Quit Smoking Symptoms
Once a smoker, always a smoker – this is what unrepentant smokers tell themselves. While the reasons for not wanting to stop vary from one smoker to another, fear is often a factor. Smokers fear the many quit smoking symptoms they know they will suffer from once they decide to stop smoking. This article discusses the more common symptoms – and why they’re worth experiencing in the end.
Quit smoking symptoms can really be a hassle. They are uncomfortable and stressful, pushing smokers who have started to quit go back to their old, dirty habit. The most typical of these symptoms is anger, which is very understandable, considering the pressure of having to stay away from a stick. The moment you stop smoking, your brain chemistry has trouble working properly because nicotine, an element that’s always been present, is suddenly absent from your system. This makes you have a short temper and become cranky a day or two after you’ve smoked your last cigarette and well on into the process.
Another common symptom you may suffer from when you decide to stop smoking is dizziness, which is sometimes accompanied with headaches. Quitting smoking allows your body to begin fixing the red blood cells that have been damaged by too much carbon monoxide, but within a couple of days, 15% of the dysfunctional blood becomes normal again. The dizziness is actually a result of the extra oxygen your blood is now giving your brain. The headaches are due to the fact that your body has been so used to nicotine and is feeling the substance’s absence. Taking painkillers and avoiding caffeinated drinks can help you deal with the discomfort that these quit smoking symptoms bring.
Typical quit smoking symptoms are cravings and hunger, which are often mistaken to be one and the same by an affected smoking quitter. When you quit smoking, your body will soon notice the lack of nicotine in your system. This prompts your system to look for it and your brain sends signals that urge you to smoke, which you may take for hunger. These cravings will be around in the first few weeks after you quit smoking. You can curb them by chewing nicotine-flavored gum.
Insomnia is among the usual quit smoking symptoms. Again, the absence of nicotine sends your brain into a haze, which results in your having trouble sleeping. Moreover, when you quit smoking, you’re sure to think about lighting just a single cigarette every minute. This stressful thinking sends your brain into overdrive, making it hard for you to fall asleep easily.
Other quit smoking symptoms include constipation, cough, and a sore and itchy throat. The degree of pain is different with every smoker. Together, these symptoms work to convince you to stop your resolve to quit smoking. They are sure to be annoying and irritating, but they are nevertheless a much better alternative to having an early death caused by smoking. Besides, you’ll only experience them for a few weeks. Afterwards, you can live a smoke-free life without any difficulty.
