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| After You Quit Smoking |
Question:
What Happens After You Quit Smoking?
Answer:
Within 12 hours after you have your last cigarette, your
body will begin to heal itself. The levels of carbon monoxide and nicotine
in your system will decline rapidly, and your heart and lungs will begin to
repair the damage caused by cigarette smoke. Within a few days you will
probably begin to notice some remarkable changes in your body. Your sense of
smell and taste may improve. You will breath easier, and your smoker's hack
will begin to disappear, although you may notice that you will continue to
cough for a while. And you will be free of the mess, smell, inconvenience,
expense, and dependence of cigarette smoking.
As your body begins to repair itself, instead of feeling
better right away, you may feel worse for a while. It's important to
understand that healing is a process - it begins immediately, but it
continues over time. These "withdrawal pangs" are really symptoms of the
recovery process.
Immediately after quitting, many ex-smokers experience "symptoms of
recovery" such as temporary weight gain caused by fluid retention,
irregularity and dry, sore gums or tongue. You may feel edgy, hungry, more
tired, or more short- tempered than usual; you may have trouble sleeping or
notice that you are coughing a lot. These symptoms are the result of your
body clearing itself of nicotine, a powerful addictive chemical. Most
nicotine is gone from the body in 2-3 days.
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