In front of everyone who decides to quit smoking, the question of how to quit smoking correctly always arises: whether to quit smoking suddenly or gradually. In fact, even doctors have no clear opinion on the matter.
Some doctors believe that the nicotine starvation that occurs in smokers as a result of abrupt cessation is very dangerous to the body and can trigger the development of serious diseases.
Others, on the other hand, feel the need to quit smoking in this way - to say goodbye to the addiction once and for all, and all methods of gradually quitting smoking simply don't make any sense.
To avoid lengthy arguments and reasoning, everyone should think carefully about which approach is right for them. In any case, it should be understood that smoking can only be quit when the smoker himself decides that he needs to quit the bad habit and understands why he needs to quit.
In turn, in order to make the right choice between immediate and gradual cessation of nicotine, every smoker needs to know what will happen to his body if he suddenly stops smoking.
What Happens If You Quit Smoking Suddenly: 8 Negative Consequences
As a heavy smoker constantly receives doses of nicotine, he develops an extremely strong physical and psychological dependence. Of course, if the body deprives it of one of its "feeds" completely and unexpectedly, abstinence syndrome or "withdrawal" may begin.
Smoking is similar to drug addiction, which is why some people have a hard time quitting.
After suddenly quitting smoking, addicts may experience some negative emotions, but they are temporary. This is the body's response, not its permanent future state. Denying further health benefits outweighs temporary inconveniences and feelings.
- People who quit smoking after long-term use of tobacco products are more susceptible to colds due to a weakened immune system. In addition, people who have ever smoked exacerbate all chronic diseases due to the weakening of the body's defenses.
- Dizziness and high-intensity headaches, which are associated with a drop in blood pressure caused by sudden smoking cessation.
- Violation of the gastrointestinal tract, manifesting as diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, nausea, or vomiting.
- Sputum production. In particular, coughing attacks often occur immediately after waking up in the early morning, because during sleep, ex-smokers can build up a lot of mucus in their bodies.
- Feeling short of breath, like suffocation.
- The weight has unexpectedly increased by a few kilograms. It is this unpleasant consequence that prevents people, especially women, from quitting smoking suddenly in most cases.
- Increased anxiety and irritability.
- Lethargy, apathy and bad mood. In some people who are particularly vulnerable, severe depression develops as a result of immediate smoking cessation, which can only be resolved when a qualified psychologist works long-term.
Is it dangerous to quit smoking suddenly?
Of course, no one wants to experience the physical state caused by quitting smoking by accident.
Most of the women and men who took such serious steps said they felt bad and constantly wanted to quit everything and have another cigarette.
Expectations of various negative consequences often prompt debate over whether sudden smoking cessation is really harmful and dangerous.
Of course, it cannot be said that this is absolutely helpful, because in this case the body of a heavy smoker is under a lot of stress, and it responds to this change in different ways.
However, it should be understood that while creating this stressful situation is dangerous, chronic exposure to nicotine and tar through the use of tobacco products can cause even more harm to the body. Furthermore, all of the above negative impacts are only short-term.
It takes quite a while, usually around 2-3 weeks, the body adapts to the changes that take place and all these unpleasant symptoms go away forever and never bother former smokers again.
Contrary to popular belief, this also applies to unexpected weight gain. Often, after a drastic quit smoking, metabolism is disrupted, leading to weight gain. You shouldn't be afraid of this because if you exercise and eat right, they can disappear just as suddenly as they appear.
Sharp or Gradual: Which Rejection Method Is Right for You?
Everyone's body is different, and the method of accidentally stopping nicotine won't work for everyone. However, for smokers who have been addicted to nicotine for less than 10 years, the withdrawal is in most cases fairly easy and painless, according to the results of numerous clinical trials.
If smoking has become a habit and a man or woman's body has been receiving his daily doses of nicotine for 10 years or more, you need to think carefully and consult your doctor before quitting suddenly.
In this case, the final decision will take into account the following factors:
- Individual characteristics of the smoker's body, both physical and psychological;
- general health, the presence of chronic diseases;
- the state of the nervous system;
- the quality of human nutrition;
- the living conditions of smokers;
- duration of nicotine use;
- Degree of nicotine addiction, as determined by a professional psychologist.
Based on a combination of all these factors, doctors and patients must determine what will happen if you suddenly and unexpectedly stop using nicotine and quit smoking forever. Since this can be very dangerous in some cases, a qualified doctor may recommend that you quit smoking gradually.
In this case, the smoker should steadily reduce the number of cigarettes. Typically, they start with 10 cigarettes a day, then 5, then 3, and the final step is 2 cigarettes a day. The body is used to smoking only two cigarettes a day, which is enough for him, and you should finally quit smoking.
In this case, the smoker's body gradually gets rid of the alkaloids and begins to produce acetylcholine independently, which can help to quit smoking smoothly and almost painlessly. At the same time, negative consequences and unpleasant symptoms appear very mildly or not at all noticeable.
Whether the way you decide to quit smoking is sudden or gradual, be confident in your abilities and make sure you go all the way.
The harm of smoking to the human body is obvious, so don't delay the time to quit smoking, because over time, it will be much harder to quit this bad habit.