Side effects of quitting smoking cold turkey happen when a person decides to stop their nicotine addiction abruptly.
Unfortunately, that happened without nicotine replacement therapy (NRTs) or any other natural or gradual way.
All ways to quit smoking must be considered and can bring the expected result. However, quitting cold turkey tends to have more negative impacts than positive ones, especially if this is your first try, you smoke a lot of cigarettes daily, or you don’t have a solid support system.
Throughout the article, you will discover the main side effects of this form of quitting and the consequences for your body. Keep reading!
The Main Side Effects of Quitting Smoking Cold Turkey
Check below the main side effects a person experiences when trying to stop smoking cold turkey:
Restlessness
It is a state of general agitation and restlessness that afflicts a person who has an urge to get back into smoking but has suddenly been turned away from it.
It is one of the most common physical discomforts caused by withdrawal.
Headaches
Nicotine is a substance that acts at the brain level, so its withdrawal has a definite impact on that area, which can cause headaches, usually throbbing.
Sweating
Sweating for those who are quitting smoking cold turkey happens intensely. It is a cold sweat on the palms of the hands that occurs within the first two or three days.
Sometimes, it can go on for longer. This constant sweating bothers the person because it’s unpleasant and can interfere with daily activities.
Digestive Problems
Withdrawal from nicotine can appear as a digestive problem like constipation, diarrhea, or others.
That’s because when a person smokes, they immediately absorb nicotine into their tissues. In the digestive system, there is a decrease in the contraction of the stomach. Consequently, there is more difficulty in digesting it.
When that person abruptly stops smoking, a kind of disturbance in the digestive system occurs, like a shock, which ends up causing digestive problems.
Increased Appetite
Nicotine clogs your taste buds, but they return to normal when you stop smoking. That’s why many people report that food tastes better after quitting.
When you gradually give up smoking, you have time to get used to these new sensations. However, when quitting cold turkey, there is an urge to eat more and an increased appetite, leading to excessive weight gain if you don’t pay attention closely.
Cramping
The abrupt rupture causes physical discomfort due to the equally sudden loss of electrolytes, causing muscle pain in the abdomen, also known as cramps.
Cramps can come as sharp, constant pain, or persistent discomfort – a side effect that happens more to sugar withdrawal. Even so, some people report the symptom after quitting smoking cold turkey.
Sleep Disturbances
Sleep disturbances, such as insomnia, often occur when quitting cold turkey due to changes that nicotine causes in the brain during use and the clumsy attempt to get back to normal when the person stops abruptly.
In addition, the anxiety that is very common for those who stop smoking prevents the person from sleeping peacefully or relaxing enough to fall asleep for a few minutes.
Quitting smoking is often difficult, but it doesn’t have to be as painful as the side effects of quitting smoking cold turkey show, right?
Now you can create a more structured plan to quit smoking instead of going cold turkey and suffering from these side effects!
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