QUIT SMOKING

By Trevor Johnson






Just as with any drug your body goes through a physical and psychological withdrawal process when you quit smoking as a result of your body's nicotine dependency. The symptoms reach maximum power at about 2 days. Some of most common withdrawal symptoms are:

Cravings - Tobacco carvings are the most common withdrawal symptom. The first couple of days are the worst. However cravings will fluctuate for weeks even years after you have stopped smoking. The cravings can be compared to those of a dieter who wants chocolates and chips.

Mouth ulcers.

Blisters, sores and inflammation are often caused by the lack of chemicals contained in the cigarettes which your mouth has grown use to over the years.

Coughing- Coughing is the means employed by lungs and the upper respiratory system to get rid of the toxins that built-up over the years of smoking. Some quitters complain about tightness in the chest accompanying the coughing. This is as a result of the more fresh air filling the normally smoke filled lungs. The colour of the mucus produced by the couching can range from brown to black.

Irritability and lack of concentration.

Tension and cravings make the quitter irritable as well as lacking in concentration.

Sleepiness and other sleep related problems.

Smokers believe that smoking boosts their energy levels. Once they quite smoking they lack in energy which in turn makes them sleepy. The quitter can also have other sleeping problems such as sleeplessness from coughing or cravings.

Health advantages to quitting.

Within just 20 minutes after smoking your last cigarette you will see and feel changes in your body. Changes of course for the better. Stabilisation in body temperature, blood pressure and pulse rate. Oxygen and Carbon Monoxide levels in your body return to normal after a mere 8 hours of quitting. The chances of a heart attack decreases significantly after just 24 hours. Within a couple of months you will walk better and faster due to increased circulation. Your lung function will also increase by a third. After a year your chances of heart disease will be 50% less than that of a smoker, you will feel more energised and repertory diseases as well as allergies related to smoking are eliminated.