The history of tobacco smoking goes back several millennia. It also exists in our country, where tobacco is very popular. Most of the population suffers from nicotine addiction, although everyone knows that this habit is harmful to the body. Tobacco use continues, but many are trying to break the killing habit. Only a small percentage is successful. Information about what happens to the body when you quit smoking will become additional motivation and facilitate the path to achieving your goal.
Health effects of smoking
When you constantly inhale tobacco smoke, the following happens to the body:
- heart rate increases;
- blood pressure rises;
- stomach mucous membrane is irritated;
- the brain is experiencing oxygen starvation;
- immunity decreases;
- shortness of breath develops, a chronic cough appears;
- Teeth turn yellow.
This is just a small list, but in fact, smoking affects almost all organs and systems of the human body. The result is a huge risk of acquiring lung cancer, heart attack or stroke. And this is not counting the more commonplace diseases: tracheitis, bronchitis, hypertension, gastritis and others. 
It should be understood that the human psyche also suffers from tobacco. Addiction to cigarettes, which, to a greater or lesser extent, develops in every smoker is a peculiar form of drug addiction.
Harm of tobacco combustion products
To understand what happens to the body when you quit smoking, you need to know what tobacco smoke is. When a cigarette is lit, about 4000 different chemical compounds are exuded. Among them are:
- acetone;
- carbon monoxide;
- hydrogen cyanide;
- lead;
- arsenic;
- antimony.
There is a very toxic substance that belongs to the first hazard class - benzopyrene. And carcinogens have a detrimental effect on the body. It is they who provoke the appearance of tumors. To a small extent, nicotine is included in the structure of tobacco, but it is one of the most dangerous enemies. Thanks to this substance, an unhealthy addiction to smoking appears.
What will happen to the person?
Realizing that smoking is harmful, people try to get rid of this weakness. However, it is necessary to assume in advance that both positive and negative sides will appear. If you quit smoking, there will be the following positive changes:
- will breathe easier;
- new powers will appear;
- food will taste bright;
- will sharpen the sense of smell;
- the face will acquire a healthy complexion.
But when you quit smoking, there are negative manifestations:
- blood pressure decreases;
- weakness and apathy dominate;
- emotional instability (everything is annoying, impossible to sleep, depression);
- weight gain;
- dizziness, headache.
Of course, not every person will have certain symptoms. The body is so individual that it is impossible to predict its reaction. But in general, everyone goes through approximately the same processes.
If a woman quit smoking, the consequences for her are no different, except perhaps in a more labile psycho-emotional state, since the fair sex is naturally more hot-tempered than men. How to quit smoking during pregnancy?
What happens to the body?
When you quit smoking, recovery is observed in almost all organs and tissues. After all, harmful substances begin to be gradually eliminated. But what exactly are the consequences and benefits of quitting smoking? The main changes that occur in the body of a woman or man after giving up cigarettes:
- oxygenated blood;
- vasoconstriction is eliminated;
- inspiratory volume becomes larger;
- improves oxygen supply to the brain, improves concentration, thought processes and memory.
Such processes have positive consequences for the body:
- the risk of thrombosis is minimized;
- increases immunity;
- After a year, the risk of heart attack or stroke will begin to decrease.
Of course, positive changes don't happen in a few days, some time must pass. But the main thing is to quit smoking, at least to start this process. And you won't have to wait long for positive changes. Although you need to tune in to overcome difficulties, especially if tobacco has been abused for a long time.
When nicotine and other harmful substances contained in tobacco smoke cease to enter the body, results appear in just one hour. On the one hand, they are positive - the dose of nicotine in the blood decreases by 50%. On the other hand, not very pleasant - there is a desire to smoke again. This stage must be endured and then, after ten hours, the blood will be even more purified. And after thirteen hours the vessels will react and the pressure will normalize.
By day
Now let's figure out what happens to the body every day when you quit smoking.
- When the day has passed, there will be practically no carbon monoxide in the blood, since nicotine is completely metabolized in the body. The psycho-emotional state will be moderately anxious.
- On the second day, a person often has disruptions to the gastrointestinal tract, constipation; taste buds become more sensitive. The mood will be unstable, insomnia will appear.
- After the third day, the brain and heart will be better supplied with blood. Dopamine levels will gradually rise as they decrease by 15-20% during smoking
- When four days have passed, the state of the body will stabilize. But intestinal peristalsis reacts negatively to the absence of nicotine. Psychoemotionally, there is a real "withdrawal", irritability increases. To reduce it, appropriate medications are used.
- By the end of the fifth day, coughing becomes easier. Recovery begins in the mucous membrane of the mouth, which is reflected in the improvement of the taste of food.
- After the sixth day, the functions of the digestive system are normalized. The nervous system is still excited, thirst is constantly felt.
- Seven days - on this day emptiness is strongly felt inside. At the physiological level, intestinal activity normalizes, although stool disturbances can sometimes appear again. Appetite increases markedly and heartburn may appear.
Monthly
When I quit smoking, the consequences for the body by months are as follows.
- First. There is a regeneration of the bronchial mucosa, immunity increases. The skin completely loses the yellow color characteristic of smokers. Appetite is increased, which contributes to weight gain. Cough and shortness of breath occurs, especially in the morning. Also, periodically there are pains in the head, dizziness, sudden changes in pressure. The affection is still strong. This is expressed in a depressed mood. Friendly support is needed.
- The second is the fourth. The brain functions better and the appetite stabilizes.
- Fifth - eighth. The recovery process continues in the respiratory system. The cough almost stops.
- Ninth. This is a turning point when you want to return to a bad habit. It is necessary to avoid provocative situations and communicate more with nature.
- Tenth - twelfth. Health is getting stronger, you can give your body serious physical activity. The emotional background is fairly stable. The risk of serious illness is reduced.
Is it safe to give up cigarettes after 40 years?
There is such an idea: if you quit smoking after 40 years, the consequences for the body will be unpredictable. But what happens to a person when he quits smoking after 40? The absence of tobacco has a strong effect on the psychoemotional state: apathy occurs, efficiency decreases. If you quit smoking after prolonged addiction, then the negative temporary consequences are more pronounced: cough, shortness of breath, obstruction of the airways with bronchial mucus, weakness and even fainting - all this can cause significant inconvenience.
To reduce unpleasant symptoms, you should consult a physician for medications. Despite all the negative symptoms, the benefits of quitting smoking are much greater.
Conclusion
- When you quit smoking, there are various consequences for the body. They are expressed both in positive aspects (improving brain function, reducing the risk of stroke and heart attack) and negative (lowering blood pressure, weakness, cough, shortness of breath, nervousness, stool disorder).
- The main thing is that giving up this bad habit reduces the risk of acquiring or developing serious diseases in the future.