreas becomes normal. Withdrawal syndrome develops with renewed vigor, there are tears, insomnia and irritability. Someone is looking for a cigarette, hard to resist, but necessary. Against this background, vegetative disorders can be seen in the form of sweating, tremors, and nausea. Sometimes there is pain in the hypochondrium, bitterness in the oral cavity, increased thirst. Dark mucus is still coughing, you can see the blood threads in it;
- the seventh day- physical desire is almost gone, the body works calmly without the usual dose of nicotine. From that day on, full recovery began. The person is devastated, but is already aware that smoking is a kind of ritual, and not a physical necessity. It is important to protect yourself completely from everything related to tobacco products. Motivation to quit smoking is renewed. The mucus is not lost, the cough is very strong. Bowel tone is normalized, but constipation may occur periodically. A week without smoking has a positive effect on appetite, but heartburn arises from fatty foods.
Important!
The first five days are the hardest for someone to quit smoking. He suffered a strong "breakdown". Currently, the risk of rupture is the highest.
The eighth day is characterized by olfactory activation and taste buds. The tissues in the lungs continue to recover, but the brain channels have not yet become stronger. The beginning of the second week on the emotional level goes calmer. Irritability, aggression and depression are less pronounced. Psychological dependence is still there, sometimes it gets stronger. Someone complains of feeling missed and missing something important, sleep is still disturbed. Food acquires a new taste, a person seizes the pressure, as his weight is added.
The ninth day is accompanied by an improvement in the condition of the gastric and digestive mucosa. The bronco-pulmonary system continues to regenerate, hematopoiesis becomes normal. It’s hard for people in the smoking community to restrain themselves, but the smell of tobacco is already disgusting. The possibility of heartburn, abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea replace each other. Currently, it is easy to catch ARVI, herpes and allergic reactions appear.
The tenth day - the recovery process continues, immunity gradually improves. Cigarettes no longer evoke painful thoughts, but people who smoke nearby cause inconvenience. At this stage, a person needs the support of a loved one, as his or her own motivation is declining. Cough with persistent mucus and can be eliminated with hot drinks or food. Many people produce a foul -smelling gray or light yellow sputum.
The last 4 days of the first rank fight bad habits
On the eleventh day, the condition of the arterioles, which send blood to the tissues, improves. During this time, metabolism and hormone levels become normal. This explains changes in the psyche, weight loss or gain. On an emotional level, aggression and excitement arise, the craving for nicotine increases, explained by the desire to know whether there will be disgust. Unpleasant symptoms resume, which are associated with withdrawal syndrome. Internal tension, tremors, dizziness are the result of over -saturation of the brain with oxygen.
Important!
It is believed that you can quit smoking abruptly only if the experience does not exceed 5 years. In other cases, it is not recommended to go to extreme measures. Before you get rid of nicotine addiction, you need to visit a doctor.
Twelfth day - chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract and lungs is reduced, the protective function of the body is improved. The soul is similar to the 11th day, one still needs the support of loved ones. Non -hardcore smokers noted an increase in facial skin, reduced coughing, and restored digestion.
Thirteenth day - there is active renewal of cells, unstable vessels. One might try to smoke out of curiosity. There is discomfort, jumps in blood pressure, weakness, heaviness in the back of the head.
The fourteenth day is characterized by healing of the bronchial mucosa, vessels receive adequate nutrition, tissues are restored. Today it is psychologically difficult, some people try cigarettes again, motivating their behavior by the fact that they manage to last a long time and 1 dose of nicotine will not harm. At the physiological level, the cough subsides, the yellow color of the skin gradually disappears, lethargy, weakness and drowsiness appear.
The changes after quitting smoking will continue 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 previously a person smoked more than one pack a day, then a year after quitting smoking, the risk of stroke or heart attack is reduced by 2 times, and cancer by 3. The effect can be seen on the first day when nicotine leaves the body. It becomes easier to breathe, the bronchi are cleared, blood pressure is reduced.
How can you help yourself
If a smoker decides to eventually overcome the addiction, it is necessary to act immediately. Motivation can be a desire to conceive a baby, maintain health, etc. Once you set a goal, it is easier to quit smoking. Initially, 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 be more outdoors and play sports. New hobbies will help you forget and make it easier to survive parting with addiction.
Some people find it easier to fight nicotine addiction with a friend or loved one. If not, they read reviews on the Internet for stimulation, there may be online friends who also need support.