The Side Effects of Quitting Smoking

Fact is smoking cessation could be a very hard task but anyone can do it. Some may have tried but still going back to the bad habit. This is due to the effect of nicotine which tells the brain to crave for more of it.

Nicotine is as highly addictive as heroin and cocaine. Eventually, an individual gets too emotionally and physically hooked on nicotine. To successfully quit, a smoker must made a commitment to himself to quit and to stay quit.

How is the process of the intake of nicotine in the body? As a smoker or those who inhale the smoke from cigarettes, the nicotine is transmitted deep within the lungs, wherein it is consumed rapidly through the bloodstream and passed all throughout the body. Nicotine has an effect on many vital parts of the body such as the heart, blood vessels, hormonal system, metabolism as well as the brain. Nicotine goes to the breastmilk and also in cervix mucus emission of a smoker. Pregnant smokers give a chance for nicotine to be absorbed by the placenta and be taken by newborn little one. Nicotine can be found on the umbilical cord blood of the newborn baby.

A normal smoker would retain in his body the nicotine and its spin-off like cotinine for 3-4 days of stopping. It takes various factors for a person who smokes to eliminate every toxin caused by smoking.

When smokers attempt to quit, the absence of nicotine in their body cause them withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawals affect both physical and mental aspect of a person. Physically, because the body response to the deficiency of nicotine. Mentally on the other hand because a smoker is facing a difficult stage of surrendering a habit wherein there will be a great change in the activities.

Withdrawal symptoms involve dizziness which usually occurs within 1-2 days once a smoker quits, depression and emotions like frustration, impatience and anger. A smoker may feel irritable and anxious. Sleeping disturbances may also occur like having hard to fall asleep and staying asleep. Withdrawal also tends to give trouble in concentrating, restlessness, tiredness, headaches and increased in appetite.