Nicotine withdrawal symptoms are part of the reason so many people are still smoking while knowing how harmful the habit is to their health. Cigarette smoking causes almost one fifth of the deaths in the United States each year and the reason is because the habit opens the door to a number of chronic diseases including several forms of cancer, lung disease and atherosclerosis. The Surgeon General has called cigarette smoking the number one preventable cause of disease and death in the United States. There have been no health risks more identified by the government through television, magazines and other media outlets than cigarette smoking, and unless there is a hermit living in a tree house somewhere in the Rockies, the entire population of the country knows the risks and consequences. Yet the habit almost always begins in these times during someone's early teen years and because of the incredible addictive properties of the nicotine in tobacco, many continue to smoke into their adult years and beyond.
Whether nicotine is smoked, chewed, drank, sprayed, swallowed or patched there are going to be very strong withdrawal symptoms. Nicotine withdrawal symptoms have been said to be stronger than the withdrawal from heroin. In fact, after one year, 20% of those off heroin have remained off heroin while only five percent of nicotine users who tried to get off are still off. It's no wonder; nicotine in its purest form is more deadly than strychnine diamond back rattlesnake venom arsenic or cyanide. The drug takes control both directly and indirectly of over two hundred neurochemicals including dopamine, select adrenalin and serotonin. All of these chemicals are important in our moods, stimulation, rewards and anxiety patterns. So when nicotine is withheld from the body after having control of it for a period of time, emotional triggers will cause a number of symptoms perhaps not necessarily normally evidenced in the smoker's life such as anxiety, anger, irritability, impatience and restlessness.
In addition to these issues there may be some other physical signs of tobacco abandonment that can be quite difficult to suppress. These nicotine withdrawal symptoms include tiredness, trouble sleeping, chest tightness, sore throat, coughing or nasal drip, headaches, bleeding gums, stomach pain and nausea. The good news is that these nicotine withdrawal symptoms usually subside in about a week, but they are intense during those days, and more intense the longer a person has smoked and how heavy the habit has been. The symptoms will still be present for up to a month, especially if the smoker has been at it a long time and more than a pack a day addict. Should the smoker switch to a lower nicotine cigarette, the abstinence symptoms will be not as strong. For the Christian, there is hope beyond will power for things such as quitting smoking. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13)
Most people try and quit smoking on their own, but the recidivism rate is high without the proper support. Starting with a visit to one's own family physician may not be a bad move because of course the key to quitting smoking is to reduce as much as possible the nicotine withdrawal symptoms. There are some over the counter agents that may help by replacing smoking with a patch containing the same addictive substance but in lesser dosages so that over time the addiction can be broken. Because there are some risks to these patches for certain heart or asthma issues, even over the counter helps ought to be first okayed by a doctor. Gum containing this substance is also available as well as nasal sprays, but the sprays are often accompanied by nasal irritation and they are available by prescription only. There are some drugs available only through prescription that may help the smoker overcome the depression that is often part of the tobacco abandonment syndrome. Zyban is often prescribed as well as Prozac to fight the sadness or depression that accompanies nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
One of the strongest helps in quitting smoking is that help that support groups can give to those fighting the nicotine withdrawal symptoms. To be able to sit with others who are also going through the same issues can certainly help encourage and spur on those who are struggling with the addiction. There is a strong accountability that comes with being a part of the group, having to share the defeats as well as the joys of overcoming urges and cravings. Women are more likely to join support groups, while men like playing the Lone Ranger role. When a person combines drug therapy as well as psychotherapy while quitting, the success rate jumps dramatically.
Just deciding to quit smoking and facing nicotine withdrawal symptoms alone usually doesn't work. There are enough resources out online and throughout the community that no one should ever have to believe that they are alone in the fight against addiction. There are even coaches who will talk on the phone to a person anytime the craving gets too strong. Getting help is easy, but making the decision to quit and taking the first steps are the most difficult. If a person has been treated for depression before quitting smoking, there must absolutely be a dialogue between physician and the addict quitting the habit of smoking. There are dangers of relapse into depression, bipolar disorder or substance abuse. Check with your local hospital, health department, community centers or see if your employer has resources for helping you quit.
Whether nicotine is smoked, chewed, drank, sprayed, swallowed or patched there are going to be very strong withdrawal symptoms. Nicotine withdrawal symptoms have been said to be stronger than the withdrawal from heroin. In fact, after one year, 20% of those off heroin have remained off heroin while only five percent of nicotine users who tried to get off are still off. It's no wonder; nicotine in its purest form is more deadly than strychnine diamond back rattlesnake venom arsenic or cyanide. The drug takes control both directly and indirectly of over two hundred neurochemicals including dopamine, select adrenalin and serotonin. All of these chemicals are important in our moods, stimulation, rewards and anxiety patterns. So when nicotine is withheld from the body after having control of it for a period of time, emotional triggers will cause a number of symptoms perhaps not necessarily normally evidenced in the smoker's life such as anxiety, anger, irritability, impatience and restlessness.
In addition to these issues there may be some other physical signs of tobacco abandonment that can be quite difficult to suppress. These nicotine withdrawal symptoms include tiredness, trouble sleeping, chest tightness, sore throat, coughing or nasal drip, headaches, bleeding gums, stomach pain and nausea. The good news is that these nicotine withdrawal symptoms usually subside in about a week, but they are intense during those days, and more intense the longer a person has smoked and how heavy the habit has been. The symptoms will still be present for up to a month, especially if the smoker has been at it a long time and more than a pack a day addict. Should the smoker switch to a lower nicotine cigarette, the abstinence symptoms will be not as strong. For the Christian, there is hope beyond will power for things such as quitting smoking. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13)
Most people try and quit smoking on their own, but the recidivism rate is high without the proper support. Starting with a visit to one's own family physician may not be a bad move because of course the key to quitting smoking is to reduce as much as possible the nicotine withdrawal symptoms. There are some over the counter agents that may help by replacing smoking with a patch containing the same addictive substance but in lesser dosages so that over time the addiction can be broken. Because there are some risks to these patches for certain heart or asthma issues, even over the counter helps ought to be first okayed by a doctor. Gum containing this substance is also available as well as nasal sprays, but the sprays are often accompanied by nasal irritation and they are available by prescription only. There are some drugs available only through prescription that may help the smoker overcome the depression that is often part of the tobacco abandonment syndrome. Zyban is often prescribed as well as Prozac to fight the sadness or depression that accompanies nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
One of the strongest helps in quitting smoking is that help that support groups can give to those fighting the nicotine withdrawal symptoms. To be able to sit with others who are also going through the same issues can certainly help encourage and spur on those who are struggling with the addiction. There is a strong accountability that comes with being a part of the group, having to share the defeats as well as the joys of overcoming urges and cravings. Women are more likely to join support groups, while men like playing the Lone Ranger role. When a person combines drug therapy as well as psychotherapy while quitting, the success rate jumps dramatically.
Just deciding to quit smoking and facing nicotine withdrawal symptoms alone usually doesn't work. There are enough resources out online and throughout the community that no one should ever have to believe that they are alone in the fight against addiction. There are even coaches who will talk on the phone to a person anytime the craving gets too strong. Getting help is easy, but making the decision to quit and taking the first steps are the most difficult. If a person has been treated for depression before quitting smoking, there must absolutely be a dialogue between physician and the addict quitting the habit of smoking. There are dangers of relapse into depression, bipolar disorder or substance abuse. Check with your local hospital, health department, community centers or see if your employer has resources for helping you quit.
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