Side Effects of Quitting Smoking
Now that you’ve made the decision to stop smoking, you should be aware that there are some side effects of quitting smoking. These effects are usually short term, but they can be pretty intense, and you may need the help of your physician or some medications in order to manage the symptoms so that you don’t pick up the habit again.
One of the first side effects of quitting smoking that you will experience is dizziness. This will usually occur a day or two after you stop smoking, so you’ll need to make sure that you have some time to lie down and rest at different periods of the day. After a couple of days, the dizziness will usually subside, and you’ll be able to stand up for long periods of time without feeling sick. You may also feel fatigued for a few days; this will pass quicker if you are exercising regularly, and if you’re filling your diet with lots of raw fruits and vegetables. Exercising will also help you to get a more sound sleep, since insomnia is another one of the side effects of quitting smoking. If you find that you’re having trouble getting to sleep at night after putting down cigarettes, you can also drink tea that contains lavender or chamomile in order to relax the nervous system and get to sleep faster.
Other side effects of quitting smoking include headaches and increased appetite. Usually, if you are eating healthy snacks in between meals, you can curb your appetite without putting on extra weight. But, don’t be surprised if your body is craving large amounts of food after you have already eaten. You may be able to eat two or three fruits at a time, or take in more whole grain snacks than usual. This is perfectly normal; you’ll just need to make sure that your meals and snacks have plenty of fiber and antioxidants, so that you can continue to rid the body of toxins.
Depression and anxiety are some of the most serious side effects of quitting smoking. If you have been smoking for a long time, these symptoms could be severe; your doctor may even have to prescribe medication for depression until the symptoms are under control. You may find that you don’t have the energy to spend time with family or friends, and that even little things cause you to be extremely irritated. This is one of the major reasons why smokers are afraid to go through the process of quitting, but medications like Paxil, as well as natural supplements like St. John’s wort will help you to combat these symptoms.
If you want to know more about the side effects of quitting smoking, or need to know about the health benefits of being a non-smoker, you can visit sites like www.mayoclinic.com.
