Symptoms of Nicotine Withdrawal
The symptoms of nicotine withdrawal are very, very real. These are real live physical nicotine withdrawal symptoms – in other words, it’s NOT all in your HEAD.
That’s right – you’re not imagining the feelings and symptoms that have started with your body since you quit smoking!
As the following article will explain, you could be experiencing anything from headaches from nicotine withdrawal to not being able to concentrate. While these symptoms may seem very hard to deal with right now, the good news is that these symptoms are letting you know that your body is cleansing itself of the toxins you put in there by smoking cigarettes.
One of the worst “Symptoms” of withdrawal is weight gain. Thing is, you don’t really gain weight JUST because you quit smoking – you gain weight because one of the very real physical symptoms from nicotine withdrawal is food cravings. Naturally, part of this is because your body is still trying to do something with your hands and mouth. You built up that habit and it will take time to stop it.
However, every day you are NOT smoking means you get your taste back…your smell back… and food just plain tastes and smells better. Also, many smokers tend to smoke instead of eat….and when you quit, well that one avenue is gone – so EAT it IS!
If you need help preventing weight gain when you quit smoking, read this article here.
Ok, let’s continue and learn the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal and how to handle them.
Handling Nicotine Withdrawal
Once you quit smoking, there is every possibility that you will experience one or more forms of nicotine withdrawal symptoms. And while these symptoms are temporary, they can be quite a challenge to deal with. Knowing what to expect can help in making this period more bearable, and this article shall help you with the same.
For starters, after you’ve stopped smoking you should try to live with the mindset that what you’re set to do is not impossible. Moreover, most of the symptoms that you would experience as a result of quitting smoking are actually signs of your body cleansing itself. Given below are some common withdrawal symptoms and what you can do to help minimize the associated discomfort. Also bear in mind that the occurrence of these symptoms and their severity can vary from person to person.
Sore Throat, Runny Nose and Cough:
Experiencing these symptoms immediately after quitting smoking is fairly common and these do not last for more than a week. This is simply a result of all the accumulated tar and nicotine being cleared away. Sucking on flavored medicated throat lozenges can help, and you should ideally drink plenty of fluids.
Headaches:
Headaches come as a result of the brain being supplied with more oxygen rich blood, and it can take a couple of weeks for it to become accustomed to this change. Increasing fluid intake and some form of light exercising should help.
Lapse in Concentration:
This, again, is a result of the brain being supplied with more oxygen rich blood, along with the absence of the stimulus that nicotine provided. In such a scenario, you should try not to overwork yourself, and this phase can last for in between a couple of weeks and a month.
Constipation/Flatulence:
These are a result of the intestinal movement slowing down and can last for a couple of weeks. Drinking fluids and incorporating adequate fiber in your diet will help.
Fatigue:
If you’re experiencing fatigue as a result of quitting smoking, it can last for in between a couple of weeks and a month. Fatigue comes as a result of the slowing down of the body’s metabolism, and overworking yourself in such a scenario should be avoided.
Cravings:
This symptom is more psychological than physical, and this is why there is no fixed time period after which it goes away. Ex-smokers have been known to reignite after having abstained for years owing to their cravings, and this is why knowing how to get over cravings becomes crucial. The physical cravings for nicotine, though, are the most intense in the first few days after quitting smoking and pass quickly.
Know that while help to quit smoking is available in the form of nicotine replacement therapy, hypnosis, medication programs, etc. there will be a point when you have to stop all intake of nicotine. This is when you have to exercise some will power to remain nicotine free. And by understanding what to expect, it can be possible to minimize the impact.
For Information on the Effects of Smoking Cigarettes:
http://www.quitsmokingplace.com/health-effects-of-smoking.html
As you can see, there IS light at the end of the tunnel. You are retraining your body to function WITHOUT nicotine…and while that is an awesome and amazing thing, it takes some time for your body to UN-learn all the nasty habits YOU taught it.
Good Luck!
More Quit Smoking Tips and Articles:Learn About Chantix/Varenicline:
How Does Chantix Work? - Learn how Chantix works to help you quit smoking.
Chantix Cost - How much does Chantix cost? What is the price for Chantix?
Quit Smoking with Chantix - How to quit smoking with Chantix. Success tips.
Cheap Chantix - Where to get cheap Chantix.
Chantix Side Effects - Learn about the side effects of Chantix.
