Smoking Cessation and Symptoms: Our Advice
Quitting smoking is not an easy process. While quitting tobacco offers many benefits for the body, mind, and wallet, smoking cessation also causes numerous unpleasant symptoms that can sometimes lead some people to start smoking again. But why? What are they? And how can they be alleviated or, even better, avoided? At Reset Laser Institute, we explain everything about smoking cessation.
What is Smoking Cessation?
Smoking cessation is the act of quitting smoking tobacco to no longer be physically dependent on it. It can be done abruptly, with an immediate stop, or gradually, by reducing consumption. This process causes a feeling of withdrawal due to nicotine and other unpleasant consequences. All of these symptoms are called the withdrawal syndrome.
Why Does Cessation Cause Withdrawal Symptoms?
A tobacco addiction is characterized by a feeling of withdrawal as soon as the person does not smoke. The smoker cannot control their tobacco consumption, even if they are aware of the negative effects.
Nicotine is what causes this physical dependence. When it reaches the brain, it binds to nicotinic receptors and activates them. These receptors release dopamine, which results in a feeling of well-being and pleasure.
If the amount of nicotine decreases in the body, the receptors no longer receive their usual dose. As a smoker, you then feel a craving that you want to satisfy by smoking. If you do not, withdrawal symptoms appear.
How Long Does Smoking Cessation Last?
Without any treatment to stop the addiction, complete cessation can last between one to three months after the last cigarette, depending on the person. Symptoms appear and subside at different times during this period.
After this period, the nicotinic receptors return to a normal level. The physical dependence disappears. However, behavioral and psychological dependencies, related respectively to lifestyle habits and emotion management, sometimes take much longer to disappear.
Symptoms of Smoking Cessation
Several physical and psychological symptoms appear during the cessation period. These signs of withdrawal appear quickly, less than 24 hours after stopping the last cigarettes, and diminish over time.
Dizziness
From the first days, dizziness may occur. They are due to better oxygenation of your body.
Fatigue
Nicotine is a stimulant. When you stop, you might initially feel temporary fatigue.
Insomnia
You might experience difficulty falling asleep and have sleep disturbances that you didn’t have while smoking. These problems are caused by the physical withdrawal.
Constipation
Nicotine stimulates intestinal muscles. By quitting smoking, your body tries to restore its normal function.
Headaches
Nicotine causes blood vessels to constrict. Quitting smoking allows them to return to their normal size. This recovery temporarily causes headaches.
Cough
Your body eliminates cigarette residues lodged in your lungs. This can also cause coughing and sore throat.
Hunger
Tobacco reduces your taste and smell. As you regain them, your appetite returns, especially for sweet foods that compensate for the pleasure sensation caused by dopamine. This can also lead to weight gain.
How to Reduce These Symptoms?
While these side effects are not dangerous to health, they can be very debilitating and lead some former smokers to relapse into smoking to avoid experiencing them. Fortunately, solutions exist to limit their impact or avoid them.
Lifestyle Habits to Manage
With certain tips, it is possible to improve your comfort to help you overcome some negative effects after quitting smoking. These solutions do not eliminate them and are sometimes not sufficient, but they allow you to better manage them daily. Without a treatment to quit smoking, the only real solution is patience.
In general, we advise adopting a healthy lifestyle. Eat healthily, drink enough water, and get enough sleep. Exercising will also help you reduce your nervousness and stress. Avoid all stimulants, such as caffeine, and limit your alcohol consumption.
Reset Laser for Withdrawal Without Cravings
Quitting smoking without experiencing withdrawal effects is possible with an alternative treatment. The professional Reset Laser method is a technique of auriculotherapy to quit smoking. Stimulating specific points on the ear with a laser cuts the connections responsible for the physical dependence on tobacco in a single session. You no longer feel any cravings.
Trust Our Specialized Anti-Smoking Centers
Do you want to quit smoking? Do you want to get rid of your smoking habit? At Reset Laser Institute, we support you in your endeavor. With our team of professionals and our auriculotherapy method recognized by the WHO and HAS, you are in good hands.
Why Choose RESET Laser Institute
The best method to quit smoking
Specialist
Our therapists are all addiction experts and specialists in laser auriculotherapy cessation.
Effectiveness
Our success rate after one session is over 86%.
Painless
Non-invasive and painless, our therapy is accessible to everyone.
No Stress
You free yourself from addictions and quit smoking without weight gain, stress, or compensation.
Personalized Support
Since each patient is different, we offer personalized support after the session.
1-Year Guarantee
We guarantee our therapy for 1 year in case of relapse.
