Here at Matthews Internal Medicine, we’re always focused on preventative care. We can help our patients once they’re sick, but we know that helping them avoid illness in the first place is one of our most important skills. One way we do that is by helping them quit bad habits that could cause health problems later on in life. That’s why smoking cessation is one of our many specialties.
Quitting smoking is never easy, no matter how you do it. That’s why it’s good to have expert medical professionals on your side as you undertake this journey. One way that some people try to quit smoking is by going cold turkey. They stop smoking cigarettes entirely and they don’t opt for any kind of cessation aids. These include medications, nicotine gum or patches, and other products that are commonly used to help smokers quit.. While this can be an effective way to quit, there are some risks to be aware of.
Low Success Rate
Nicotine dependence is a powerful driving force. Without replacement methods, like gum and patches, or therapy, it can be extremely difficult to suddenly stop taking in nicotine. That’s why one of the biggest problems with quitting cold turkey are the withdrawal symptoms. Many smokers aren’t able to deal with them effectively on their own, stopping their smoking cessation effort in its tracks.
Withdrawal Symptoms
As we mentioned, the physical addiction to nicotine can cause a number of painful withdrawal symptoms that can interfere with your life for months. Smokers who are trying to quit smoking cold turkey could be irritable. They could also experience insomnia, which could cause other health issues and add to their irritability. Another common symptom is depression.
Quitting smoking cold turkey can also affect your appetite. You might be hungrier, especially for foods that contain more sugar. This can cause weight gain if you’re not careful enough. On the other hand, nicotine withdrawal can cause issues like constipation, nausea, and other digestive problems. Other potential symptoms faced by those who quit smoking are a lowered heart rate, anxiety, trouble concentrating, and headaches.
It can be hard to motivate yourself when these kind of symptoms hit you. That’s why having our smoking cessation experts in your corner can be so helpful. Otherwise, the combination of annoying withdrawal effects could just make you forget about your goal of quitting smoking altogether. It can be easy to fall off the wagon when quitting cold turkey.
Personality Changes
Withdrawal symptoms like irritability and anxiety can cause some major personality changes in smokers that try to quit cold turkey. If you do decide to go this route, know that you might be more difficult to deal with as your body stops getting the nicotine it craves. Prepare your friends and loved ones in advance for the hard time you’ll be going through. You might be more impatient or grumpy than normal. Quitting smoking can be difficult, but the smoking cessation experts at Matthews Internal Medicine are committed to help you no matter which kind of methods you use.