Saturday, December 11, 2010

Quit Smoking Side Effects - A List of What to Expect

I'm sure you've heard about some of the quit smoking side effects. You want to be prepared and know what to expect right? Besides, quitting smoking has been compared to trying to break free from a heroin addiction. Not pleasant! Today's guide will help prepare you for what to expect, and how to counteract some of the side effects.

First, let's start with the list:

Withdrawal symptom - Duration - Proportion of people affected

Irritability/aggression - Less than 4 weeks - 50%
Depression - Less than 4 weeks - 60%
Restlessness - Less than 4 weeks - 60%
Poor concentration - Less than 2 weeks - 60%
Increased appetite - Greater than 10 weeks - 70%
Light-headedness - Less than 48 hours - 10%
Night-time awakenings - Less than a week - 25%
Craving - Greater than 2 weeks - 70%

More Quit Smoking Side Effects

Mays people give up quitting because they find the symptoms too strong to deal with, or are caught off guard. Believe it or not, these symptoms are good news, signs that your body is purging the harmful chemicals left in your body from cigarette smoking.

Here are some additional quit smoking side effects - While they don't occur in everyone, you should expect to experience at least 1 or 2 of the symptoms from this list.

Dizziness. Your body has an increase in oxygen levels due to your lungs now not being filled with smoke. For the first one to five days be aware of the possibility of becoming dizzy when moving too fast.

Coughing, mucous, phlegm: During the first week days your body is clearing itself of a buildup of mucous. Your nose may run and you may have coughing spells. Drink plenty of fluids to facilitate the process.

Sore throat: Again, the body is ridding itself of built up nicotine and tar. Suck on sweets, drink hot tea with honey (decaffeinated), and use throat lozenges or spray. This typically lasts one to five days.

Gaseous Stomach and Constipation: During the first one to two weeks your bowels may have an increase in gas and a decrease in bowel movements. Adding fiber to your diet and increasing your water intake should help to relieve the problem.

Headaches: During the first one to two weeks you may experience headaches. This is due to an increase in blood flow which contains more oxygen to the back of the brain. Drink lots of fluids and do relaxation exercises. If necessary use over the counter medications in moderation.

Irritability/Anxiety: The first two to four weeks should be the most difficult in terms of frustration, anxiety, inability to concentrate and restlessness. Your body is desperately seeking a nicotine fix. Try meditation, relaxation techniques or any other activities that keep you from focusing on your craving for nicotine.

Fatigue: Nicotine is a stimulant. During the first two to four weeks you may feel tired due to your metabolic rate dropping back to normal. Without nicotine your metabolic rate drops down to normal. Don't panic, your body will adjust in a few weeks. In the meantime, don't overexert yourself.

I know what you may be thinking... Wow! With side effects like those, why bother quitting smoking? While this may seem to be a logical way of looking at the situation, it's important to bear in mind that if you find these mild symptoms to be unpleasant, imagine dealing with the debilitating disorders that smoking is sure to bring if you don't quit soon.

The side effects of quitting smoking are experienced only for a short while, and will soon pass. Many report a lessening of symptoms after 7 - 10 short days. Don't let the quit smoking side effects discourage you! You have the ability, you're armed with motivation, and the only thing left to do is take action!

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