By Staff Contributor

Cigarette smoking endangers the body. It may cause cancer and other diseases and totally kill the individual. If you are a long time smoker, and want to quit smoking, here are some tips to handle withdrawal symptoms and smoking side effects:

  1. Sleeplessness. Your body has been used to nicotine for several years. Hence, the removal of this element from your system will cause physiological imbalance to the working system of the brain. The removal of nicotine will cause imbalance in the system resulting in sleeplessness or difficulty sleeping. If you are suffering from insomnia after quitting smoking, you may employ these bed routines: do breathing exercises before going to bed; you may also take a hot bath or take herbal tea before going to bed.
  2. Dizziness. A step of stopping smoking results in dizziness for some individuals. Dizziness is only a sign that your body is having a hard time recovering from the loss of nicotine. Do not worry, because as time passes, the normal level of oxygen in your body will be back. Dizziness is also one of the symptoms that your body is getting healthier at once.
  3. Ear, nose, throat (ENT) problems. These are the main body parts involved during the times of smoking. Mucus expulsion should not be a source of worry, because this is only a sign that your lungs are trying to clean themselves from the toxins and the chemicals that cigarettes brought. This problem will not last long. The best way to overcome this dilemma is to drink lots of water every day. You should always drink at least eight glasses a day. When it comes to food, sugar free, and boiled food is recommended. This will help you clean your throat.
  4. Constipation. According to experts, cigarette smoking speeds up the processes of your digestive system; hence, if cigarettes are removed from your system, it results in constipation or digestive irregularity resulting in hard feces. The best way to cut this problem is to allow your system to move. In order to do this, you need the help of fiber. Fiber is a food element most likely found in food such as vegetables and fruits as well as whole grains. Drinking sufficient amounts of water will also help you cure the problem.
  5. Depression. The worst effect of withdrawal from smoking is depression. It is like suffering from “separation anxiety”. Since you have lived your life with smoking for many years, withdrawing its role in your life will indeed depress you. Depression is normal. It will last for some period of time, but you can overcome it. You may seek help from your friends or family members about it. Counselors may also help you by providing smoking facts and medical timelines. You may also try hypnosis, withdrawal medications and therapy.

Quitting smoking is the most difficult task for a long time smoker. Conversely, you will get more benefits from doing it. Always remember that if you will not help yourself, you will always be the loser and the slave to nicotine.