Many people think that it will not work to improve health and restore the body after prolonged use of nicotine. People don't give up a bad habit and make addiction worse. Medicine, however, claims that a person who stops smoking benefits only one 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. During a month without cigarettes, the brain rebuilds itself, breaking the cycle of addiction.
The first hours
Just 20 minutes after the last cigarette was smoked, blood pressure, heart rate, and hand and foot temperatures 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 is reduced to 6. 25% of the usual level per day, which is 93. 75% less.
After 12 hours, the oxygen in the blood increases to normal values and the carbon monoxide decreases. The heart beats smoother, the risk of an attack is cut in half. The person rejoices with the decision made, the mood rises.
Cravings rarely appear, only for 2-3 minutes, and it's easy to get distracted from them.
First day
The activity of the recovery processes increases every day:
- Nicotine levels are reduced to negligible amounts.
- The heart rate stabilizes. The veins and arteries do not spasm.
- Taste and smell sensations are heightened.
- After three days, the volume of the lungs 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 returns to normal.
- On the sixth day, the dark mucus is removed. Inflammation of nerve endings is relieved.
In the first days, physiological changes are very active, the body is rapidly cleansing itself of poisons. Against this background, dizziness, ringing in the ears, sudden increases in blood pressure appear. The psychological state changes every day from euphoria to irritability, crying, insomnia, hunger attacks 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 necessity, but a common daily ritual.
During the next two to four weeks, due to improved blood circulation, the quality of life changes markedly:
- Shortness of breath practically disappears. Lung function increases by 30%.
- Increases sports endurance.
- Vision and hearing are improving.
- The chronic cough stops.
- The cells of the stomach, pancreas and intestines are renewed.
- The general energy level increases.
- 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 non-smokers.
- Fifth, regeneration of the liver occurs.
- Sixth: the blood will be completely renewed, breathing will be much easier, and 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 thins the cerebral cortex. There are problems with decision making, risk, lack of control over your condition, early dementia and 14% of Alzheimer's disease cases worldwide. Quitting smoking immediately is the correct conclusion. In 11 months without smoking, the bark thickens and improves the quality of thoughts, decisions and actions.
After a year, the body will make a full recovery. The risk of stroke will be 30 to 35%. The chance of a heart attack will be cut in half. The risk of cancer, liver disease will decrease by 90%.
The consequences of abruptly quitting
Quitting smoking abruptly does not always mean putting a lot of stress on the human body and psyche. When the "smoking" experience is short, the farewell will pass peacefully, if it is long, difficulties will surely appear.
Quitting smoking after 50 is more difficult due to chronic diseases. Having overcome the addiction at this age, there is the possibility of increasing the length and quality of life.
By appearance
The fears of gaining excess weight are justified, because the rejection of nicotine causes episodes of hunger, desire for sweets. These phenomena are happening. Proper nutrition helps to shed the pounds. Tomatoes, aubergines, cauliflower and potatoes contain a percentage of nicotine. These vegetables will help reduce tobacco cravings, 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 secretion, deep rales intensify. The attacks are more frequent. They are associated with cleaning the lung system of 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 the well-being
Headaches, muscle spasms associated with internal organs, appear in the first stage and soon disappear. Work capacity, memory, concentration capacity, drowsiness or insomnia deteriorate. These symptoms are normal for a non-nicotine 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 accumulate due to the loss of habitual pleasure. These phenomena last from several days to a week, disappear with time.
Nicotine withdrawal syndrome
Everything that torments in the initial stage, when a person has decided to quit smoking abruptly, 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.
Lasts from several days to two or three months, gradually weakening:
- Breathing becomes difficult, shortness of breath appears, coughing intensifies.
- Stool is disturbed, appetite is disturbed, there are unpleasant taste sensations in the oral cavity. Food becomes disgusting, constantly nauseating.
- Hands shake, 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 smoked, how many cigarettes she consumed per day.
The psychological attitude is important: if it is decisive, there is little abstinence. When forced, the symptoms will be severe and prolonged.
To do:
- Hang in there, exercise moderation.
- Use special preparations.
- Avoid smoking companies.
- Walk more.
- Get involved in a tight job.
- Change your diet. Give up alcohol.
- Increase physical activity.
- Read helpful literature.
If you have the feeling that a collapse is coming, you cannot cope - see a doctor. He will prescribe medicine for you.
What happens if you start smoking again?
Health problems will arise quickly. Taking a break from tobacco use had a beneficial effect on the functioning of all the body's systems. It stopped the development of diseases caused by prolonged use of nicotine. If an experienced rehabilitated smoker picks up on the old, problems will resume strongly, 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.