Smoking is an addiction that is very difficult to deal with. Cigarettes are quickly introduced into the lifestyle and without them one feels overwhelmed. Anyone who has tried to say goodbye to a destructive habit knows that it is not easy to do so. After long-term smoking, the body reacts negatively to the lack of nicotine, so complete rejection of cigarettes is accompanied by a syndrome of "withdrawal". 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 feels some discomfort at the beginning of a difficult journey. The changes scare the smoker, so many give up the idea and catch a cigarette again. Nicotine deficiency is manifested by various symptoms that indicate the onset of stress due to smoking cessation. If the experience of smoking is long, recovery will be painful and long. The restructuring process is always accompanied by psychological and physical discomfort:
- Decreased immunity - ex-smoker is prone to frequent colds. If nicotine used to serve as a doping, then without it the body gets a lot of stress. Against this background appear ARVI, acne, stomatitis and others. ;
- There is an intense cough with brown sputum - you do not need to be afraid of this, because thanks to the cough the airways are relieved of soot and soot. Over time, the ciliated epithelium resumes its work, expelling mucus and sputum accumulated in the bronchi;
- Irritability, nervousness, depression - when nicotine stops entering the body, abstinence occurs. It lasts for several days. During this period, the former smoker closely monitors people who inhale tobacco smoke, dreams of the whole process, the smell drives him crazy and causes a strong desire to smoke. If nicotine used to activate pleasure receptors, now their work is inhibited. One shows aggression, breaks down with one's loved ones. Relatives should support the ex-smoker, distract him, interest him in new hobbies. Gradually the desire will decrease, but the desire to smoke will not go anywhere;
- There are headaches and abdominal discomfort - within a few weeks the body will be cleansed of nicotine breakdown products, which normalizes the functions of all organs and systems. Lack of nicotine leads to vasospasm, abdominal pain and impaired stool. The unpleasant symptoms disappear after 2-3 weeks.
A person who has given up smoking feels very hungry, suffers from insomnia, complains of a slow pulse. He begins to rush to the food, which causes overweight. All these symptoms are complemented by bad mood and irritability. But there are also benefits to quitting smoking:
- breathing is restored within 7 days;
- bad breath disappears;
- the sense of smell returns and 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 is improved in men.
Also, the blood is saturated with oxygen, which nourishes all cells. As a result, the skin and internal organs are less susceptible to aging. The body is cleansed of toxins and toxins, immunity is increased. After a few weeks, the volume of the lungs returns to normal, and the symptoms of chronic pathologies of the respiratory system often disappear. But the main benefits of quitting smoking are reducing the risk of hypertension, lung cancer, stroke and heart attack.
Important!
Eliminating nicotine does not mean completely cleansing the body of accumulated over the years breakdown products. Recovery is gradual, usually over months or sometimes years.
Changes in the body during the day
Every 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 very great, but you will have to be patient until the body recovers. The liver produces endogenous nicotine, which maintains normal metabolism. Tobacco nicotine cannot be compared to your own and is available in larger quantities. When the level of the substance drops, the body experiences nicotine starvation, which requires a new dose. If it is not possible to get it from the outside, the liver begins to produce endogenous nicotine again. After 3 days a person can go without a cigarette, but the desire still remains.
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 addiction, difficulties in communicating with people, a desire not to stand out, etc. It is difficult to get rid of such addiction and the more experience, the moreit will be difficult for a person on the path to a healthy life. The situation is complicated by smoking friends, in whose company you should be constantly. In order not to look like a "white crow", many people inhale harmful smoke again, such a longing lasts for years and does not let go. The psychotherapist will help get rid of it, which will find the causes of pathological addiction and will be able to motivate the patient.
How are the first 10 days without nicotine
Consider how the body recovers from quitting smoking and what accompanies it:
- First day- The blood is purified from carbon monoxide and saturated with oxygen. One is proud of oneself, sure that one has overcome a bad habit and is ready to go to the end. At this stage, the desire for cigarettes is mild, easily interrupted by suggestions such as "give up cigarettes". Sometimes a person has dizziness, weakness, mild anxiety. During the first day it is difficult to fall asleep, eat, sleep is shallow and sensitive;
- Second day- ciliated epithelium begins to work better, the production of mucus in the lungs decreases, the first signs of withdrawal syndrome appear. The euphoria continues, but irritability and nervousness appear. Desires can still be suppressed by self-hypnosis, drowsiness is replaced by energy. At the physiological level there are such changes as increased appetite, a person is attracted to foods with a pronounced taste. The cough intensifies, shortness of breath develops, abdominal cramps, frequent urges to the toilet. It is difficult to fall asleep, itching is possible, the skin is tight;
- The third day- begins the recovery of the bronchi and ciliated epithelium. Blood vessels are toned, the thirst for nicotine on a physiological level decreases. On the 3rd day the nervousness increases, the addiction manifests itself more, one does not know how to be distracted and what to do. Sleep disturbing, often interrupted. Appetite increases sharply, a person is attracted to "sweet", belching and heartburn appear. When bending over, the head turns, the heart "shrinks", there is noise in the ears. The skin is scaly, it shows small dry acne;
- Fourth day. Blood flow to the brain is normalized, the stomach and pancreas continue to recover. Aggression gradually decreases, irritation can be stopped with medication. Many people improve their mood, but there is distraction, sleep is still superficial. There may be an increase in blood pressure, tinnitus, mild dizziness. Urination is normal, but there is constipation. Appetite is reduced, the desire for certain foods is noticeable. One feels a viscous mucosa in the throat, a cough appears. Many of them develop swelling of the face, fingers and ears;
- The fifth daywithout cigarettes - ulcers heal on the tongue, vascular tone is normalized. Some parts of the broncho-pulmonary system are being rehabilitated, the work of the intestines is still impaired. On the 5th day the euphoria disappears, the health condition worsens, there is a desire to smoke. At this time it is easy to break free, you can not succumb to insidious desires. The food becomes tastier, but this only applies to dairy, citrus products, etc. Loose mucus is felt in the chest or throat area, which makes it difficult to breathe. Viscous dark sputum coughs intensely;
- On the sixth daymucus secretion increases, the work of the stomach and pancreas normalizes. Withdrawal syndrome is growing with new force, there is tearing, insomnia and irritability. One is looking for cigarettes, it is difficult to restrain oneself, but it is necessary. Against this background, vegetative disorders in the form of sweating, tremor and nausea are observed. Sometimes there is pain in the hypochondrium, bitterness in the mouth, increased thirst. The dark mucus is still coughing, there are threads of blood in it;
- Seventh day- physical desire practically disappears, the body works calmly without the usual dose of nicotine. From that day on, full recovery begins. The person is devastated, but already realizes that smoking is a kind of ritual, not a physical necessity. It is important to completely protect yourself from everything related to tobacco products. The motivation to quit smoking is renewed. The mucus does not disappear, the cough is intense. Intestinal tone is normalized, but constipation may occur periodically. A week without cigarettes has a positive effect on appetite, but heartburn comes from fatty foods.
Important!
The first five days are the most difficult for a person who quits smoking. Experiencing a severe "crash". At this time, the risk of breakage is highest.
The eighth day is characterized by activation of olfactory and taste receptors. Tissue in the lungs continues to recover, but the vessels of the brain have not yet become stronger. The beginning of the second week on an emotional level is calmer. Irritability, aggression and depression are less pronounced. Psychological dependence is still present, sometimes increasing. One complains of a feeling of detachment and loss of something important, sleep is still disturbed. Food acquires a new taste, a person manages stress, which is why weight gain is added.
The ninth day is accompanied by improvement in the condition of the gastric mucosa and digestion. The broncho-pulmonary system continues to regenerate, hematopoiesis normalizes. It is difficult for people who are in the society of smokers to restrain themselves, but the smell of tobacco is already disgusting. Possible heartburn, abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea alternate. At this time it is easy to catch ARVI, herpes and allergic reactions 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 loved ones as his own motivation runs out. The mucus cough persists and can be relieved with hot drinks or food. Many people pass gray or light yellow sputum, which smells bad.
The last 4 days of the first stage of the fight against bad habits
On the eleventh day, the condition of the arterioles that supply blood to the tissues improves. Currently, metabolism and hormone levels are normalizing. This explains the change in psyche, weight loss or gain. On an emotional level, aggression and excitability arise, the thirst for nicotine increases, which is explained by the desire to understand whether there will be disgust. The unpleasant symptoms attributed to the withdrawal syndrome resume. Internal tension, tremor, dizziness are the consequences of oxygen saturation of the brain.
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 take extreme measures. Before you get rid of nicotine addiction, you need to see a doctor.
Twelfth day - chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract and lungs disappear, improves the body's defenses. The psyche is similar to day 11, a person still needs the support of loved ones. Non-smokers notice an improvement in facial skin, cough is reduced and digestion is restored.
Thirteenth day - there is an active renewal of cells, the vessels are unstable. One can try to smoke out of curiosity. There is malaise, jumps in blood pressure, weakness, heaviness in the back of the head.
The fourteenth day is characterized by healing of the bronchial mucosa, the vessels receive sufficient nutrition, the tissues recover. This day is psychologically difficult, some people try cigarettes again, motivating their behavior with the fact that they have managed to last 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.
The changes after quitting will last a long time, full recovery occurs in 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 a person has previously smoked more than one pack a day, then one 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 daywhen nicotine leaves the body. It becomes easier to breathe, the bronchi are cleared, blood pressure decreases.
How can you help yourself
If the smoker decides to finally overcome the addiction, it is necessary to act immediately. Motivation can be the desire to conceive a baby, maintain health, etc. Once you set a goal, it will be easier to quit smoking. Initially, the body needs to get the most nutrients and vitamins. In the morning on an empty stomach is recommended to drink 1 glass of warm milk. It is recommended to be more outdoors and exercise. New hobbies will help you forget and it is easier to experience separation with addiction.
Some people find it easier to fight nicotine addiction with friends or relatives. If not, read reviews on the Internet for incentives, maybe there is an online friend who also needs support.