Interesting fact I learned about a tight chest while quitting.
You spend your "smoking life" inhaling. You inhale the smoke into your lungs and to your body that is a "deep breathing" exercise. I myself smoked for almost 20 years. Now think of how many cigarettes you smoke a day how many puffs you take from each one... so the greater portion of your day is spent with some type of deep breathing to inhale the smoke. So you quit... your body and lungs are no longer doing this deep breathing excerise that you have been doing for most of your life. HUh... so your not getting the oxygen that you have gotten your lungs accustomed to. Now all be it there is some gunk in your chest that your body is trying to get out. So that is it also. But once I read that it just kind of made sense so now I take a few extra deep breaths every now and then so my body will get the oxygen that its used to.
I also found this and to my surprise I would feel quite light headed when I breathed deep (after quitting) I think my body was freaking out over the excess fresh air!
I love the things that we all figure out through the quitting process.
So Cranky did it ever go away ? Im still having little bouts where it feels like Im not catching a full breath. Or my chest will feel restricted. I hate this feeling. I just wish I could feel like my old self again and be nicotine free!!
It does go away, I cant remember exactly when but all that you are feeling gets better. Slowly as time goes on the cravings, bad moods, crying, emotional outbursts, hating of people (I did that!) and all the longing goes and you feel so normal and human. The thoughts of cigarettes leave your mind and it can be days between thinking of one. It is so worth it.
I take deep breaths now and there is no congestion at all.
I agree with Cranky. I am coming up to two years and pretty much all of the bad suoff recedes. However, I was a big addict and I now know that I will, from time to time, have a strong craving. What helps is 1) those huge deep breaths you are talking back - they relieve stress, and 2) knowing that each time you resist it gives you even more power to resist the next time.
Ive definetly learned most that cigarettes dont have the control that I thought they did. Every day Ive noticed less and less congestion. Its helped me to keep going because I know if I were to fall back this would all start over and I dont want that.
This has been really helpful. I am day 568 but still think the breathing is different to when I was smoking. Thanks guys
This has been really helpful. I am day 568 but still think the breathing is different to when I was smoking. Thanks guys