Questions posted in the The Addiction Forum have been answered by Steven Adelman, M.D. and by Richard C. Bozian M.D. F.A.C.P. of Harvard Vanguard Medical Group.

Question Title: Withdrawal

Forum: The Addiction Forum
Topic: Smoking

I gave up smoking three weeks ago and have been using nicotine patches since.
Since quitting I have been coughing a lot, I have been short of breath when going up stairs etc, and I have been getting a tingling feeling in my feet quite often.
Please tell me if this is normal.
Thank you

Dear "G,"

It takes time for your body to get used to its new reality: no more smoke, no more carbon monoxide, clean air bathing your lungs 24 hours a day. The lining of your lungs contains tiny hair-like structures (called cilia) whose function is to filter the air by pushing tiny particles of debris out of the airways. These cilia don't work very well when they are constantly assaulted by tobacco smoke, so this is one of the reasons for the tremendous build-up of debris lining the airways of long-time smokers. Now that you've stopped smoking, your cilia are coming back to life and beginning to do their job. Slowly but surely, they are beginning to clear your lungs of all the toxic substances from tobacco smoke which has been lining your airways. As your lungs cleanse themselves, your body's cough reflex helps the process along by helping you to bring up and expel the built up debris. So the coughing, and the shortness of breath and tingling which sometime go along with it, are signs that your body is actively attempting to reverse the damage you have done by smoking.

Soon you'll begin to breathe easier, and you'll realize how much better you are beginning to feel. There is no single thing that a person can do that is better for his or her health than stopping smoking. Take a look at my Ask DrSteve web site (conveniently hyperlinked below) to learn more about Nicotine Replacement Therapies.

Good Luck!

Steve Adelman, M.D. (a.k.a. DrSteve)

This information is provided for general medical education purposes only. Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options pertaining to your specific medical condition.

keywords: smoking, smoking cessation


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