Chest Pain When Quitting Smoking?
at morning,…. Sorry to ask… My husband decided to stop smoking, it’s been 1 month but how come until now he is complaining of chest pain, cough doesn’t go away. Please enlighten. Thank you.rnGreetings
1 Answer:
Hi Nissa,
Thank you for asking HealthReplies.com.
Cigarettes contain many substances that are harmful to health, such as nicotine, tar, and so on. Therefore, by quitting smoking, the body should become healthier, not the other way around.
After quitting smoking, some people will experience nicotine withdrawal symptoms for a while (generally about 1 month). These symptoms can appear as excessive anxiety, stress, headache, nausea, body aches (including chest pain), cough, constipation, diarrhea, difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbances, mood swings, and so on. This effect is actually not directly related to the nicotine. But more caused by the body's stress response in warding off addiction. Likewise with the chest pain and cough that your husband is experiencing.
However, in addition to the effects of nicotine withdrawal, your husband's complaints could also arise due to other causes, for example due to ARI (acute respiratory infection), bronchitis, tuberculosis, pneumonia, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), lung cancer, gastritis, COPD (disease chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), heart attack, myalgia, and so on. This effect is actually more often directly related to previous smoking habits, not because of the effect of quitting smoking.
If the cough has been going on for more than 2 weeks, you should invite your husband to check his complaint directly to the doctor. etc. Obviously, it is the doctor who examines your husband in person who better understands what kind of treatment is right for your husband.
Instead, help strengthen your husband's determination to keep quitting smoking. Smoking can actually exacerbate the complaints that he is currently experiencing. It's really hard to break a habit that has become an addiction. However, this is certainly not impossible if done with a strong will.
Your husband can do the following tips:
Compress sore chest with warm water Stay away from pollution, smoke, dust, oily food, spicy food, or those containing artificial sweeteners Avoid excessive exposure to cold air Use a mask Eat regularly Reduce too close contact with other people who are coughing and cold Drink plenty of water warm white. Increase the consumption of vegetables and fruits that are rich in vitamin C. Diligently exercise. Hope this helps..
dr. Nadia Nurotul Fuadah
