Introduction

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking causes nearly 450,000 deaths per year in the United States, and smoking-related health issues cause over $150 billion in health costs. With such horrible consequences for smoking, it's important to always try to stop. However, like any other addictive drug, smoking is not without its side effects of withdrawal.
  
  

Physical Cessation Symptoms

• Once the body has become accustomed to the nicotine ingested through smoking cigarettes, it can put up a serious fight when the nicotine supply is cut off. Physical withdrawal symptoms are an excessive need to itch hands and feet, digestive system problems including gas, constipation, and diarrhea, dry mouth, headaches, dizziness and a change in appetite.
  
  

Mental Cessation Symptoms

• Many people who stop smoking also experience mental withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms may include dramatic mood changes, extreme cravings for nicotine, sleeplessness and irritability.
  
  

How Long Will the Symptoms Last?

• Symptoms may last from 24 hours after the last cigarette to 2 weeks. The severity of withdrawal symptoms usually weakens after 1 or 2 days.
  
  

Benefits of Quitting

• Though withdrawal symptoms can be hard to push through, they are signs that your body is starting to heal. After breaking through the withdrawal, the body will automatically start to improve itself, including: allowing more oxygen to the body, lowering blood pressure, improved circulation, a decreased risk for heart attack, less fatigue, better lung capacity, an increased fitness level and sense of well-being.
  
  

Help to Quit

• There are many programs on the market to help people quit smoking. Not everyone can quit smoking cold turkey, and that's OK. For more information on programs to stop smoking, see a doctor or the Resources section below.