In the ward, an old man who is nearly 60 years old, Uncle Zhao, sighed and said: "I didn't expect to quit smoking and get a heart attack, hey, I don't think I can quit smoking." ”
Uncle Zhao has been smoking since adolescence, and due to the increase in survival pressure, his addiction to smoking has gradually increased, and it has almost become a part of his life. For decades, the habit caused some symptoms on his respiratory system, especially his lungs.
Not long ago, Uncle Zhao was found to have heart problems during a regular medical check-up, and the doctor advised him to quit smoking. Although quitting smoking was a good decision, unexpectedly, a few days after quitting smoking, Mr. Zhao began to feel loss of appetite, restlessness, trembling hands and feet, and staggering walking. At first, he attributed the symptoms to withdrawal caused by quitting smoking, and didn't pay attention to them. However, in the end, this caused a heart attack, which made Uncle Zhao feel afraid.
Quitting smoking is obviously a good thing, but why can it lead to various illnesses and even heart attacks?It also starts with withdrawal ......
When quitting smoking, it's not uncommon for a craving to trigger a withdrawal reaction. However, the occurrence of heart attack and cerebral infarction after quitting smoking like Mr. Zhao is indeed worrying. Although myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction are related to tobacco, they are not caused by smoking cessation.
Medical studies have found that tobacco combustion produces up to 7,000 compounds, of which at least 250 are identified as harmful and 69 are carcinogens. After these harmful substances enter the human body, they cause irritation and damage to the blood, blood vessels, nervous system, etc., and increase the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. At the same time, nicotine and other harmful substances in tobacco stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, affect blood vessels and blood pressure, and may become the cause of myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction.
Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease itself is a multifactorial disease, in addition to tobacco, congenital genetic factors, acquired environment, life, diet and other bad habits may also be the cause of myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction, and there is no direct causal relationship with smoking cessation.
Long-term smoking can lead to cravings, which are mainly related to nicotine in tobacco. Nicotine stimulates the brain's nerves to secrete dopamine, which produces feelings of pleasure. After quitting smoking, the human body will feel lost and empty, and relapse will lead to a craving.
Tobacco addiction is classified as tobacco dependence, which includes both psychological and physical dependence. The physical symptoms of quitting smoking are related to physical dependence and cannot be easily overcome by willpower alone.
Surveys show that the 6-month long-term quit rate of people who have not formally quit smoking** is only 3-5%, which shows that quitting smoking is not an easy task and cannot blindly rely on willpower.
After quitting smoking, withdrawal occurs rapidly and gradually increases. The human body will gradually develop symptoms such as craving for cigarettes, anxiety, irritability, weak concentration, difficulty sleeping, and increased saliva secretion. A small number of people may experience weight gain, body tremors, etc.
The symptoms of these withdrawals peak on day 14 of quitting and then gradually diminish until they disappear. Withdrawal symptoms last for about a month, but it takes longer to quit smoking completely. The difficulty of quitting smoking is not only about willpower, but also about quitting smoking**.
Although under the influence of smoking addiction, some people may self-comfort that they have been smoking for years, it may be too late to quit smoking, and it is okay to even smoke some more. In fact, quitting smoking is beneficial at any time, and if you are not afraid of it too late, as long as you make up your mind to quit smoking, you will reap the benefits.
According to Xiao Dan, executive director of the World Health Organization's Collaborating Centre for Smoking Cessation and Respiratory Disease Prevention, medical studies have shown that blood pressure and heart rhythm will change within 20 minutes after the human body quits smoking. The risk of heart disease can be reduced by 50% within 1 year of quitting smoking, and it will return to pre-smoking levels after 15 years.
There is no age for quitting smoking, but the benefits of quitting vary by age. According to research data, quitting smoking before the age of 40 can reduce the risk of all diseases, disability and death by 90%. Smoking cessation before the age of 30 is more significant, reducing the risk of morbidity, disability and mortality from smoking by 97%.
Studies have also found that smoking cessation at the age of age can restore life expectancy in the same year. This data is based on the survey that smokers live on average 10 years less than non-smokers, and there is some credibility.
Although different ages can benefit from quitting smoking, the optimal age to quit smoking is still 30 and 40 years. Therefore, we hope that smokers can make up their minds to quit smoking as soon as possible to minimize the harm caused by smoking.
Quitting smoking is a difficult but rewarding process. Here are some tips to help you quit smoking more easily:
Make up your mind:The first step to successfully quitting smoking is to be clear about your determination. Finding the real reason for quitting and setting clear goals can help you better cope with the challenge.
Make a plan:Develop a detailed quit plan, including specific dates to quit, stages of quitting, and ways to cope with withdrawal symptoms. Gradually reducing the amount of cigarettes you smoke or choosing smoking cessation medications is also part of an effective smoking cessation plan.
Get Support:Tell your family, friends, and colleagues about your quit plans and seek their support. Attending a quitting support group or seeking professional smoking cessation counseling can also provide additional support.
Coping with withdrawal symptoms:Withdrawal symptoms may include irritability, anxiety, insomnia, etc. Preparing ways to relieve symptoms, such as deep breathing, exercise, or distracting activities, can help you get through this.
Find alternative activities:Find some alternative to smoking, such as chewing gum, drinking water, walking, etc. These activities help distract you and reduce your cravings for tobacco.
Avoid triggers:Avoid smoking-related environments and situations. Cleaning up tobacco supplies in your home and avoiding the company of smokers can help make it easier to quit.
Reward yourself:Once you've set a quit goal and achieved it, give yourself some small rewards. This can help reinforce positive behaviors and increase the success rate of quitting.
Seek professional help:If needed, seek help from a doctor or professional smoking cessation counselor. Medications to help quit smoking are also an effective option.
Quitting smoking is a gradual process, and everyone's situation is different. Sticking to your determination, finding what works for you, and asking for support will help you succeed.