Smoking is a drug addiction that is very difficult to treat. Cigarettes quickly enter the lifestyle and without them, the person feels overwhelmed. Anyone who has tried to say goodbye to a destructive habit knows that it is not easy to do so. After smoking for a long time, the body reacts negatively to the absence of nicotine, so a complete rejection of cigarettes is accompanied by a "withdrawal" syndrome. Before making a difficult decision, you need to know what will happen to the body and how to survive this period.
Pros and cons of quitting smoking
A person who decides to quit smoking experiences some discomfort at the beginning of a difficult path. Changes frighten the smoker, so many give up their idea and go back to smoking a cigarette. The lack of nicotine is manifested by various symptoms that indicate the appearance of stress due to quitting tobacco. If the smoking experience is long, the recovery will be painful and long. The restructuring process is always accompanied by psychological and physical discomfort:
- Reduced immunity: An ex-smoker is prone to frequent colds. If the previous nicotine served as doping, then without it the body undergoes severe stress. Against this background, ARVI, acne, stomatitis, etc. appear. ;
- There is a severe cough with brown sputum; you should not be afraid of it, because thanks to coughing, the airways are freed of soot and soot. Over time, the ciliated epithelium resumes its work, expels mucus and sputum that has accumulated in the bronchi;
- Irritability, nervousness, depression: When nicotine stops entering the body, withdrawal occurs. It lasts for several days. During this period, the ex-smoker closely follows people who inhale tobacco smoke, dreams of the whole process, the smell drives him crazy and causes a strong desire to smoke. If before the nicotine activated the pleasure receptors, now their work is inhibited. A person shows aggression, falls apart with loved ones. Relatives should support the ex-smoker, distract him, interest him in new hobbies. Gradually the craving will subside, but the desire to smoke will go nowhere;
- Headaches and discomfort in the abdomen appear - in a few weeks the body will be cleansed of nicotine decomposition products, due to which the functions of all organs and systems will be normalized. The absence of nicotine causes vasospasm, abdominal pain, and stool disturbance. Unpleasant symptoms will disappear after 2-3 weeks.
A person who quit smoking feels very hungry, suffers from insomnia, complains of a slow heartbeat. He begins to run towards the food, which causes excess weight. All these symptoms are complemented by bad mood and irritability. But there are also benefits of quitting smoking:
- breathing 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, its color improves;
- blood circulation is normalized, blood vessels are toned, potency improves in men.
In addition, the blood is saturated with oxygen, which nourishes all cells. Due to this, the skin and internal organs are less susceptible to aging. The body cleanses itself of toxins and toxins, increases immunity. After a few weeks, the volume of the lungs returns to normal, and 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!
Elimination of nicotine does not mean a complete cleansing of the body from its decomposition products, which have accumulated over the years. Recovery occurs gradually, usually over months or sometimes years.
Changes in the body per day.
Any narcologist will tell you what happens in the body of a man who has finally decided to get rid of nicotine addiction. Doctors say that the benefits of quitting smoking are great, but you will have to be patient while the body recovers. The liver produces endogenous nicotine, which maintains normal metabolism. The nicotine in tobacco cannot be compared to yours and comes in larger amounts. When the level of the substance drops, the body experiences nicotine starvation and demands a new dose. If it is not possible to obtain it from the outside, the liver produces endogenous nicotine again. After 3 days, a person can already do without a cigarette, but the cravings still remain.
If we talk about psychological dependence, the situation is more complicated. There are many reasons for the pathological desire to smoke, it can be an innate tendency to addictions, difficulties 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 more difficult it will be for 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 get rid of it, find out the causes of 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 is accompanied by:
- First day- The blood is purified of carbon monoxide and saturated with oxygen. A person is proud of himself, sure that he was able to overcome a bad habit and is ready to go all the way. At this stage, the craving for cigarettes is mild and is easily interrupted by suggestions such as "I quit. "Sometimes a person has dizziness, weakness, mild anxiety. The first day it is difficult to fall asleep, eat, sleep is superficial and sensitive;
- Second day- the ciliated epithelium begins to function better, the production of mucus in the lungs decreases, the first signs of withdrawal syndrome appear. The euphoria continues, but irritability and nervousness appear. Cravings can still be suppressed through self-hypnosis, sleepiness is replaced with energy. At the physiological level, there are such changes as increased appetite, a person is attracted to food with a pronounced taste. Cough intensifies, shortness of breath develops, abdominal cramps, frequent need to go to the toilet. It is difficult for a person to fall asleep, he may be itchy, the skin is tight;
- The third day- Begins the restoration of the bronchi and ciliated epithelium. The blood vessels are toned, the desire for nicotine is reduced on a physiological level. On the third day, nervousness increases, dependence manifests itself more, a person does not know how to be distracted and what to do. Disturbing sleep, often interrupted. Appetite increases sharply, a person is attracted to "sweets", belching and heartburn occur. When bending down, the head spins, the heart "shrinks", there is noise in the ears. The skin is scaly, a small dry acne is visible;
- Fourth day. Blood flow to the brain is normalized, the stomach and pancreas continue to recover. Aggressiveness gradually decreases, irritation can be stopped with medication. Many people improve their mood, but distraction is noticeable, sleep remains shallow. It is possible to increase blood pressure, tinnitus, slight dizziness. Urination is normalized, but there is constipation. Appetite is reduced, cravings for certain foods are noted. A person feels a viscous mucous lump in the throat, a cough occurs. Many develop swelling of the face, fingers, and ears;
- The fifth dayno cigarettes - ulcers heal on the tongue, vascular tone normalizes. Some sections of the bronchopulmonary system are being rehabilitated, the work of the intestines is still disturbed. On the fifth day, the euphoria disappears, the state of health worsens, there is an urge to smoke. At this time, it is easy to let go, you can not succumb to treacherous cravings. Food becomes tastier, but this only applies to dairy, citrus, etc. Loose mucus is felt in the chest area or throat, making it difficult to breathe. Viscous dark sputum is intensively expectorated;
- on the sixth daymucus secretion increases, the work of the stomach and pancreas is normalized. Withdrawal syndrome grows with renewed vigor, there is crying, insomnia and irritation. A person is looking for cigarettes, it is difficult to hold back, but it is necessary. Against this background, vegetative disorders are noted in the form of sweating, tremors and nausea. Sometimes there is pain in the hypochondrium, bitterness in the oral cavity, increased thirst. The dark mucus is still coughing up, threads of blood can be seen in it;
- Seventh day- Physical cravings practically disappear, the body works calmly 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 necessity. It is important to fully protect yourself from anything related to tobacco products. Motivation to quit smoking is renewed. The mucus does not go away, the cough is intense. The intestinal tone is normalized, but constipation can occur periodically. A week without cigarettes has a positive effect on appetite, but heartburn appears from fatty foods.
Important!
The first five days are the most difficult for a person who quits smoking. Experience a strong "break". At this time, the risk of breakage is the highest.
The eighth day is characterized by the activation of the olfactory and taste buds. The tissues of the lungs continue to recover, but the vessels of the brain have not yet been strengthened. The beginning of the second week on an emotional level passes more calmly. Irritation, aggression and depression are less pronounced. The psychological dependence is still there, sometimes it intensifies. A person complains of a feeling of detachment and loss of something important, sleep is still disturbed. Food takes on a new taste, a person takes advantage of stress, due to which body weight is added.
The ninth day is accompanied by an improvement in the state of the gastric mucosa and digestion. The bronchopulmonary system continues to regenerate, hematopoiesis normalizes. It is difficult for people who are in the society of smokers to contain themselves, but the smell of tobacco is already unpleasant. Possible heartburn, abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea replace each other. At this time, it is easy to get 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 cause difficulties. At this stage, a person needs the support of his loved ones, since his own motivation is running out. The cough with mucus continues and can be relieved with warm drinks or food. Many people produce gray or light yellow sputum that smells bad.
The last 4 days of the first stage of the fight against a bad habit
On the eleventh day, the condition of the arterioles, which carry blood to the tissues, improves. At this time, metabolism and hormone levels are normalizing. This explains the change in the psyche, the decrease or increase in weight. At the emotional level, aggression and excitability arise, the desire for nicotine intensifies, explained by the desire to know if there will be disgust. Unpleasant symptoms resume, which are attributed to the withdrawal syndrome. Internal tension, tremor, 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 go to extreme measures. Before getting rid of nicotine addiction, you need to visit a doctor.
Twelfth day: chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract and lungs decreases, the protective functions of the body improve. The psyche is similar to the 11th day, a person still requires the support of loved ones. Non-heavy smokers notice an improvement in facial skin, cough decreases and digestion is restored.
Thirteenth day - there is an active renewal of cells, the vessels are unstable. A person may try to smoke out of curiosity. There is general 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 receive sufficient nutrition, and the tissues are restored. This day is psychologically difficult, some try a cigarette again, motivating their behavior by the fact that they managed to hold out for a long time, and 1 dose of nicotine will not hurt. At the physiological level, the cough subsides, the yellow color of the skin gradually disappears, lethargy, weakness and drowsiness appear.
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 before a person smoked more than a pack a day, one year after quitting cigarettes, the risk of stroke or heart attack is reduced by 2 times and cancer is reduced by 3. The effect can be seen from the first day when the nicotine leaves the body. It becomes easier to breathe, the bronchi are cleared, blood pressure decreases.
How can you help yourself?
If a smoker finally decides to overcome the addiction, it is necessary to act immediately. The motivation can be the desire to conceive a baby, maintain health, etc. Having set a goal, it will be easier to quit cigarettes. At first, 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 do sports. New hobbies will help you forget and it is easier to survive breaking away from an addiction.
Some people find it easier to fight nicotine addiction with friends or loved ones. If there is none, they read reviews on the Internet to stimulate themselves, maybe there is a friend online who also needs support.