If you have ever spent time with smokers before or previously smoked cigarettes, then you are definitely aware of how severe the “smoker’s cough” can get. Fits of hacking and spitting up black and gray gunk are pretty commonplace for people who take a drag off these little sticks on a daily basis. However, if you have quit smoking and keep coughing, you may be a bit confused. Why would you keep hacking even if you don’t breathe in toxic fumes anymore? Ultimately, the answer is quite simple, but let’s take a closer look at the details to find out more.
Love Your Cilia
Overall, when you inhale tons of cigarette smoke every day, you are paralyzing and damaging thousands of tiny hair-like growths called cilia, which are set along the lining of your lungs. Consider these little tentacles a protective barrier against invaders like bacteria, viruses, allergens, and, of course, smoke. Like a layer of broom brushes, cilia flush out toxins with the help of mucus. Once this gunk reaches the throat, you feel the urge to cough.
Leaving Tar Behind
After you breathe in cigarette smoke, the toxins leave tar, a thick yellow residue, along your protective army of cilia. As a result, these little brushes become inflamed, which produces an overflow of mucus. After your natural defense is put on standby, a buildup of toxins, germs, and bacteria brew in a nasty soup inside your respiratory tract, which can lead to chronic bronchitis and, in the worst-case scenario, cancer.
Coughing while Recovering
Okay, you might say, so I understand why smokers cough, but why am I coughing during recovery?
Simply put, your little cilia have reactivated and are starting to push out the toxins, now that they can fully function without an overload of cigarette smoke pushing them down. In many cases, you may want to check your house for mold or allergens, or purchase a humidifier to make your life easier. However, if your coughing does persist or get more serious (blood in the sputum, for example), you need to see your doctor immediately.
Seeking Treatment for Cigarette Use
Remember that addiction can be triggered by one shot of alcohol or a single puff of a cigarette, but the true danger of this sickness is that you cannot fully determine how much you have to consume before your mind forms an attachment. Social smoking is just as dangerous as chronic smoking, on many levels, but you do not have to smoke to have a good time. Remember, drugs cannot determine if you have fun and do not have control over your life.
If you are suffering from a severe case of drug abuse or addiction, or have a friend or loved one who is coping with this illness, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our professional team of counselors and healthcare experts will help you endure the painful process of alcohol withdrawal and detox and guide you along the rocky road of rehabilitation. Soon enough, you will experience a faster and much more efficient recovery.
If you want to find out more about our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs or enroll in one of these programs today, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your leisure and your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how you can overcome your mental illness and take an extra step toward becoming a healthier person.
