Breathe Healthily, Live Happily
Quitting smoking can lead to many longterm benefits for your health. But you may experience some short-term withdrawal symptoms, such as headache, constipation, and insomnia. Speak to a doctor if you need help managing these symptoms.
Get the right support
When you stop smoking, good things start to happen — you can begin to see almost immediate improvements to your health.
It’s much easier to stop smoking when you get the right support and there are lots of options to choose from.
WellBN Stop Smoking Service
Our Smoking Cessation Advisers are trained to deliver advice, support and encouragement that can improve your chances of quitting. They can tell you about nicotine replacement products and other stop smoking medicines, and can also recommend which product or combination of products could work for you. They can support you if you want to use your own e-cigarette, also called a vape, to help you quit too.
Need a little extra motivation? Your adviser can measure the level of carbon monoxide in your body (the CO level) using a carbon monoxide monitor. The monitor shows how your CO level drops to the same level as a non-smoker’s just 48 hours after your last cigarette.
NHS Quit Smoking App
The app allows you to:
- track your progress
- see how much you’re saving
- get daily support
Personal Quit Plan
Find the combination of help that’s right for you in 4 easy steps.
Daily email support
If you would like some extra support, you can sign up for 28 days of stop smoking advice and tips – delivered straight to your inbox.
Online Community
You do not have to do it alone – join others going through the same thing in a friendly and supportive environment. Join the Quit Smoking Support Group of Facebook
What are the benefits of stopping smoking?
Broken addiction cycle
Within one month of quitting, the many nicotine receptors in your brain will return to normal, breaking the cycle of addiction.
Better circulation
Your blood circulation improves within 2 to 12 weeks of stopping smoking. This makes physical activity a lot easier and lowers your risk of a heart attack.
Improved taste and smell
Smoking damages nerve endings in your nose and mouth, dulling your senses of taste and smell. Within just 48 hours of quitting, the nerve endings begin to grow, and your sense of taste and smell begin to improve.
More energy
Along with improved breathing and physical activity, the increased oxygen in your body will also give you more energy.
A boost to your immune system
Quitting smoking improves circulation, increases oxygen levels, and lowers inflammation — all of which give your immune system a boost, so it’s easier to fight off colds and other illnesses.
Cleaner teeth and mouth
Smoking yellows your teeth, causes bad breath, and increases your risk of oral infections. Within a week of quitting, you’ll begin to see and feel a difference in your mouth.
Improved sex life
Smoking can harm your sex life. It increases the risk of erectile dysfunction in men and contributes to female sexual dysfunction by reducing genital lubrication and orgasm frequency.
Lower risk of cancer
It may take a few years after quitting, but you’ll lower your risk of cancers, such as:
- lung cancer
- esophageal cancer
- kidney cancer
- bladder cancer
- pancreatic cancer
Side effects of quitting smoking
Headaches and nausea
Smoking affects every system in your body. Headaches, nausea, and other physical symptoms are common as the nicotine leaves your body.
Tingling in hands and feet
As your circulation begins to improve, you may feel tingling in your hands and feet.
Coughing and sore throat
You may have a cough and a sore throat as your lungs begin to clear out the mucus and other debris smoking creates.
Increased appetite and associated weight gain
The boost in energy you experience when you quit smoking increases your appetite. Some people also eat more because they substitute cigarettes with food to cope with the “hand to mouth” habit of smoking. Both lead to weight gain.
Intense cravings for nicotine
Your body is dependent on nicotine while you’re a smoker. It will crave it when it goes without. Cravings peak between the two- and four-week mark.
Irritability, frustration, and anger
You’re making a big change — your mind and body need to adjust giving up something you’ve grown dependent on. This often causes irritability and anger.
Constipation
Nicotine affects the small bowel and colon. When you take the nicotine away, you may experience constipation as your body adjusts to going without it.
Anxiety, depression, and insomnia
Smokers have an increased risk of depression and anxiety, though the reason for this is unclear. You may smoke to feel better. When you quit smoking, you may feel more anxious and depressed. Insomnia is also also common.
Difficulty concentrating
All of the side effects of quitting smoking can make it difficult to concentrate at first.
Dry mouth
Smoking is a common cause of dry mouth. The stress and anxiety associated with withdrawal can make it worse as you adjust.
Quitting cigarettes vs. quitting vaping
Vaping may seem like the lesser of two evils when it comes to smoking. Vaping may be less harmful than tobacco, but it still contains nicotine and other toxic chemicals, many of which are also found in regular cigarettes.
Even some vapes that claim to be nicotine-free have been found to contain nicotine. This can make quitting vaping just as difficult as quitting smoking for some people.
While some evidence suggests that vaping may help some people quit smoking, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration hasn’t approved e-cigarettes as an aid to quit smoking.
Resources
Paan, bidi and shisha
Secondhand smoke
Smoke-free pregnancy
Quit smoking by vaping
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
Mental health support
