What happens if you quit smoking and how does your body respond?

The decision to quit smoking can be stressful for a person. Everything that happens to the body after quitting smoking manifests itself as severe symptoms of all internal organs. Such a change would scare anyone. The first day without nicotine is especially difficult because the lack of commonly used stimulants can lead to withdrawal syndrome.

A smoker's diary can help patients cope with the situation, in which the addict himself describes in detail everything that happens to him, understanding cause and effect.

Cigarette Butts and Physical Changes When Quitting Smoking

The pros and cons of quitting smoking

Nature is so smart that it gives a person the possibility of compensatory recovery after illness, injury, stress. Everyone's regenerative potential is very high. Therefore, quitting must ensure that regardless of the duration of their addiction to tobacco smoke and the severity of visceral damage, they can break a bad habit on their own or with the help of a specialist. The important thing is to want to do it.

be positive

Complete cessation of tobacco significantly reduces the risk of many diseases: bronchitis, tracheitis, laryngitis, pneumonia, asthma, pneumonia, destructive lesions of the bronchi. Varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, endarteritis obliterans, and diabetic foot all subside. Cholesterol levels are normalized, and with it, the development of atherosclerosis in the large arteries that supply blood to the brain and heart, kidneys and liver will slow down.

This will help prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Tobacco smoke is a strong narcotic. Purifying organs and tissues from their metabolites will allow the body to begin the process of self-repair. Clean blood flow fills cells with nutrients and oxygen, which relieves headaches, fatigue, irritability and balances blood pressure. Since there are about 90 carcinogens in cigarettes, blocking and removing them would be cancer prevention.

Surprisingly, this change starts within the first few hours without nicotine. His micro-reaction is there for a while, but for a week, for a month, it disappears without a trace. Psychological attachment to the euphoria of nightshade is more difficult.

Stress must be managed consistently and wisely. You can't ignore smoking cessation medication, you need to organize rest, fun recreation. Sometimes it's good to put your feelings on paper.

It's good to know that you "win" a trip or a trip to the theatre by giving up the purchase of tobacco products. Savings can be helpful.

unpleasant details

It should be understood that eggplant alkali is difficult to quit, mainly in the following points:

  • Pyridine poisons add emotional context, which in turn aids concentration in difficult situations.
  • The happy hormones produced by ingesting nicotine can relieve stress and help get through sadness.
  • Nightshade alkaloids create the illusion of peace, give confidence, and induce moral satisfaction.

This positive influence is hard to forget and even harder to let go of.

Its presence is required for acetylcholine receptors habituated to tobacco poison. In protest, they sparked withdrawal syndrome. If the high cigarettes lasted for a few hours when you started smoking, then over time, the high mood lasted for half an hour. So, you need to increase the doping amount.

Otherwise, the discomfort will significantly outweigh the euphoria in power and sharpness.

The sharp separation from the cigarette makes the discomfort unbearable. This is a real break. It is necessary to somehow compensate for the deficiencies of the tobacco poison metabolite niacin, otherwise unable to cope with the irritability that turns into aggression.

There are also:

  • Loss of concentration.
  • Craving for tobacco products.
  • intense hunger.
  • can not sleep.
  • Hyperhidrosis.

Only a specialist can help stop withdrawal syndrome.

The body's response to gradual and abrupt cessation of tobacco products

Everyone is different, and so is their decision to quit smoking. Some people like it immediately, some people need time. The body responds differently to the method chosen to quit smoking.

If we're talking about long-term consumers of nightshade alkaloids, saying goodbye to nicotine won't work quickly, it's going to be a slow and painful process. The novice tobacco lover has the opportunity to simply stop communicating with the cigarette and his self-healing system will cope.

However, in most cases, the response to a lack of habitual stimulants manifests as withdrawal syndrome or withdrawal.

In fact, this is a reorganization of the entire organism, with:

  • A strong craving for tobacco.
  • Inexplicably nervous.
  • The situation is close to fainting.
  • Frustrated.
  • lose power.
  • small emotions.
  • Anxiety as the phobia develops.
  • Bradycardia.
  • rash.
  • Aphthous lesions of the oral mucosa.
  • Persistent upper respiratory tract discomfort: shortness of breath, cough, sweating, runny nose, watery eyes.
  • Digestive disturbances up to colic.

Each of these symptoms may appear alone or as part of several disorders at the same time. The severity of symptoms varies from person to person.

Sometimes there is no abstinence.

cleaning phase

The release of nicotine metabolites is complex, but goes through a series of stages starting from the first few minutes of quitting smoking.

downtime body changes
half an hour The tachycardia passes, blood pressure begins to normalize, and the kidneys work more intensively, preparing to flush out toxins.
a couple of hours The kidneys remove pyridine toxic metabolites from the blood.
long time The blood is filled with oxygen and carbon monoxide is expelled from the lungs. The kidneys continue to clear nicotine, and withdrawal symptoms develop.
sky The nightshade alkaloids are completely removed, there are no replacements, and abstinence occurs.
a few days later The lungs begin to clear the tar and toxins from the cigarette. A cough occurs - a natural reaction to accumulated soot.
on the third day Lung cleaning continues. A strong hunger is created because the tobacco poison no longer blocks the satiety center of the brain, it resumes, arousing the person's appetite. In addition, blood pressure returns to normal, causing tinnitus due to the saturation of neurons with oxygen and blood flow to the brain.
fourth day The cycle returns to normal. The mucosa of the digestive tract regenerates and the pancreas begins to work normally. Thick phlegm came out.
fifth day The strong wet cough and rusty soot phlegm continued, and the taste returned.
Day 6 Painful cough and irritation due to lack of nicotine. There is a desire to go back to cigarettes.
a week Metabolites and toxins are removed. Organs and tissues have partially recovered or are beginning to recover. The liver resynthesizes endogenous nicotine to meet physiological needs. The exhausting cough persists.
the eighth day Taste and smell receptors are also restored, and food acquires meaning and becomes delicious. One eats a lot and gets better. The blood vessels are not yet stable, and the jumps in blood pressure are disturbing. The tension gradually disappeared.
ninth day The stomach recovered secretions. During this process, the lower abdomen becomes sore and stool problems occur. At this time, aphthous stomatitis, herpes, and acute respiratory infections may occur.
ten days Coughing continues. Immunity begins to recover. Emotional states are tough. Need help and support from loved ones.
11-14 days Vascular tone was restored, blood flow was normal, and dizziness and hand tremors occurred due to saturation of reactive oxygen species. The lungs are clearing. Have sleep problems.
the second half of the month The bronchial mucosa regenerates, the cough subsides, the immune system works at full capacity, the skin acquires a normal shade, the pressure is normal, and there is no indigestion. Many people think it's over and you can try a cigarette. If this happens, everything will go back to the first day of withdrawal.
next three months From the second month onwards, the work of the body is balanced. These systems work harmoniously. Toxins are eliminated in all natural ways. Hair, skin, nails get better. The lungs continue to recover. Metabolism and blood pressure normalized, weight stabilized. But abstinence is still felt.
half a year The hematopoietic system fully recovered. Coughing stopped. Sleeping is normal. The liver has regenerated. To speed up the cleaning of the lungs, physical activity is linked.
ten months This is a milestone because of the fact that the breakdown can be caused by the fact that the smoker begins to dream of smoking cigarettes, there is a strong desire to smoke tobacco products in the morning, and sleep is disturbed. Thus, in the absence of nicotine, brain activity reorganizes. Here, the ligaments are restored and the sound returns to its usual timbre. Teeth whiten and bad breath disappears.
year Almost all organs and tissues have been updated. The lungs may still be recovering. Excellent potency and normal reproductive function. There is almost no desire to smoke. "Tobacco disease" disappeared.
two years The lungs have recovered. The brain eats well. The body is so pure that accidentally smoking a cigarette is considered a first cigarette. You can plan to get pregnant.
5 years Compare the risk of stroke with non-smokers.
ten years Lung cancer is as likely as someone who has never smoked a cigarette in their mouth.
fifteen years Heart attack risk compared to non-smokers.

Many changes in the body are irreversible and over time become triggers for cellular malignancies.

These include:

  • The alveoli are destroyed, unable to get rid of resin and carcinogens.
  • Long-term non-regenerative burns of the oral mucosa can transform into hyperplasia and lip cancer.
  • Toxic damage to the oropharynx, leading to laryngeal cancer, throat cancer.

Warning: what can't be done?

A bad habit is not recommended for the first three months:

  • Taking medicines when there is no need for life.
  • Quit smoking during menstruation - guaranteed real weight gain.
  • Keep your diet the same. The body needs vitamins and minerals.

Quit Smoking Calendar

To help everyone who decides to break free from nicotine, psychologists recommend keeping a proper journal of their feelings, emotions, and thoughts.

The structure of these records consists of several parts:

  • The first is dedicated to the changes that take place in the body every day. It describes in detail the disappearance of tobacco poisoning symptoms associated with each system: nervous system, cardiovascular system, digestive system, pulmonary system, endocrine system, reproductive system, urinary system. In addition, dynamic negative and positive new symptoms were noted.
  • The second is emotions, thoughts. Here, the sensory level of everything that happens to the patient is analyzed, using self-hypnosis, self-control.
  • The third part is physiology. What the patient is attracted to, what do you want to eat, where it hurts, what type of sleep it is, what the skin looks like, the level of shortness of breath and the severity of the cough. Everything to worry about on a physiological transformation level.
  • The fourth part is what the doctor recommends and how to implement it.
  • Fifth - traditional medicines and their uses.
  • The sixth is physical exercise, what works, what doesn't, and results.
  • The seventh part is the help of loved ones. Their advice, their demands. Plan future behavioral strategies and tactics.

The usefulness and necessity of such a diary are emphasized by many people who have quit harmful addictions.

How to speed up cleaning?

While the body is a self-regulating system, there are ways to speed up the recovery process from nicotine poisoning:

  • sports. Exercise is life, so smokers will see regular physical activity from day one of kicking a bad habit. For example, running strengthens the contraction of the diaphragm and stimulates the flow of lymph, which helps remove toxins from the body. Cardiac load also affects blood. Breathing exercises will fill the lungs with oxygen and help them clear resins, carcinogens and toxins. Feel much better.
  • Cleaning medicine. Ascorbic acid, B vitamins, folic acid can make up for the lack of trace elements and biologically active substances necessary for normal metabolic processes. Help them: Chromium, Zinc, Nickel, Selenium, Manganese. Amino acids will support the synthesis of immunoglobulins. Vitamin A will act as an immune stimulant.
  • food products. Cranberry, ginger, spinach are natural stimulants of blood supply to the lungs during hematopoiesis and recovery.

There are plenty of helpers out there to help you easily say goodbye to nicotine, restore your health, and live longer.