Why do I get sick (cough, sore throat) when I try to quit smoking?!
Question: Every time I try to quit with in 3-5 days I get cold/flu like symptons. It begins with a sore throat which turns into a cough which leads to chest congestion. And it can last for up to weeks. Usually until I decide to start smoking again. Then gradually it goes away. Someone (not a medical person) once told me it had to do with my esophogas trying to heal. I don't really know, just hoping to get some answers and perhaps some suggestions to avoid this situation. I'm ready and really hoping to quit in '08. But the agony of a cold/sore throat almost make it not worth the hassle everytime.
Answers: Every time I try to quit with in 3-5 days I get cold/flu like symptons. It begins with a sore throat which turns into a cough which leads to chest congestion. And it can last for up to weeks. Usually until I decide to start smoking again. Then gradually it goes away. Someone (not a medical person) once told me it had to do with my esophogas trying to heal. I don't really know, just hoping to get some answers and perhaps some suggestions to avoid this situation. I'm ready and really hoping to quit in '08. But the agony of a cold/sore throat almost make it not worth the hassle everytime.
A lot of people that quit get flu-like symptoms the first week(s) or longer. (Very common side effect). It's the "gunk" working it's way out of your body. The cilia that have been covered by tar are now coming back to life. Plus some people cough a lot (clearing the tar out of their lungs), this can result in sore throats or chest tightness. You might even be coughing in your sleep and not be aware of it.
Allergies (if you previously suffered them) often come back after quitting. It's sometimes just what a working immune system looks like. Bodies are so hypervigilant against being polluted, that they go on "hyperdrive" against any toxins.
Which is why people seem to get allergies or react to colds more often after they quit for a while.
Nicodemon at this point likes to try to convince people that quitting is making them sick, or whatever. Don't listen to it. Your body is trying to heal from years of tar and toxin exposure. You'll feel better (especially the sore throat part) within a month, usually.
It's probably some side effects. I suggest you wait for a few days, and if it continues, contact your doctor.
You body is not adapting to whats happening.Your body is addicted to the cigarettes. But its nothing serious just some symptoms.
True. it is because your body is trying to heal the damage done from smoking.
It will happen everytime you try and start smoking again so for pete's sake, quit this time, tough it out, and don't start again.
Yeah... its because your body is trying to heal... smoking damages so many different parts of your body... try using the patch or something so that you gradually decrease the nicotine... take zinc, vitamin c and vitamin B to help with your immune system... eat lots of fruits and veggies and drink tons of water... talk to your doc.. it might be a miserable couple of weeks but tough it out... your body will thank you in the long run!
when you try to quit smoking your body has to get used to not smoking and it will get better over time
Your lungs are used to being filled with smoke and there coughing up all the tar because your not smokeing.
its ok, keep trying. some people who try to quit have mental breakdowns. this is your form of it. it will stop. keep trying!
you're going through withdrawls. don't start back, you'll feel SO much better afterwards.