While some smokers falsely believe that combustible cigarettes increase their energy levels, this sense of well-being is a myth. Although smoking can induce a sense of calm, this effect is very temporary, and after a short time, fatigue and stress take over once again. Then, it becomes a vicious cycle of needing a combustible cigarette to ensure that you continue to feel good. This is the hold that nicotine has on us. While we can’t tell you how to quit smoking to ensure success, we can explain the science behind why it affects your energy levels and how e-cigs are better overall.
How does nicotine impact energy levels?
If you ask any current smoker, they’re bound to tell you that smoking gives them a boost of clarity, energy, and calmness. However, this is the result of nicotine—a stimulant found naturally in tobacco. When nicotine enters the bloodstream, it goes directly to the brain, causing a boost of energy and stress reduction. While this sounds great, these effects are short-lived, making it so the smoker needs to continue smoking to achieve the same effects. When levels begin to crash, the smoker will feel agitated, which means they must light up another cigarette to boost their mood. Over time, the individual adapts to a certain amount of nicotine intake and will require more to feel “normal”, therefore continuing the vicious cycle of smoking.
How does smoking decrease energy levels?
Smoking combustible cigarettes are known to lead to a range of health complications, including a serious toll on the user’s energy levels. This is because smokers have a lower lung capacity than that of non-smokers. When less oxygen is going to the lungs, brain, muscles, and other systems, this leads to fatigue and reduced respiratory function. The more the person continues to smoke, the more these systems are eroded of their natural energy levels.
How does smoking affect your blood sugar levels?
Aside from the above, another way that smoking combustible cigarettes impact energy levels is the effects tobacco smoke has on blood sugar levels. Tobacco reduces the body’s sensitivity to insulin. When someone eats carbs or sugar, their body naturally converts these substances into glucose—a natural sugar that’s used for energy. However, processing glucose is done in the pancreas through the release of insulin. If your body isn’t producing insulin naturally, it doesn’t know what to do with these substances, which can eventually lead to type II diabetes.
How to quit smoking
The best thing that you can do for your energy levels and overall health is to quit smoking entirely. However, most people that choose to quit succumb to nicotine withdrawals, which can have them feeling exhausted and irritable for days. This is why ex-smokers opt to use nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) to help them overcome this challenging time.
Here are some popular NRTs:
- E-cigarettes
- Nicotine gum
- Nicotine lozenges
- Nicotine patches
Of all of the options out there, only e-cigarettes have the capacity to meet both the physical need for nicotine and the psychological/habitual desire for that hand-to-mouth exhaling and inhaling sensation. Since there is no one-size-fits-all approach for how to quit smoking, we recommend that you research the options to determine what will work best for your journey.
Did you try multiple NRTs or only e-cigs when you quit smoking? Drop a comment below to let us know.
