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Thyroid, smoking and other "hormones"???
I smoke, I know nasty,nasty,nasty habit. I've quit several times in the past 10 yrs (once for 1 yr, the last time for almost 3 yrs). I know that it takes at least a year to get "normal" again within your body (heart,lungs, etc). When I quit the last time, I was determined to quit and loose much needed weight (199 lbs...and I was horrified on my 5'4 frame). I did P90X 7 days a week at lease 1 hr sessions, and did a strict diet of under 1500/1200 calories a day, had a journal and wrote down ~everything~..even if I ate a tic-tac. I wasn't on Synthroid at the time. My heart rate ~increased~ after quitting smoking! When I first started I almost passed out, red face, top of my head felt like it was going to pop off, I had quit smoking about a year before P90X, so lungs and all ~should~ have been in better shape. I bought a heart rate monitor (POLAR) and my resting heart rate is around 60, but when I exercise it jumps to 180+. I have had my heart checked by a cardiologist, and he said it is fine. From sitting HR of 60, to standing jumps to 98-115. My question is: could there be something in the cigarettes that is regulating my heart rate? I know it is odd, but not smoking my heart rate is up..way up, but smoking it is lower. I ~really~ want to quit, but I hate the hyperthyroid symptoms I get when I do. Has anyone else had this?
It is not just a nasty habit, it is a lethal habit. I also smoked, up to 2 packs a day until I quit cold turkey. Yes, it was tough and I periodically missed it for a long time, but I read an article somewhere that said that the strongest message you send your kids and grandchildren is what they see you actually doing, not what you tell them. That and pictures of the lungs of smokers (the tissue was blackened), convinced me to stop. Since that time, my decision has been reinforced numerous times by seeing friends suffer (some fatally), with one of the most horrible things you can have---emphysema. Not to mention how smoking contributes to cardiovascular problems. If you consider the risk/reward ratio and the potential effect on others, no way can it be justified. End of lecture. My soapbox is now permanently put away.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Both Red and Stella have valid points - and I certainly agree with Stella that you should not apologize for smoking....... lots of times, I've been tempted to start again!! Maybe I should try that electronic cigarette.......
Just think about how you feel when you get stressed out, upset, angry, etc -- your first impulse is to smoke a cigarette to calm down!! When your aren't smoking, those are the feelings you are having, which makes the stress of quitting, that much more. As you know, stress/anxiety can cause your heart rate to be faster.
Just think about how you feel when you get stressed out, upset, angry, etc -- your first impulse is to smoke a cigarette to calm down!! When your aren't smoking, those are the feelings you are having, which makes the stress of quitting, that much more. As you know, stress/anxiety can cause your heart rate to be faster.
The last time I quit, I did it cold turkey. I read that the key is to not think about it, so I taught myself to knit..and didn't have any withdraws. (knitted a no stitch/seam queen size afghan in less than 3 months,lol ) I quit for 2 yrs, ~then~ started P90X the 3rd yr. I've read that nicotine is out of your system after the third day, the rest is just psychological. I'm leaning more on Barb135's idea that it somehow "calms" me. I was wondering if it is a chemical thing in the cigarettes/tobacco that ~maybe~ is controlling an out of control hormone somewhere in the body?.?.
Don't apologize on the habit. I preach the SUN and the MOON about purifying the body and doing healthy things - but I too smoke and I now how hard it is to stop.
Along with Red's nicotine w/d info there is a process from the chemicals in there that shock the metobolism hormones and stall them until the body rids it.
This is why many can gain weight after quitting - even following a diet plan more suitable to lose pounds.
Smiking lowers the O2 levels in the blood that goes to the heart. The body make compensations for this. However smoking can increase the metobolism levels with the lower O2 function.
Instead of dumping off cold turkey trying a smiking aid may be best for you to eventually kick the habit. I have purchased the electronic cigarette and really like using it as a substitute. Its not really the nicotine bothering you that causes danger to your body - its the chemical added in the cigarette ( keeping you heavily addicted the them) that are the real devils of smoking.
Along with Red's nicotine w/d info there is a process from the chemicals in there that shock the metobolism hormones and stall them until the body rids it.
This is why many can gain weight after quitting - even following a diet plan more suitable to lose pounds.
Smiking lowers the O2 levels in the blood that goes to the heart. The body make compensations for this. However smoking can increase the metobolism levels with the lower O2 function.
Instead of dumping off cold turkey trying a smiking aid may be best for you to eventually kick the habit. I have purchased the electronic cigarette and really like using it as a substitute. Its not really the nicotine bothering you that causes danger to your body - its the chemical added in the cigarette ( keeping you heavily addicted the them) that are the real devils of smoking.
What you are having is nicotine withdrawal. It is just as bad, if not worse than heroine addiction. Your body is fighting the loss of the chemical dependency and your poor heart is beating out a tempo to try and adjust to lack of that.
I think if you use a patch like Nicabatte or similar you can wean off, rather than cold turkey and you can then each week adjust the level of the skin patch to allow your body to adjust easier.
I am sure your heart rate will become normal after time on them.
As to your heart rate jumping from 60 to 180. Think about it. Your body has been chemically altered with the nicotine etc, arteries are not going to be happy! You really are going to need some time to let the body heal from the smoking and then try gentle excersise rather than full on. Slowly slowly wins the race.
I think if you use a patch like Nicabatte or similar you can wean off, rather than cold turkey and you can then each week adjust the level of the skin patch to allow your body to adjust easier.
I am sure your heart rate will become normal after time on them.
As to your heart rate jumping from 60 to 180. Think about it. Your body has been chemically altered with the nicotine etc, arteries are not going to be happy! You really are going to need some time to let the body heal from the smoking and then try gentle excersise rather than full on. Slowly slowly wins the race.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Smoking increases your heart rate, so, it should be the other way around; smoking should be higher, not smoking should be lower --- UNLESS, you are SO stressed when not smoking that yours goes up from the stress.
I smoked for close to 40 yrs, but quit 3+ yrs ago due to excess tissue on my vocal cords (mostly caused by smoking), which was causing my voice to "go away" - my vocal cords really no longer worked, so the only sound I could make was the "tissue" vibrating instead of my vocal cords...It was painful and I couldn't even talk loud enough for someone sitting next to me to hear, so I pretty much stopped talking........ I had no choice but to quit and ended up with 2 surgeries on my vocal cords.
Prior to quitting smoking, my HR was almost always between 80-100, except when I relaxed, it would drop down into the low 70's; after I quit smoking, I was able to lower my BP med and my resting HR dropped considerably, but as I became more and more hypo, it dropped WAY too low....Heart monitor put it at around 35 bpm during the night........ got my attention....
It seems as though maybe smoking "calms" you enough to relax, so your HR drops down. I'm at a loss because my instinct is to tell you to quit at all costs, but I know that has to be a personal choice and we all have to find our "reason".......
I smoked for close to 40 yrs, but quit 3+ yrs ago due to excess tissue on my vocal cords (mostly caused by smoking), which was causing my voice to "go away" - my vocal cords really no longer worked, so the only sound I could make was the "tissue" vibrating instead of my vocal cords...It was painful and I couldn't even talk loud enough for someone sitting next to me to hear, so I pretty much stopped talking........ I had no choice but to quit and ended up with 2 surgeries on my vocal cords.
Prior to quitting smoking, my HR was almost always between 80-100, except when I relaxed, it would drop down into the low 70's; after I quit smoking, I was able to lower my BP med and my resting HR dropped considerably, but as I became more and more hypo, it dropped WAY too low....Heart monitor put it at around 35 bpm during the night........ got my attention....
It seems as though maybe smoking "calms" you enough to relax, so your HR drops down. I'm at a loss because my instinct is to tell you to quit at all costs, but I know that has to be a personal choice and we all have to find our "reason".......
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