Suddenly sick after quitting smoking? Will gain weight? New research has found that earlier quitting smoking is associated with lower mortality rates after lung cancer diagnosis

Recently, a team of Harvard University found that the death rate of active smokers increased by 68% compared with those who never smoked, and the death rate of former smokers was 26% higher. A large number of previous studies have found that on average, one out of every two people who smoke, will live ten years less because of smoking. Smoking can also bring a range of diseases, especially respiratory diseases.

The findings also showed that for former smokers, doubling the number of years they quit before being diagnosed with cancer was significantly associated with longer survival. Many smokers are convinced that smoking for many years will cause disease if they suddenly quit smoking, is this true? What are the ways to quit smoking? What to do if I gain weight after quitting smoking? 

Experts in this issue:

Got sick after quitting smoking? Fake

Many smokers are convinced that if long-term smokers suddenly quit smoking, it will cause disease, and many people will have nausea, chest tightness and other symptoms in the process of quitting smoking, which is due to the withdrawal symptoms that occur in the process of quitting smoking, which will generally be slowly reduced or disappeared one to three weeks after quitting smoking. It is true that some people really have an illness after quitting smoking, in fact, the disease at this time is the result of his years of smoking, just in time for the onset at this point in time, not the disease caused by quitting smoking.

The benefits of quitting smoking are immediate. Some people feel that their skin has become brighter after quitting for a period of time, there is no longer a peculiar smell on their body, and they are more accepted by people, and their personalities have become more sunny and cheerful, and they do not feel controlled by nicotine. Medically speaking, as long as 20 minutes to quit smoking, blood pressure and heart rate will change accordingly. After 24 hours of quitting smoking, some harmful substances such as carbon monoxide will be excreted, and tissue hypoxia and respiratory function begin to improve. 

The longer you quit smoking, the greater the benefits. Especially for people with heart disease, the risk of coronary heart disease is reduced by 50% after one year of quitting smoking, and the risk of stroke can return to non-smoking levels after five years of quitting smoking. Lung function improves after 3 months of quitting smoking, and after 10 years of quitting, the incidence of lung cancer decreases to 30%-50% of those who continue to smoke. So the sooner you quit your body, the better.

Smoking, the cause of several diseases

At present, the four major chronic diseases in mainland China (cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes) are all related to smoking. Smoking also contributes to an increased risk of respiratory infections, and studies on coronavirus have found that people who smoke tend to have reduced respiratory resistance and therefore an increased risk of severe illness or death. The incidence of lung cancer in mainland China is now showing a younger trend, and 98% of small cell lung cancers are caused by smoking. In addition to lung cancer, tumors in many other organs are closely related to tobacco. Tobacco can damage almost all organs in the human body.

There are rumors circulating on the Internet that some long-lived elderly people have smoking behavior, but there does not seem to be any negative effect. In fact, it is true that people who smoke can live longer, but a large number of previous studies have found that on average, one in two people smokes will live ten years less because of smoking. Another possibility is that these elderly people may add extra life if they quit smoking earlier. Because these elderly people may have better conditions in terms of genetics and the surrounding social environment, if he can pay attention to avoid some harmful substances on his body, he may live longer.

Not holding back a sip is not a failure to quit smoking

Quitting smoking is not a very easy task, and some smokers quit smoking on their own, but repeatedly fail. The main reason is that addiction changes the structure and function of the brain. Studies have found that the shape and function of the brains of smokers are altered. For smoking addicts, if they quit smoking on their own, the success rate within a year is less than 5%. 

To quit smoking, you must first understand the relevant knowledge. First of all, we must determine whether we are addicted, and it is best for patients with addiction to actively seek the help of doctors for psychological intervention, behavioral therapy and drug treatment. 

E-cigarettes that claim to be able to "help quit smoking" are becoming more and more popular as an alternative to traditional cigarettes, but the truth is that e-cigarettes are neither safe nor help quit smoking, and e-cigarettes also contain hydroxyl compounds such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, as well as some heavy metals, which can cause some diseases when inhaled into the human body. Some people smoke e-cigarettes and will turn to cigarettes, because they feel that e-cigarettes are "not strong enough", and there are many patients who specifically seek help from doctors to quit e-cigarettes, and the current World Health Organization and mainland smoking cessation guidelines do not recommend using e-cigarettes to quit smoking.

 At present, there are three common smoking cessation drugs, nicotine replacement therapy drugs such as chewable gum, patches, etc., bupropion hydrochloride sustained-release tablets, varenicline. Among them, varenicline is the short-term smoking cessation treatment with the best effect. Smokers do not have to reject smoking cessation drugs, even if they cause a little discomfort when used, but these are very few compared to the harm of tobacco. 

In addition, some people do not smoke themselves, but their family members smoke, and if they can give them smoking cessation drugs when their families are not willing to quit, some people can also quit smoking. Most smokers are men, and many of them do not want to quit, but have failed to quit smoking before, and feel that they can't do it, because of good face, they don't say they want to quit. If you can let them try some drugs, feel that smoking is not fragrant, not smoking is not too uncomfortable, they will become confident after they benefit, and then slowly quit smoking.

When there are withdrawal symptoms at the beginning of smoking cessation, you need the care, understanding and companionship of your family. Suppose that the ex-smoker is tempted in the process, does not hold back a sip and begins to relapse, do not think that it is a failure, quitting smoking is a phased process, and the first step is affected at the beginning with the willingness to quit. If you don't smoke for a while, you can use appropriate drugs and behavior change methods to prolong the time to quit smoking. When the addiction comes, you can divert your attention to do something else, practice more in the face of the temptation of others, and naturally and firmly refuse.

The resistance to tobacco at the beginning of smoking cessation is very weak, and it is best for people around you not to smoke in front of ex-smokers, let alone smoke together. Often after a period of time, ex-smokers have the confidence to successfully quit smoking and experience the beauty after quitting smoking.

Quit smoking even if you gain weight

Obesity after quitting smoking is a more common phenomenon, which is because the body will gradually repair after getting rid of nicotine, so the sense of taste and smell becomes better, at this time smell things, eat things are also fragrant, involuntarily will eat more food. In addition, digestion and absorption will also improve, and even if you eat the same food as the original, there is a possibility that fat will accumulate. But gaining weight is avoidable. In the process of quitting smoking, you can prepare a little cucumber, tomatoes, which are foods that do not gain weight. People who are worried about gaining weight can also choose bupropion hydrochloride sustained-release tablets as smoking cessation drugs.

Some smokers will improve their weight gain through exercise, and even develop exercise habits in the process, which is very beneficial to their health. However, even if the weight continues to grow, do not worry, because the weight gain and the harm of smoking are still not comparable, even if you risk gaining weight, you must quit smoking first. Weight problems have corresponding methods to gradually return to normal, do not worry about gaining weight as a reason not to quit smoking.

Written by: Luo Yiran

Editor: Chen Qing