There are many different quit smoking symptoms that appear
in smokers who are trying to quit. The range of symptoms is quite wide but
luckily, most smokers will not suffer all of the symptoms, only one or two.
Nevertheless, some of the symptoms can be quite uncomfortable and can motivate
smokers to start up and abandon quitting.
In alphabetical order, the most common quit smoking symptoms
are:
Quit smoking symptom #1: Anger: When you quit smoking, your
brain chemistry isn't able to work normally because you haven't any nicotine in
your system. As a result, smokers who have been off the smokes for a day or too
can get a bit cranky. They tend to be pretty unpleasant company and are liable
to fly off the handle pretty easily.
Quit smoking symptom #2 Bad Breath (Halitosis): This is one
of the more anti-social of quit smoking symptoms. Many people recommend chewing
gum as this not only gives your mouth something to do but also covers up the
bad odour. What most smokers don't realise is that they had bad breath anyway.
It is only because they quit smoking that they actually came to notice it!
Quit smoking symptom #3 Constipation: It is not known
specifically why, but many smokers complain of constipation when they quit
smoking. The intestinal tract tends to slow down but it is normally only
temporary. The only recommended remedies are to drink plenty of water and eat
plenty of high fibre foods such as wholemeal and fruits.
Quit smoking symptom #4 Cough: When you quit smoking, the
lungs finally get a moment to start cleaning themselves the way they are
supposed to. This process doesn't work normally when smoking every hour or so.
The body is simply expelling the mucus that has accumulated over the years.
This wet cough should only last a week or two and it is your body naturally
cleaning itself from the inside.
Quit smoking symptom #5 Cravings: When you quit smoking, you
stop taking in a regular supply of nicotine. After only 3 days there is none
left in your body. As such, because your brain is so used to nicotine it
'wonders' where it is and asks for more by giving you cravings to smoke. Your
best course of action is to distract yourself for a while. The average craving
only lasts a minute or two and they become fewer and farther between over time.
Quit smoking symptom #6 Dizziness: When you quit smoking,
your body starts fixing the red blood cells that have been handicapped with
carbon monoxide. After a couple of days, the 15% of a smoker's blood that was
dysfunctional becomes proper working blood again. The dizziness is a side
effect of the extra oxygen your blood is delivering to your brain!
Quit smoking symptom #7 Headaches: Your body has been used
to nicotine within the system whilst you were a smoker. Now that the nicotine
has subsided, your brain chemistry is trying to reset itself. Sometimes this
manifests in headaches. To deal with this, your best bet is to avoid
caffeinated drinks such as coffee or cola and drink plenty of water. Take some
painkillers when required.
Quit smoking symptom #8 Hunger: Craving for cigarettes can
be confused with hunger. You have been used to having a cigarette (or
something) in your mouth about once every hour for the last few years. That is
now gone. Try sucking a straw, eating low-calorie raw vegetables or chewing
gum. Don't turn to chocolate or potato chips - you will get fat!
Quit smoking symptom #9 Insomnia: Because the nicotine your
brain was used to is no longer there, the brain isn't working the way it is
used to. As a result, it may keep you in a bit of a nervous panic that stops
you being able to sleep. Have a hot bath and a hot drink and see if you can't
nod off like normal.
Quit smoking symptom #10 Sore throat: Your body has been
used to secreting plenty of mucus in your airways whilst you were a smoker to
deal with the irritation of the smoke. When you quit, it stops producing this
mucus and leaves you with a dry throat that becomes sore. Drink plenty of water
to try and alleviate the symptoms. If they get really bad, try an over-the-counter
anaesthetic spray.
All of these quit smoking symptoms will conspire against
you. They will irritate and annoy you when you try to quit smoking. But
remember, they are just symptoms and they will all pass in time. As irritating
and annoying as they all are, none of them are as tedious as an early death
from cigarettes!
Whatever you do when you are trying to quit smoking, my
advice is to never stop trying to quit.
Pete Howells has written the EasyQuit System
that will help any smoker quit tobacco. He also blogs quit smoking advice at http://quit-smoking-motivator.blogspot.com Visit http://easyquitsystem.com/
to find out more about his incredible process for quitting smoking that boasts
96% customer satisfaction.
