Everyone who decides to quit smoking is always asked how to do it right: suddenly or gradually. In fact, even doctors do not have a definite opinion on this issue.
Some doctors believe that nicotine starvation caused by smoking cessation is very dangerous for the body and can lead to the development of serious diseases.
Others, on the contrary, believe that it is necessary to quit smoking in this way - it is a one-time departure from addiction, and all the ways to gradually quit smoking simply do not make sense.
To avoid long arguments and considerations, each person should think very carefully and determine which method is right for him. In any case, it is important to understand that quitting smoking is possible only if the smoker himself is convinced of the need to give up this bad habit and understands why he needs it.
In turn, in order to make the right choice between sudden and gradual cessation of nicotine, every smoker must know what will happen to his body if he suddenly stops smoking.
What happens if you quit smoking suddenly: 8 negative results
Because a heavy smoker is constantly taking a certain dose of nicotine, he or she becomes incredibly physically and psychologically addicted. Of course, if the body completely deprives it of some kind of "nutrition", it can begin abstinence syndrome or "withdrawal".
Smoking is like a drug, so it can be difficult for some people to quit.
After a sudden cessation of smoking, the addict may experience a number of negative feelings, but all of them are temporary. This is not a permanent condition in the future, but a reaction of the body. The additional health benefits of giving up are more important than temporary worries and feelings.
- After long-term use of tobacco products, a person who quits smoking tends to catch a cold because his immune system is weakened. In addition, due to the weakening of the body's defenses, ex-smokers can exacerbate all chronic diseases.
- Dizziness and high-intensity headaches are associated with a drop in blood pressure as a result of sudden abandonment.
- Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, manifested in the form of diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, nausea or vomiting.
- Cough with sputum production. Cough attacks are especially common in the early morning, immediately after waking up, because the former smoker's body accumulates large amounts of mucus during sleep.
- Feeling of shortness of breath, like suffocation.
- Unexpected sharp increase in weight of a few kilograms. It is this unfortunate consequence that in most cases prevents people, especially women, from suddenly quitting smoking.
- Increased anxiety, nervousness.
- Lethargy, apathy and bad mood. Some particularly sensitive people experience severe depression as a result of immediate smoking cessation, which can only be resolved during long-term work with a qualified psychologist.
Is it dangerous to quit smoking suddenly?
Of course, no one wants to experience a condition that results from the sudden cessation of smoking.
Most men and women who have taken such a serious step say that they just feel terrible and always want to quit everything and smoke again.
Expecting various negative consequences often leads people to argue about whether smoking cessation is really harmful and dangerous.
Of course, this is not necessarily beneficial, because in such a situation, the body of heavy smokers experiences severe stress and can react to such changes in different ways.
However, it should be understood that while it is dangerous to create such a stressful situation, prolonged exposure to nicotine and tar with the use of tobacco products can cause more harm to the body. In addition, all of the above adverse effects are only short-lived.
It will take a long time, usually about 2-3 weeks, the body will get used to the changes that occur in it, and all these unpleasant symptoms will disappear forever, and the former smoker will no longer worry.
Contrary to popular belief, this also applies to unexpected weight gain. As a rule, after a sharp cessation of smoking, the metabolism is disturbed, which leads to the appearance of extra pounds. You should not be afraid of this, because if you exercise and eat properly, they will suddenly disappear.
Acute or gradual: which method of rejection is right for you?
Each person's body is individual and the method of abrupt cessation of nicotine use is not suitable for everyone. However, according to the results of numerous clinical trials, for smokers who have been addicted to nicotine for less than 10 years, in most cases, such withdrawal is very easy and painless.
If smoking has become a habit and a man's or a woman's body has been taking its own dose of nicotine every day for 10 years or more, it is important to think carefully and consult a doctor before quitting suddenly.
In this case, the final decision is made taking into account the following factors:
- individual physical and psychological characteristics of the smoker's body;
- general health, the presence of chronic diseases;
- condition of the nervous system;
- quality of human food;
- living conditions of the smoker;
- duration of nicotine use;
- the degree of nicotine dependence determined by a professional psychologist.
Based on a combination of all these factors, the doctor must determine what will happen if you suddenly and unexpectedly stop using nicotine with the patient and give up smoking forever. In some cases, this can be really dangerous, so a qualified doctor may recommend that you stop smoking gradually.
In this case, the smoker should reduce the number of cigarettes smoothly. As a rule, they start with 10 cigarettes a day, then 5, then 3, and finally the last step is 2 cigarettes a day. Once the body is accustomed to consuming only two cigarettes a day, and this is enough for it, you should finally stop smoking.
Under such conditions, the smoker's body gradually separates from the alkaloid and begins to produce acetylcholine independently, which helps to get rid of the addiction smoothly and almost painlessly. At the same time, the negative consequences and unpleasant symptoms appear very little or not at all.
No matter exactly how you decide to quit smoking - suddenly or gradually - be confident in your abilities and make sure you continue all the way.
The harm of smoking to the human body is obvious, so you should not delay the moment of quitting, because after a while it will be very difficult to give up this bad habit.