When you quit smoking after long-term habit a number of side effects will become evident. At the outset these will mainly take the form of nicotine withdrawal 
symptoms. Depending on the extent of the addiction these side-effects can be very intense and difficult to overcome, but fortunately they’ll start to subside relatively quickly. Meanwhile, the longer-term side positive effects will start to emerge as the body starts to repair the damage that smoking has caused to the lungs, cardiovascular system, sinuses, skin, and many other areas of the body. Long term healing can take months, especially for the of the lungs which can take years.
Negative Effects
First, let’s start with some of the negative side effects you can experience when you quit smoking. Fortunately, most of it will take place in the first few days. If you can weather the storm it becomes much easier after that.
The early physical signs of nicotine withdrawal include:
- Dizziness and nausea
- Upset stomach leading to loss of appetite
- Severe headaches
- Various aches and pains
- Coughing, wheezing, runny nose, sinus issues
- Insomnia
- Excessive sweating
- Chills
These are the physical side effects. As if that’s not bad enough, you can also throw in some difficult psychological effects to really get a feel for what a recovering smoker is going to go through:
- Powerful craving to smoke, to the point of distraction
- Loneliness and depression
- Crabbiness or general moodiness
- Nervousness and anxiety
- Tendency to overeat – weight gain
The first 24 – 48 hours are the worst. Some symptoms may linger, but after 48 hours over 98% of the nicotine will have left most people’s bodies.
Positive quit-smoking side effects
Not all side effects from quitting smoking are bad; as you continue staying clean there will be positive side effects that come from your body recovering and healing. 
After a readjustment period you’ll notice your mood and overall health improve rapidly. The positive effects of quitting smoking can sometimes be seen within a week. Your breathing and circulation start to improve almost right away, and in as little as a week you will probably find it easier to walk without huffing and puffing, and you may experience less extremity pain in the legs and arms.
Within one year your lungs will have regained much of their strength, and the long-term cancer risk begins to fall. Improved lung function and circulation will lead to more energy and stamina. Exercise will become much easier, which is a good thing. A “Catch-22″ side effect of stopping smoking is the return of smell and taste buds. This makes food much more tasty and can lead to weight gain when left unchecked.
Putting it all together
There is no question that while there are difficult side effects when you quit smoking, the positive side effects that come from long term healing definitely make the process worth it. Given enough time, it’s amazing what the human body can recover from and many smokers don’t even realize how much their habit is affecting them until they see the benefits in the weeks and months after quitting smoking for good.
Naturally it’s no picnic. The challenges are formidable in quitting smoking. Side effects are what make the process so challenging for so many people. If you’re really committed to go from a smoker to a non-smoker then these challenges must be mastered. Fortunately, after the first week or s, the negative side effects are mostly gone, and the positive side effects begin to kick in. And they will last a lifetime.