Many people think that it does not work to improve health and restore the body after long-term use of nicotine. People don't give up a bad habit and make the addiction worse. However, medicine claims that a person who quits smoking will benefit as soon as an hour after the last cigarette.
Changes after quitting smoking
The body has an amazing ability to heal itself. As soon as the toxic tar, nicotine, no longer enters the body, the cleaning of the damaged tissue begins. For a month without cigarettes, the brain is rebuilt and the cycle of addiction broken.
The first hours
As early as 20 minutes after the last cigarette, blood pressure, heart rate, and the temperature of the hands and feet return to normal. The carbon monoxide concentration decreases, oxygen gets into the blood, tissues and blood vessels are nourished. After 8 hours, the amount of nicotine remaining in the blood is reduced to 6. 25% of the usual value per day, which is 93. 75% less.
After 12 hours, the oxygen level in the blood increases to normal and the carbon monoxide decreases. The heart beats quieter, the risk of seizures is halved. The person is happy about the decision made, the mood rises.
Cravings rarely occur, only for 2-3 minutes, and it's easy to get distracted.
First day
The activity of recovery processes increases daily:
- The nicotine level is reduced to a negligible level.
- The heart rate is stabilized. Veins and arteries do not experience cramps.
- The taste and smell sensations become sharper.
- After three days, the lung volume increases. The bronchi are cleaned.
- The tone of the blood vessels is restored.
- The internal organs are gradually renewed.
- On the fourth day, blood flow to the brain normalizes.
- On the sixth day, dark slime is cleared out. The inflammation of the nerve endings is relieved.
In the first days, the physiological changes are very active, the body quickly cleanses itself of toxins. Against this background, dizziness, ringing in the ears, increases in blood pressure occur. The mental state changes daily from euphoria to irritability, tears, insomnia, starvation or refusal to eat, headache.
Quitting smoking abruptly isn't as difficult as living without cigarettes for the first week. By overcoming this barrier, the chances of getting rid of the addiction are significantly increased.
First weeks
Physical tobacco addiction ends on the seventh day. The body begins to function fully and normally without the addition of nicotine. Emotionally, at this time, a person feels devastated.
Smoking is not a physiological need, but an everyday ritual.
In the next two to four weeks, the quality of life changes significantly due to the improved blood circulation:
- Shortness of breath practically disappears. The lung function is increased by 30%.
- The athletic endurance increases.
- Eyes and hearing become better.
- The chronic cough stops.
- The cells of the stomach, pancreas and intestines are renewed.
- The overall energy level increases.
- The immune system is strengthened.
One year later
The decision to stop smoking abruptly will change your life completely.
There is an influx of energy, health improves:
- The second month - the cells are renewed 2-3 times.
- Third, the blood vessels are restored.
- Fourth, the skin changes, the internal organs return to normal, they become like those of non-smokers.
- Fifth - liver regeneration occurs.
- Sixth, the blood is completely renewed, breathing becomes much easier, the muscles become stronger.
The processes run until the end of the year and bring about positive changes in all areas. Within a few months, the chances of erectile dysfunction decrease and the chances of a healthy sex life increase, regardless of gender.
Smoking thins the cerebral cortex. There are decision-making issues, risks, lack of control over their condition, early dementia, and 14% of Alzheimer's cases worldwide. Quitting smoking immediately is the correct conclusion. In 11 months without smoke, the bark thickens and the quality of thoughts, decisions and actions improves.
After a year, the body recovers completely. The risk of stroke is 30–35%. The likelihood of a heart attack is halved. The risk of cancer, liver disease will decrease by 90%.
The Consequences of Abruptly Quitting Smoking
Quitting smoking abruptly does not always put a lot of strain on the psyche and the human body. If the "smoky" experience is short, the parting will be peaceful; if it is long, difficulties will certainly arise.
Quitting smoking after 50 is more difficult due to chronic illnesses. After overcoming the addiction at this age, there is a chance to increase the duration and quality of life.
For the look
The fear of being overweight is justified, because refusing nicotine triggers hunger attacks and cravings for sweets. These phenomena pass. Proper nutrition will help get rid of those extra pounds. Tomatoes, eggplants, cauliflower and potatoes contain a percentage of nicotine. These vegetables will help reduce tobacco cravings, lose weight and do no harm to your health.
For internal organs
- Immunity loses a stimulant, becomes depressed. At first it is quite possible to catch a cold or catch a virus.
- Cough - poisons do not penetrate, do not envelop the walls of the lungs and bronchi and sputum, deep rattles are amplified. Attacks are more common. They are associated with cleaning the pulmonary system from resins. Sometimes the process speaks of inflammation, and it is not superfluous to see a doctor.
- Dizziness - constant spasmodic vessels begin to expand and give off such a reaction.
- Intestines - there is a restructuring, renewal of the mucous membrane, therefore the bowel movement is disturbed.
To feel good
Headache, muscle spasms related to internal organs appear in the first stage and soon go away. Work ability, memory, ability to concentrate deteriorate, sleepiness or insomnia occur. These symptoms are normal with nicotine-free treatment. The reason is a surge of oxygen and the body "doesn't know" what to do with it.
For the mood
Irritability, anxiety, depression, and aggressiveness all increase due to the loss of the usual pleasure. These phenomena last from several days to a week, they disappear over time.
Nicotine withdrawal syndrome
Anything that torments in the initial stages, when a person has decided to stop smoking abruptly, is called abstinence. This is an acute shortage of constantly ingested substances, an attempt by the body to restore balance.
The syndrome occurs shortly after the last cigarette.
It lasts for several days to two to three months and gradually weakens:
- Breathing becomes difficult, shortness of breath occurs, cough increases.
- The stool is disturbed, the appetite is disturbed, there are unpleasant taste sensations in the oral cavity. The food gets disgusting, nauseated all the time.
- Hands tremble, a person sweats, does not sleep, worries, becomes irritable. Attention and memory are scattered.
- The duration of the syndrome depends on how many years a person has been a smoker and how many cigarettes they have consumed per day.
The important thing is the psychological attitude: if it is crucial, then there is little abstinence. If forced, the symptoms will be severe and persistent.
What to do:
- Endure, exercise restraint.
- Use special preparations.
- Avoid smoking companies.
- Run more.
- Engage in close work.
- Change your diet. Refrain from alcohol.
- Increase physical activity.
- Read useful literature.
If you feel like a breakdown is approaching, you are not coping - see a doctor. He will prescribe medication.
What happens when you start smoking again?
Health problems will arise quickly. Taking a break from tobacco use had a positive effect on the functioning of all systems in the body. He stopped the development of diseases caused by long-term use of nicotine. When a rehabilitated smoker with experience takes up the old, the problems are resumed with a vengeance, become irreversible.
People who started smoking after a break, increase their tobacco consumption by two to three times within a very short time and can no longer quit. This is how all dependencies work.