Harden Elkington
Nicotine is the addictive drug in cigarettes, and when you stop smoking, your body goes through withdrawal as it tries to adjust.
You may experience craving, irritability, anxiety, headache, difficulty sleeping, and weight gain. These symptoms usually peak within the first few days after quitting and then gradually subside.
However, for some people they can last much longer.
Your body is still processing all of the nicotine and carbon monoxides you inhaled when you were smoking, so it’s normal to feel some effects in the days immediately after quitting.
But within a few weeks, most people will notice that they’re sleeping better, breathing easier, and thinking more clearly than when they were smoking.
What happens to your body when quit smoking?
Your body will go through some changes as you recover:
- Within 20 minutes: Blood pressure and heart rate return to normal. The body temperature of the hands and feet also normalizes.
- Within 12 hours: Carbon monoxide is eliminated from the blood.
- Within 2 weeks: Chance of having a heart attack decreases.
- Within 3 months: Lung function improves.
- Within 1 year: Risk of lung cancer decreases by 50%.
- After 5 years: The risk of heart disease is the same as a non-smoker.
- After 10 years: The risk of dying from lung cancer is about the same as for someone who has never smoked.
Blood circulation after quitting smoking
Within 20 minutes of quitting, your heart rate and blood pressure drop. At this point, the body starts to look for nicotine in the bloodstream.
It begins to produce more chemicals called “cyclic adenosine monophosphate,” which are natural stimulants much like adrenaline.
The result is that you feel edgy or uncomfortable because your body is reacting as if it needs nicotine.
Within 12 hours of quitting, carbon monoxide levels normalize, and your blood oxygen level increases to full capacity.
Carbon monoxide attaches to the iron in hemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen through your body), which lowers the amount of oxygen in your cells.
When you quit smoking, carbon monoxide is eliminated from the body, and oxygen levels return to normal.
Lungs after quitting smoking
Within 2 weeks of quitting, your lungs begin to clear out mucus and other smoking debris as carbon dioxide increases. In a sense, this is your lungs’ way of cleaning themselves so they can work better.
As breathing becomes easier you will find yourself coughing more as your body clears out the last of the smoking residue.
After 3 months, breathing becomes easier and lung function improves by up to 30%. You will be able to work out harder and longer without feeling as short of breath.
After 1 year, the risk of dying from lung cancer decreases by 50%.
After 5 years, the risk of heart disease is the same as a non-smoker.
After 10 years, the risk of dying from lung cancer is about the same as for someone who has never smoked.
Why does my body feel worse after quitting smoking?
Your body feels worse after quitting smoking because it is still trying to adjust. Nicotine is an addictive drug, and when you stop smoking, your body goes through withdrawal as it tries to adjust.
You may experience craving, irritability, anxiety, headache, difficulty sleeping, and weight gain. These symptoms usually peak within the first few days after quitting and then gradually subside.
However, for some people they can last much longer.
What happens to your sinuses when you quit smoking?
While quitting smoking, many people experience sinus problems. This is because your mucus membranes are overproducing mucus in an effort to coat the inside of your nose and clear out any debris that may be causing irritation.
The result is postnasal drip, which can lead to coughing or throat clearing. You can help reduce these symptoms by drinking lots of fluids, using saline nasal spray, and resting your voice.
Your sense of smell also may be affected by quitting smoking. While quitting smoking your nose gets used to the lack of smoke in the air and reacts accordingly.
You might find that you can’t smell certain things anymore, or that food just doesn’t taste as good without smoking while eating.
This usually goes away over time, but in the meantime, you can try to increase your intake of spices and herbs to make food tastier.
What are the risks when quitting smoking?
Withdrawal symptoms are common in people who quit. You might experience nicotine withdrawal symptoms within a few hours, such as:
- Cravings for cigarettes
- Irritability and restlessness
- Difficulty concentrating and thinking clearly
You may also experience physical symptoms within the first few days, such as:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sweating
- Difficulty sleeping
Most people will experience an improvement in these symptoms within a few weeks.
However, for some people they can last much longer.
Weight gain is also common after quitting smoking. This is because your metabolism slows down after quitting, and you may replace cigarettes with food.
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How can I quit smoking?
There are many ways to quit smoking, including the following:
- Using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) such as patches, gum or lozenges
- Vaping — which means using e-cigarettes to inhale nicotine
- Quitting cold turkey — which means quitting abruptly without any medication or program
- Using medication such as Chantix or Zyban
- Joining a smoking cessation program or counseling service
Talk to your doctor about the best way for you to quit smoking.
They can help you choose the method that is most likely to work for you and give you advice on how to manage withdrawal symptoms.
Conclusion:
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States.
It claims roughly 480,000 American lives every single year.
Smoking is responsible for most cases of lung cancer and can also lead to oral or throat cancer, emphysema and heart disease.
Smoking also increases the risk of death from other diseases, such as cancer of the bladder, esophagus, stomach, pancreas and kidneys.
Quitting smoking is not easy, but it is worth it. The benefits of quitting smoking are enormous and include a longer life expectancy, reduced risk of disease, improved breathing and lung function, and better overall health.
There are many ways to quit smoking, including using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), quitting cold turkey, or using medication such as Chantix or Zyban.
Talk to your doctor about the best way for you to quit smoking and get started on your path to a healthier life.
