Smoking Effects

The first few days after quitting smoking are the most difficult and the hardest to get through. Cravings are what most smokers have a problem with when quitting cigarettes. There are also other withdrawal symptoms and side effects after you stop cigarettes.

These include :

• Headaches, indigestion, nausea, diarrhea, sore throat. Normally they tend to last for up to 4 days after quitting smoking. Over-the-counter medication can relieve these symptoms if they are serious.

• Lack of sleep / insomnia and dreaming increase. Try to drink less decaffeinated drinks and increase your juice or milk intake instead.

• Coughing as your body cleans out the tar and mucus in your lungs

• You might feel irritated, depressed or anxious as the nicotine levels decrease from your system. This should lessen in 1 to 3 weeks.

• Increase in your appetite and a possible weight gain.

• Tendency to feel tired with lack of concentration.

The only way to get over them is learn how to get through them by applying your will-power and determination. To smoke or not to smoke is your decision and responsibility. The deep cravings will usually last about  3-5 minutes then their intensity and frequency begins to subside.

Look and focus on your reasons for quitting cigarettes. Do deep breathing through your nose and out from the mouth. Drink some water slowly, tasting it as you do. Keep yourself busy as this will occupy your mind with something to think about other than smoke. Work out a strategy of how you will cope with these cravings when they come. Take a walk. Call a friend.
Soon after quitting smoking  the cravings are severe but as you hang in there they get more bearable as the smoking effects lessen  .