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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Are The Side Effects For Reducing Smoking?

For the past month I ve been experiencing troubling symptoms. I m having difficulty breathing at night, and every time I smoke a cigarette my face and other parts of my body become numb/tingle. Until recently (6 days ago) I was smoking about 10-15 cigarettes a day. I have recently cut down to about 6-9 a day. I went to the hospital 6 days ago, because the night before I was waking up every 15 minutes feeling like I wasn t taking in enough air. The doctor said I had acute bronchitis. He gave me steroids, and an inhaler. I have not been able to afford the inhaler, and the steroids recently ran out. I now am only waking up feeling like I m not taking in enough air only once a night now. So there is improvement, however throughout the day I am feeling numbness; feeling weird pressure in my head (like around eyes, nose, chin, behind ears, etc) especially around pressure points. These symptoms are present whether I smoke or not, but become increasingly worse after taking 2-3 puffs on a cigarette. What could be another issue going on other than/along with Acute Bronchitis?
Mon, 6 Feb 2017
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello there,
The symptoms you are experiencing are not typical nicotine withdrawal symptoms. If anything you should be breathing better considering you have cut down on smoking. Waking up breathless at night, on when lying flat is a possible sign of cardiac disease. If you are a snorer, and if you are overweight, obstructive sleep apnea(a condition in which your airway is obstructed during sleep) is another possibility. Is sleep productive or are you tired during the day ? Please visit your doctor and get evaluated for the same. Best of luck with your fight against cigarettes.

Nicotine does not produce major physical withdrawal symptoms, the irritability and craving after quitting smoking may reach a peak in and around 4 days and will subside soon after. When it comes to cigarettes, quitting cold turkey is the way to go. Find alternative activities, such as exercise or yoga to keep your mind off smoking. The brain needs time to kick it's nicotine dependence. You could also ask your doctor about varenicline, a drug that helps you quit.

For now, please visit a doctor and evaluate yourself for the breathlessness. It is highly unlikely that it is related to you cutting down on smoking.

Wishing you the best of health.
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What Are The Side Effects For Reducing Smoking?

Hello there, The symptoms you are experiencing are not typical nicotine withdrawal symptoms. If anything you should be breathing better considering you have cut down on smoking. Waking up breathless at night, on when lying flat is a possible sign of cardiac disease. If you are a snorer, and if you are overweight, obstructive sleep apnea(a condition in which your airway is obstructed during sleep) is another possibility. Is sleep productive or are you tired during the day ? Please visit your doctor and get evaluated for the same. Best of luck with your fight against cigarettes. Nicotine does not produce major physical withdrawal symptoms, the irritability and craving after quitting smoking may reach a peak in and around 4 days and will subside soon after. When it comes to cigarettes, quitting cold turkey is the way to go. Find alternative activities, such as exercise or yoga to keep your mind off smoking. The brain needs time to kick it s nicotine dependence. You could also ask your doctor about varenicline, a drug that helps you quit. For now, please visit a doctor and evaluate yourself for the breathlessness. It is highly unlikely that it is related to you cutting down on smoking. Wishing you the best of health.