King's Pharmacy
How Long Does it Take You to Quit Smoking For Good?
If you’re considering giving up smoking, one of the first questions that you’ll ask yourself is “How long does it take?”. You might find it encouraging to know that no matter how long you’ve been smoking, whether it’s for years, months or days, your body will still find a way to gradually repair itself from the effects of tobacco. Continue reading to know more about why smoking is so addictive, as well as having a quit smoking timeline in Birmingham.
Nicotine Addiction
Nicotine is an ingredient found in tobacco products, like cigarettes and cigars. It’s categorised as a drug that can interfere with a person’s brain function. Nicotine is so addictive because of the effect that it has on the brain, which involves the imbalance of Dopamine and Noradrenaline, the two chemicals in your brain. When nicotine interferes with levels of these chemicals, your concentration and mood levels are also interrupted in a manner that encourages feelings of pleasure, as well as minimising levels of stress and anxiety.
Nicotine Withdrawal (Quit Smoking Timeline in Birmingham)
The number of nicotine receptors in your brain increases when you smoke. These receptors will still require a supply of nicotine, even after you quit smoking, and will have to make an adjustment.
The adjustment process is what leads to cravings and withdrawal symptoms. How you deal with the withdrawal symptoms and cravings is a determinant of whether you’ll quit or not. Below are some of the withdrawal symptoms you may experience:
– Headaches
– Cravings (E.g. cigarettes, food)
– Concentration problems
– Irritability and anxiety
Four stages of stopping smoking
The quitting process involves four stages, which are:
1. Contemplating (wanting to quit but still not ready)
At this stage, a smoker is now thinking about quitting in about six months or less.
2. Preparing to quit
A smoker is now ready to quit at this point.
3. Action (quit smoking timeline in Birmingham)
This is the point when a smoker actively attempts to quit smoking. They can seek encouragement from short-term rewards, family, and friends, as well as seek professional help and guidance.
4. Maintenance (continuing to be a non-smoker)
This is the part when a smoker needs to maintain the non-smoker status by being able to handle stress, boredom, and anything else that life throws at them, without smoking. They should now be able to also resist temptations and social pressures to smoke.
Slip-ups can happen once in a while even at this point, but there is always room for improvement.
What is the Quit Smoking Timeline in Birmingham?
From the moment you smoke your last cigarette, it will take about 72 hours for your body to be free of nicotine. You’ll begin experiencing withdrawal symptoms and cravings after approximately 2-3 days, and they may last for up to 1-2 months after quitting. There are a few symptoms that may last longer, such as irritability and low energy levels.
For any smoking cessation program to be a success, it will have to take into consideration the long adjustment period, the time nicotine receptors require to get back to normal. That’s what our stop smoking programme is all about!
Get in touch with us today to start your stop smoking journey.
This blog post was written on behalf of King’s Pharmacy by Pharmacy Mentor.