Short-term nasty side effects to quitting cigs
Doctors found smokers developed a number of unpleasant side effects up to two weeks after quitting and many ex-smokers could be deterred from staying the course unless they are told what to expect.
The study, published in the British Medical Journal’s Tobacco Control, studied 174 smokers at one, two and six weeks. After one or two weeks’ abstinence, the quitters were more likely to have cold symptoms, including sore throats, coughing and sneezing.
During the first week of stopping about a third of those studied had three or more symptoms. They also found that mouth ulcers were significantly more likely during the first fortnight. However, after six weeks all the symptoms had subsided. The authors say the increase in mouth ulcers could be related to the loss of the antibacterial effect of smoking, and the rise in cold symptoms could be linked to a short-term depression in the immune system. While the scientists from the Department of Psychology at St George’s Hospital Medical School said they did not fully understand the impact of the symptoms on the relapse rates, they felt they might be linked to people taking up smoking again.
Tobacco control consultant at the Irish Cancer Society, Norma Cronin, said it was extremely useful for people to be prepared for all of the effects of withdrawal. She said a cough was very common in people who had just quit, but was a good sign because it meant the body was clearing out all the debris and effects of tobacco from the lungs.
Cravings and being irritable are also common symptoms as the body adjusts to life without 4,000 chemicals being pumped into it every day from tobacco - 60 of which are known cancer causing agents.
Ms Cronin urged anyone considering giving up smoking on Ash Wednesday to get the Irish Cancer Society advice kit, which is free.
The quit line can be contacted on lo-call 1850 201203 or www.irishcancer.ie
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