I quit smoking with 3 healthy distractions and the changes in me are staggering

Smoking is a leading cause of preventable deaths worldwide, yet breaking out of the unhealthy habit is one the most difficult experiences.

I was also addicted to nicotine for years and tried different ways to quit smoking. Although I failed miserably many times, I managed to bid goodbye to it a few months ago; my mind and body never felt healthier.

How I quit smoking for good

Any smoker would echo my emotions about the addictive habit. I never realized how hard it was to let go until I decided to stop indulging in it. Going cold turkey worsened my cravings, so I leaned on healthier habits to distract myself.

I used to crave nicotine first thing in the morning. When I decided to quit, I took up a more relaxing and energizing activity. I have been swimming regularly for over five months. The new routine helped me wake up to the thought of cold water on a summer day, rather than a cigarette in the mouth.

While I managed to evade the morning cravings, getting through the day was a whole different task. That’s when I distracted myself with my favorite beverages – coffee and tea.

Although coffee has several health benefits, it’s of utmost importance to pick the right kind that doesn’t affect your brain. Dr. Robert Love’s tips help me avoid three common mistakes most Americans make with their coffee.

As far as my love for tea is concerned, I always pick organic and caffeine-free. The antioxidant properties help me stay fresh longer and with time, I started craving healthy beverages instead of cigarettes.

Within one month of quitting smoking, I was able to swim longer with better stamina. I noticed a decline in my erratic mood swings while I regained my appetite.

Doctor outlines benefits of quitting smoking/vaping

We spoke to Dr. Hana Patel, Internationally recognized GP from the UK, to understand the impact of nicotine on the overall health and her response resonates with my experience so much.

The doctor told The Focus: “Nicotine affects all areas of our body, from our heart and blood vessels to our hormones, metabolism, and brain. Over time, our brain and body gets used to having nicotine, which means that people may have nicotine withdrawal symptoms when they stop.”

People who stop smoking or vaping experience a number of symptoms such as “feeling irritable, restless, or jittery, they may experience headaches, have sweating symptoms, feeling anxious, sad or down, feeling tired, have trouble thinking clearly or concentrating, have trouble sleeping, may feel hungry and experience intense cravings to vape or smoke again.”

Nicotine from cigarettes and vape takes 72 hours to leave the body. Dr. Hana told The Focus that quitting helps with “blood pressure and this lower the risk of heart disease from smoking-induced high blood pressure. Also, our oxygen levels will have risen, making physical activity and exercise easier to do.”

Here’s how quitting smoking/vaping affects your body at different time periods, according to the doctor.

You will start to notice more respiratory and breathing related changes, most people report that as their lungs heal from smoke related damage, they notice a reduction in shortness of breath and cough symptoms, than when they smoked. Also if people had sinus issues, these symptoms also improve.

Our respiratory system and lungs continue to improve in their function, making us cough less. Also, a reduction in lung infections as the organs are able to do their work more effectively. People’s risk for coronary heart disease decreases by half., improving their heart health.

We would like to thank Dr. Hana Patel, Dr. Hana Patel, NHS GP and GP Medico-Legal Expert Witness, for her valuable inputs included in the article.