Is it normal to feel worse after quitting smoking?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am 46 and trying to quit smoking after almost 25 years of cigarettes, but I honestly did not expect the process to affect me this much mentally.

I keep seeing anti-smoking campaign ads everywhere now, and while they motivate me briefly, they also remind me of how long I have already damaged my body.

Over the last two weeks, I have become irritable, restless, and unable to concentrate properly at work. My family says I am snapping at everyone over small things. I switched partly to Nicotine gum, but cravings still hit hard after meals or while driving.

I also developed a cough recently, which makes me paranoid that something serious has already started in my lungs. I do not want to fail again like previous attempts.

Is it normal for quitting smoking to temporarily feel worse before health actually improves?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com

I understand your concern.

You have been smoking for many years, so you should not expect to quit smoking within two days because the body takes time to adjust. Symptoms such as anxiety, restlessness, and mood changes can happen.

The cough you noticed can also occur after quitting smoking, as the lungs recover and try to clear up the mucus and secretions that have accumulated. That can cause coughing.

See, when the cravings happen, they are strongest for the next five to ten minutes. If you can control yourself during that time or distract your mind with other activities like drinking water, chewing gum, or going for walks, it will really help you. The first two to four weeks are usually the worst when you try to quit.

But if you quit smoking even now after smoking for so many years, the risk of having heart disease becomes almost half compared to that of an active smoker, and within five years, the risk of developing serious complications like stroke and vascular complications decreases significantly. You will also have a much improved quality of life.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.

Thank you.