Why is quitting smoking difficult? & bull; hello healthy

Why is quitting smoking difficult for so many people? The main answer is nicotine.

Nicotine is a substance naturally found in tobacco, which is as addictive as heroin or cocaine. Over time, a person becomes physically and emotionally dependent on nicotine. Physical dependence can cause withdrawal symptoms when you try to quit. Emotional and mental dependence makes it difficult to stay away from nicotine. Studies show that to quit smoking and still quit, smokers must overcome physical and mental dependence.

Where does nicotine go, and how long does it last?

When you inhale smoke, nicotine enters your lungs, which is then absorbed into the bloodstream along with carbon monoxide and other toxins, flowing throughout the body. In fact, the nicotine inhaled from secondhand smoke reaches the brain faster than drugs that are given through a vein (intravenously or intravenously).

Nicotine affects many parts of the body, including the heart and blood vessels, hormones, metabolism and the brain. Nicotine can be found in breast milk and even cervical fluids in female smokers. During pregnancy, nicotine crosses the placenta and is found in the amniotic fluid and umbilical cord of the baby.

Several factors influence how long it takes the body to get rid of nicotine and other products. In most cases, regular smokers will still have nicotine and other products such as cotinine in the body about 3-4 days after quitting smoking.

How is nicotine addictive?

Nicotine gives off a good feeling and distracts the smoker from feeling bad. This makes smokers want to smoke again. Nicotine also acts as a depressant by affecting the flow between nerve cells. Smokers tend to smoke more as their nervous system adapts to nicotine. This results in an increase in nicotine levels in the smoker's blood.

Over time, the level of nicotine tolerance in smokers increases. Tolerance means that more nicotine is needed to have the same effect that smokers used to experience at lesser levels. At some point, smokers reach a certain nicotine level and continue smoking to maintain nicotine levels.

When smokers finish their cigarettes, nicotine levels in the body begin to decrease. The feeling of pleasure caused by smoking fades, so smokers want to smoke again. If you don't smoke immediately, the smoker will start to feel sensitive and irritable. Usually this doesn't cause serious "withdrawal" symptoms, but the smoker will feel even more uncomfortable. When the smoker returns, the feeling disappears and the cycle continues.

Symptoms of "withdrawal" can cause smokers to return to smoking

When smokers try to quit, a deficiency in nicotine can cause withdrawal symptoms physically and mentally. Physically, the body reacts to the loss of nicotine. Mentally, smokers must stop their habits and make behavioral changes. Emotionally, smokers may feel like they have lost a good friend. These factors must be addressed in order for the smoking cessation process to work properly.

Smokers who smoke regularly will experience withdrawal symptoms for several weeks if they immediately stop smoking. Symptoms usually start a few hours after the last cigarette and peak 2-3 days after that when the nicotine leaves the body. Withdrawal symptoms can last from a few days to several weeks. The symptoms will improve if you keep avoiding smoking.

Symptoms of withdrawal can include:

• Dizziness (can last 1-2 days after stopping)
• Depression
• Frustrated, impatient, angry
• Anxious
• Easy to get angry
• Sleep disturbances, trouble sleeping well, nightmares
• Difficulty concentrating
• Tired or bored
• Headache
• Tired
• Increased appetite
• Increase in weight
• Constipation
• Cough, dry mouth, sore throat and nasal drip
• Chest tightness
• Decreased heart rate

These symptoms can make smokers return to smoking to get nicotine levels until the symptoms disappear.

Other substances in cigarette smoke

There is evidence that the chemicals in cigarette smoke can play a role with nicotine to make quitting smoking even more difficult. The effects of smoking on monoamine oxidase (a chemical in the brain) are being studied. In some people, quitting smoking can cause mood problems, which can worsen the desire to smoke.

Quitting smoking is not easy, but you can do it. To successfully quit and remain a non-smoker, you need to know what you want to avoid, what your options are, and where to go for help.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.