The history of smoking dates back several millennia. It also exists in our country, where tobacco is very popular. The majority of the population suffers from nicotine addiction, although everyone knows that this habit is harmful to the body. Tobacco use continues, but many are trying to break the killing habit. Only a small percentage are successful. Information about what happens to the body when you quit smoking will become an additional motivation and will facilitate the path to achieving your goal.
The health effects of smoking
When you constantly inhale tobacco smoke, the following happens to your body:
- heart rate increases;
- blood pressure rises;
- the gastric mucosa is irritated;
- the brain experiences oxygen starvation;
- immunity decreases;
- develops shortness of breath, chronic cough;
- Teeth turn yellow.
This is just a small list, but in fact smoking affects almost all organs and systems of the human body. The result is a huge risk of acquiring lung cancer, heart attack or stroke. And here are not counted the most common diseases: tracheitis, bronchitis, hypertension, gastritis and others.
It must be understood that the human psyche also suffers from tobacco. Cigarette addiction, which to a greater or lesser extent develops in every smoker, is a special form of drug addiction.
Harm to tobacco combustion products
To understand what happens to the body when you quit smoking, you need to know what tobacco smoke is. When a cigarette is lit, about 4, 000 different chemicals are released. These include:- acetone;
- carbon monoxide;
- hydrogen cyanide;
- lead;
- arsenic;
- antimony.
There is a very toxic substance that belongs to the first class of danger - benzopyrene. And carcinogens have a detrimental effect on the body. They provoke the appearance of tumors. To a small extent, nicotine is included in the structure of tobacco, but it is one of the most dangerous enemies. Due to this substance, an unhealthy addiction to smoking occurs.
What will happen to the person?
Realizing that smoking is harmful, people try to get rid of this weakness. However, it is necessary to assume in advance that both positive and negative sides will appear. If you quit smoking, there will be the following positive changes:
- will breathe easier;
- new powers will appear;
- the food will taste bright;
- will sharpen your sense of smell;
- the face will acquire a healthy complexion.
But when you quit smoking, there are negative effects:
- blood pressure decreases;
- is dominated by weakness and apathy;
- emotional instability (everything is annoying, it is impossible to fall asleep, depression);
- weight gain;
- dizziness, headache.
Of course, not everyone will have certain symptoms. The body is so individual that it is impossible to predict its reaction. But in general, everyone goes through approximately the same processes.
If a woman quits smoking, the consequences for her are no different, except perhaps in a more labile psycho-emotional state, as the fairer sex is naturally more hot-tempered than men. How to quit smoking during pregnancy?
What happens to the body?
When you quit smoking, recovery is seen in almost all organs and tissues. Eventually, harmful substances begin to be gradually eliminated. But what exactly are the consequences and benefits of quitting smoking? The main changes that occur in the body of a woman or man after quitting:
- the blood is oxygenated;
- vasoconstriction is eliminated;
- inhalation volume increases;
- improves the supply of oxygen to the brain, improves concentration, thought processes and memory.
Such processes have positive effects on the body:
- the risk of thrombosis is minimized;
- boosts immunity;
- After one year, the risk of heart attack or stroke will begin to decrease.
Of course, positive changes do not happen in a few days, it must take some time. But the main thing is to quit smoking, at least to start this process. And you won't have to wait long for positive changes. Although you need to adjust to overcome the difficulties, especially if the tobacco has been abused for a long time.
When nicotine and other harmful substances contained in tobacco smoke stop entering the body, the results appear in just one hour. On the one hand, they are positive - the dose of nicotine in the blood decreases by 50%. On the other hand, not very pleasant - there is a desire to smoke again. This stage must be endured and after ten hours the blood will be even more purified. And after thirteen hours the vessels will react and the pressure will return to normal.
By days
Now let's find out what happens to the body every day when you quit smoking.
- When the day is over, there will be virtually no carbon monoxide in the blood, as nicotine is completely metabolized in the body. The psycho-emotional state will be moderately anxious.
- On the second day a person often has disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, constipation; taste buds become more sensitive. The mood will be unstable, insomnia will appear.
- After the third day, the brain and heart will be better supplied with blood. Dopamine levels will gradually increase as they decrease by 15-20% during smoking
- After four days, the condition of the body will stabilize. But intestinal peristalsis reacts negatively to the lack of nicotine. Psycho-emotionally there is a real "withdrawal", irritability increases. To reduce it, appropriate drugs are used.
- By the end of the fifth day, the cough becomes easier. Recovery begins in the lining of the mouth, which is reflected in the improvement of the taste of food.
- After the sixth day, the functions of the digestive system return to normal. The nervous system is still agitated, thirst is felt constantly.
- Seven days - on this day the emptiness is strongly felt inside. At the physiological level, intestinal activity is normalized, although sometimes stool disorders may recur. Appetite increases significantly and heartburn may occur.
Monthly
When I quit smoking, the effects on the body for months are as follows.
- First. There is regeneration of the bronchial mucosa, immunity increases. The skin completely loses the yellow color characteristic of smokers. Appetite increases, which contributes to weight gain. Coughing and shortness of breath occur, especially in the morning. Also, periodically there are headaches, dizziness, sudden changes in pressure. The attachment is still strong. This is expressed in a depressed mood. Friendly support is needed.
- The second is the fourth. The brain functions better and appetite stabilizes.
- Fifth - eighth. The recovery process continues in the respiratory system. The cough almost stops.
- The ninth. This is a turning point when you want to return to a bad habit. It is necessary to avoid provocative situations and to communicate more with nature.
- Tenth to twelfth. Health is getting stronger, you can give your body serious physical activity. The emotional background is quite stable. The risk of serious illness is reduced.
Is it safe to quit after 40 years?
There is such an idea: if you quit smoking after 40 years, the consequences for the body will be unpredictable. But what happens to a person when he quits smoking after 40? Lack of tobacco has a strong effect on the psycho-emotional state: apathy occurs, efficiency decreases. If you quit smoking after prolonged addiction, then the negative temporary effects are more pronounced: cough, shortness of breath, airway obstruction with bronchial mucus, weakness and even fainting - all this can cause significant inconvenience.
To reduce the unpleasant symptoms, you should consult a doctor for medication. Despite all the negative symptoms, the benefits of quitting smoking are much greater.
Conclusion
- When you quit smoking, there are different consequences for the body. They are expressed in both positive aspects (improvement of brain function, reduction of the risk of stroke and heart attack) and negative (lowering of blood pressure, weakness, cough, shortness of breath, nervousness, stool disorder).
- The main thing is that giving up this bad habit reduces the risk of acquiring or developing serious diseases in the future.