Nicotine is a nasty chemical, and it is also highly addictive. Once you try to quit smoking, your body will soon go into withdrawal. Nicotine withdrawal is one of the hardest things to deal with when you quit smoking, and it is worth considering nicotine replacement therapy to help you cope with it and stop the cravings. There are some signs to look for when it comes to nicotine withdrawal, and some of these are listed below to help you recognise the warning signs and find a way to help you cope with them.
Weight Gain
It is common for people who quit smoking to gain weight in the first three months, and this is often down to snacking a lot. When you smoke, it releases glucose from your liver and muscles, and you often find that your blood sugar levels will drop after you quit smoking. If you find yourself wanting to snack a lot, it is most likely due to nicotine withdrawal. One way to combat this is to buy an e-cigarette and a high-quality vape liquid to help you control and curb your cravings.
Problems Sleeping
You can also find that nicotine withdrawal can affect your sleeping pattern, and it can do this in one of two ways. Either you start to feel more tired and sleep more than usual, or you can also have insomnia that prevents you from getting a full night’s rest. If you experience problems with your sleeping pattern, visit your doctor and explain you have quit smoking and see what they recommend that can help you cope with the disruption to your sleep.
A Cough That Will Not Go Away
Another common symptom of nicotine withdrawal is a persistent cough. However, this is often nothing to be alarmed about, and if you start coughing soon after you quit smoking, it is a sign that your lungs are beginning to repair the damage caused by smoking. Your chest will loosen as the tar, and other chemicals start to leave the lungs, and you may find that you couch up a lot of phlegm.
Symptoms Similar To Flu
You can also find that you can begin to show flu-like symptoms after you quit smoking, and this is sometimes referred to as “quitters’ flu”, and it is not something to cause alarm. Your immune system sometimes responds this way as the body goes through a massive change. The symptoms typically last for a couple of days, and you can find that nicotine replacement therapy can help you clear them up quickly.
Mood Swings
Another symptom of nicotine withdrawal is mood changes and an increase in stress and irritation. It can be made worse if you are also suffering from a lack of sleep, affecting people psychologically. Some people experience dizziness and have problems with their memory and with concentration.
These are some of the withdrawal signs you get when you quit smoking, but you can help control these by using nicotine replacement therapy. There are plenty of cessation aids you can consider using to help you stop smoking, and they can help make the process much more manageable.
