When tobacco users stop smoking, their bodies react to the physical and psychological changes. As nicotine is flushed from the system, cravings and headaches may overshadow the more positive but subtle effects on the heart and lungs. The rationale for quitting may not seem strong enough. But while the uncomfortable effects of giving up tobacco may last a few days or weeks, the positive effects will last a lifetime. And added to the health benefits are the social and financial gains that come when cigarettes are no longer a priority.
Physical and Mental Withdrawal
The concrete signs of withdrawal, such as dizziness, fatigue, appetite increase, constipation and gas highlight the strength of nicotine addiction and the need to break it. The American Cancer Society reports that some of these problems may last only a few days.
People who try to stop smoking should consider withdrawal symptoms as proof that their efforts are working. The Cancer Society notes that mental symptoms such as irritability, poor concentration and depression are common and will ease every day after tobacco use ends.
Relapse
A frequent outcome of an attempt to stop smoking is a relapse. This demonstrates the hold that nicotine dependence has on people and shouldn't be considered a personal failing. It may take up to 10 attempts to achieve permanent nonsmoking status, according to the Cancer Society. Smokers who plan to make multiple tries may be pleasantly surprised by early success.
Reduced Health Symptoms
Quitting smoking immediately relieves stress on the respiratory and circulatory systems. The American Lung Association reports that elevated heart rate returns to normal, and blood oxygen levels stabilize in a single day without cigarettes. Ex-smokers will notice that acute breathing obstructions, indicated by coughing and breathlessness, fade within one to nine months.
Reduced Health Risks
Even during nicotine withdrawal, tobacco users experience health improvement. Little by little, ex-smokers' heightened risk for heart attack, stroke, lung and other organ cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and coronary heart disease drop.
Increased Personal Appeal
The Cancer Society suggests that the aesthetic and health improvements that accompany quitting may make ex-smokers more attractive employment and romantic prospects. Giving up cigarettes can eliminate bad breath, stained teeth and fingers and the personal odor of stale tobacco.
Employers appreciate a fresh appearance, and they are aware that nonsmokers miss work less often and are more productive. Nonsmokers also enjoy longer lives and better reproductive health, improving their chances of raising a healthy family.
