When you quit smoking, you may feel more anxious and depressed. Smokers have an increased risk of depression and anxiety, though the reason for this is unclear. When you take the nicotine away, you may experience constipation as your body adjusts to going without it. Nicotine affects the small bowel and colon. This often causes irritability and anger. You’re making a big change - your mind and body need to adjust giving up something you’ve grown dependent on. Cravings peak between the two- and four-week mark. Your body is dependent on nicotine while you’re a smoker. Some people also eat more because they substitute cigarettes with food to cope with the “hand to mouth” habit of smoking. The boost in energy you experience when you quit smoking increases your appetite. Increased appetite and associated weight gain You may have a cough and a sore throat as your lungs begin to clear out the mucus and other debris smoking creates. Tingling in hands and feetĪs your circulation begins to improve, you may feel tingling in your hands and feet.
Headaches, nausea, and other physical symptoms are common as the nicotine leaves your body. Smoking affects every system in your body. It’s important to remember that these side effects are only temporary. When you quit, your body needs to adjust to not having nicotine.
This is because smoking affects every system in your body. Many people feel like they have the flu when they’re going through withdrawal. The side effects of quitting smoking can be extreme for some. It may take a few years after quitting, but you’ll lower your risk of cancers, such as: It increases the risk of erectile dysfunction in men and contributes to female sexual dysfunction by reducing genital lubrication and orgasm frequency. Within a week of quitting, you’ll begin to see and feel a difference in your mouth. Smoking yellows your teeth, causes bad breath, and increases your risk of oral infections. Quitting smoking improves circulation, increases oxygen levels, and lowers inflammation - all of which give your immune system a boost, so it’s easier to fight off colds and other illnesses. More energyĪlong with improved breathing and physical activity, the increased oxygen in your body will also give you more energy. Within just 48 hours of quitting, the nerve endings begin to grow, and your sense of taste and smell begin to improve. Smoking damages nerve endings in your nose and mouth, dulling your senses of taste and smell. This makes physical activity a lot easier and lowers your risk of a heart attack. Your blood circulation improves within 2 to 12 weeks of stopping smoking. Within one month of quitting, the many nicotine receptors in your brain will return to normal, breaking the cycle of addiction. What are the benefits? Broken addiction cycle