Quitting Smoking Side Effects and How to Minimize Them
Even though smoking is bad for you and everyone knows it, some people continue to smoke. This is because of an addiction to nicotine. This drug activates receptors in the brain, and when it is taken away abruptly or even slowly quitting smoking side effects can occur. These side effects range from pleasant to very uncomfortable. For example, let's take a look at the positives associated with smoking cessation. Your oxygen level and blood circulation will improve, your lungs will start to heal, food will taste better, you will smell better and you won't be prematurely aged by the ravaging effects of smoking. Oh, and you'll save quite a bit of money because cigarettes are expensive and getting pricier by the day.
Now for the not so good stuff. When you quit smoking, (especially through the cold turkey method) you are likely to experience extreme cravings for cigarettes, irritability, anger, headaches, sadness, anxiety and other unpleasant symptoms. You may also find yourself coughing more than usual. This is a natural healing process your lungs go through to expel the cigarette gunk. So, cough and perhaps sore throat are par for the course. Luckily, there are a variety of ways to reduce quit smoking withdrawal symptoms.
One way to minimize side effects is to taper down to a specified quit date. By reducing the amount of nicotine in your system gradually over time, your quit smoking withdrawal shouldn't be as intense. You can ease some of the worst symptoms with a prescription medication like Chantix or Zyban, which must be prescribed by your doctor. If you're looking for an over the counter method, you can find nicotine gum, lozenges and patches at the pharmacy, usually kept behind the cashier's counter. Only one nicotine replacement method should be used and you should not smoke while on any kind of NRT.
There are also a wide range of home remedies people swear by for easing quitting smoking side effects. For example, it's rumored that sucking on a whole clove can reduce a craving. Some people report chewing gum, mints or even teeth brushing help quench their desire for a cigarette. Exercise can help you work off all the nervous tension that comes along with giving up cigarettes. You might also want to join a supportive community of other people who are quitting, whether online or in your local area. The power of interpersonal support when quitting smoking can be very comforting.
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Smoking May Hasten Mental Decline In Men: Study The list of reasons to quit smoking just got longer. A new study published today on the website of the Archives of General Psychiatry has found that smoking appears to accelerate the pace of age-related cognitive decline in middle-aged men... | ||
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Aetna's dentists get iPads to help patients stop smoking - mobihealthnews
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CFB Esquimalt, Home of the Canadian Pacific Fleet The Lookout spoke with Capt(N) Mike Knippel, Chief of Staff of Maritime Forces Pacific/Joint Task Force Pacific, about his motivations to take the March 1st I QUIT! challenge next month... | ||
Young Adults Who Quit Smoking Feel Better Quickly FRIDAY, Feb. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Young adults who quit smoking saw improvements in coughing and other respiratory symptoms within a few weeks, a new study indicates... | ||
I'm smoking too much pot - Salon
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Nicolites Team Vow To Tackle Low New Year Quit Smoking Statistics - PR Web (press release)
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Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England) - Groups to help smokers to quit February 19, 2011 -- SMOKERS are being encouraged to kick their habit ahead of No Smoking Day. Therapy groups in South Shields are helping thousands of... | ||
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Replacement Nicotine's Killing Fields - WhyQuit (press release)
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Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England) - 'I feel lucky that they caught it early and treated me quickly and that at 70 they have given me a few more years, which is a bonus' NORTH East smokers are being encouraged to quit the habit as Lung Cancer Awareness Month comes to an end. Health Reporter November 29, 2010 -- A LUNG cancer survivor is helping raise awareness of the condition by urging smokers across the region to kick the habit. Eleanor... | ||
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