Many people think that it will not work to improve health and restore the body after long-term use of nicotine. People do not abandon a bad habit and exacerbate addiction. Medicine, however, claims that a person who quits smoking benefits from just an hour after the last cigarette.
Changes after quitting tobacco
The body has an amazing ability to heal itself. As soon as the poisonous tar, nicotine ceases to enter the body, the cleansing of damaged tissues begins. For a month without cigarettes, the brain is rebuilt, breaking the cycle of addiction.
The first hours
Just 20 minutes after the last cigarette smoked, blood pressure, heart rate, temperature of the hands and feet return to normal. The concentration of carbon monoxide decreases, oxygen enters the blood, tissues and blood vessels are nourished. After 8 hours, the amount of nicotine remaining in the blood decreases to 6. 25% of the usual level per day, which is 93. 75% less.
After 12 hours, oxygen in the blood rises to normal, and carbon monoxide falls. The heart beats smoother, the risk of an attack is halved. The person rejoices at the decision made, the mood rises.
Cravings rarely appear, only for 2-3 minutes, it is easy to get distracted from it.
First day
The activity of recovery processes is increasing every day:
- Nicotine levels are reduced to negligible amounts.
- The heart rate is stabilized. Veins and arteries do not experience spasms.
- The sensations of taste and smell become sharper.
- After three days, the volume of the lungs increases. The bronchi are cleared.
- The tone of the blood vessels is restored.
- The internal organs are gradually being renewed.
- By the fourth day, blood flow to the brain returns to normal.
- On the sixth day, dark mucus is cleared out. The inflammation of the nerve endings is relieved.
In the first few days, physiological changes are very active, the body is rapidly clearing itself of poisons. Against this background, dizziness, ringing in the ears, surges in blood pressure appear. The psychological state changes every day from euphoria to irritability, tearfulness, insomnia, bouts of hunger or refusal to eat, headaches.
Quitting smoking abruptly is not as difficult as living the first week without cigarettes. By overcoming this barrier, the chances of getting rid of addiction are significantly increased.
First weeks
On the seventh day, the physical addiction to tobacco ends. The body begins to function fully and normally without a nicotine supplement. Emotionally, a person at this time feels devastated.
Smoking is not a physiological need, but a common daily ritual.
Over the next two to four weeks, due to improved blood circulation, the quality of life changes markedly:
- Shortness of breath practically disappears. Lung function is increased by 30%.
- Sports endurance increases.
- Eyesight and hearing are getting better.
- The chronic cough stops.
- The cells of the stomach, pancreas, and intestines are renewed.
- The overall energy level rises.
- The immune system is strengthened.
One year later
The decision to quit smoking abruptly will change your life completely.
There is an influx of energy, health improves:
- The second month - the cells will be renewed 2-3 times.
- Third, the blood vessels will be restored.
- Fourth, the skin will change, the internal organs will return to normal, they will become like those of nonsmokers.
- Fifth - liver regeneration occurs.
- Sixth - the blood will be completely renewed, breathing will become much easier, the muscles will be stronger.
The processes continue until the end of the year, making 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 thinns the cerebral cortex. There are problems with decision-making, risk, lack of control over their condition, early dementia and 14% of cases of Alzheimer's disease 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 will recover completely. The risk of strokes will be 30–35%. The likelihood of a heart attack will be halved. The risk of cancer, liver disease will decrease by 90%.
The consequences of abruptly quitting smoking
Quitting smoking abruptly does not always mean putting a lot of stress on the psyche and the human body. When the "smoky" experience is short, the parting will pass peacefully, if it is long, then difficulties will certainly appear.
Quitting smoking after 50 is more difficult due to chronic illnesses. Having overcome addiction at this age, there is a chance to increase the duration and quality of life.
For appearance
Fears of gaining excess weight are justified, because the rejection of nicotine provokes bouts of hunger, desire for sweets. These phenomena are passing away. Proper nutrition helps to get rid of the gained pounds. Tomatoes, eggplants, cauliflower, potatoes contain a percentage of nicotine. These vegetables will help reduce cravings for tobacco, lose weight, and will not harm 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 enter, do not envelop the walls of the lungs and bronchi, and sputum discharge, deep rales intensify. Attacks occur more frequently. They are associated with cleansing the pulmonary apparatus from resins. Sometimes the process speaks of inflammation and it will not be superfluous to consult a doctor.
- Dizziness - constantly spasmodic vessels begin to expand and give such a reaction.
- Intestine - there is a restructuring, renewal of the mucous membrane, therefore, the stool is disturbed.
For well-being
Headaches, muscle spasms associated with internal organs, appear at the first stage and soon disappear. Working capacity, memory, ability to concentrate deteriorate, drowsiness or insomnia occurs. These symptoms are normal for a nicotine-free regimen. The reason is a surge of oxygen, and the body "does not know" what to do with it.
For the mood
Irritability, anxiety, depression, aggressiveness pile up due to the loss of the usual pleasure. These phenomena last from several days to a week, they disappear over time.
Nicotine withdrawal syndrome
Everything that torments at the initial stage, when a person has decided to abruptly quit smoking, is called abstinence. This is an acute shortage of constantly received substances, an attempt by the body to restore balance.
The syndrome appears shortly after the last cigarette.
It lasts from several days to two to three months, gradually weakening:
- Breathing becomes difficult, shortness of breath appears, cough intensifies.
- Stool is upset, appetite is disturbed, there are unpleasant, taste sensations in the oral cavity. The food becomes disgusting, constantly nauseous.
- Hands tremble, a person sweats, does not sleep, worries, gets irritated. Attention and memory are scattered.
- The duration of the syndrome depends on how many years a person has been a smoker, how many cigarettes he used per day.
The psychological attitude is important: if it is decisive, then there is little abstinence. When forced - the symptoms will be severe, prolonged.
What to do:
- To endure, to exercise restraint.
- Use special preparations.
- Avoid smoking companies.
- Walk more.
- Engage in tight work.
- Change your diet. Give up alcohol.
- Increase physical activity.
- Read useful literature.
If you get the feeling that a breakdown is approaching, you cannot cope - see a doctor. He will prescribe medications.
What happens if you start smoking again
Health problems will emerge rapidly. Taking a break from tobacco use has a beneficial effect on the functioning of all systems within the body. He stopped the development of diseases provoked by long-term consumption of nicotine. If a rehabilitated smoker with experience takes up the old, the problems will renew with a vengeance, become irreversible.
Having started smoking after a break, people in a very short time increase their tobacco use two to three times and cannot stop. This is how all dependencies work.