Many people know all about the dangers of smoking today. With products like the electronic cigarette becoming more and more popular, it would seem like people are getting the message that now is the time to quit. One of least talked about things when quitting smoking is the side effects your body goes through. They are some of the main reasons why quitting smoking is one of the most difficult tasks a person will ever have to go through.
- 1. Initial Increased Coughing – While it is true that that “smoker’s cough” will eventually go away, initially when you stop smoking you will actually cough more. This along with increased wheezing and sinus discharge is a clear sign that your body is in nicotine detoxification.
- 2. Changes in Routine – Long time smokers do not really notice how much smoking is a part of their lives until they stop smoking. Sometimes the routine change is so drastic it can leave you feeling depressed and fidgety.
- 3. Heightened Anger and Anxiety – When a person quits smoking and goes through nicotine withdraw, they usually become more on edge at the beginning. Going through any type of withdraw will put a strain on a person mentally. This will continue to subside as they become less dependent.
- 4. Boredom – When a person quits smoking, they generally report bouts with heavy boredom at the onset. This ties in somewhat with the change in routine. Finding new activities to keep you busy is a good way to combat this feeling.
- 5. Mild Digestive Problems – A lot of people do not know this, but smoking has been proven to actually help digestion. This is why you see a lot of smokers naturally crave a cigarette after a meal. Once you quit smoking you may experience some indigestion as well as some constipation and perhaps even some bloating. This is because nicotine is a stimulant your body is used to having.
- 6. Trouble Sleeping – Sleep patterns have been known to change initially when someone decides to quit. Going through this type of withdraw can cause things such as tremors and night awakenings. In some extreme cases even insomnia can occur.
- 7. Muscle Pain – Because nicotine is so powerful and highly addictive, some people experience pains in areas of the muscles that they have never experienced before.
This is part of why it is so hard to quit smoking for good. This is why the taper down method with products such as nicotine gum, the patch, or the electronic cigarette is so highly recommended. For instance, with the electronic cigarette, you can simulate the psychology of real smoking, get your nicotine fix (thus avoiding the most painful parts of withdraw), and not have worry about any of the harmful additives or carbon monoxide that comes with regular smoking. That is a win win in my book. Know what to expect when you decide to quit smoking. If you have a plan and are informed you stand a much better chance of succeeding. While some of these side effects are not fun, they are nothing compared to the long term effects that cigarette smoking causes.
Jason M. is a contributor to Puffweb.com, an electronic cigarette review website. For mor information about getting off cigarettes, you can read his post on quitting smoking
