Nicotine withdrawal symptoms similar to COVID-19

Published May 14, 2020

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DURBAN - Coughing, headache, fever, and a lot of unpleasant body conditions, these are the symptoms of Covid-19, as mentioned by health and medical experts all over the world.

This daunting new reality is scary because the Covid-19 symptoms resemble the symptoms of almost any common illness.

You could be experiencing a common sinus attack and assume the worst by thinking it’s the coronavirus (as I have). However, with the current ban on cigarettes, it could also just be a nicotine withdrawal symptom you’re experiencing.

These symptoms could vary, depending on how long you’ve smoked and how many cigarettes you have a day, symptoms of withdrawal can last anywhere from several days to several weeks.

Some of the similar symptoms include :

A

Cough -

Smoking generally clogs your respiratory system, which is why it cannot clean itself when there is nicotine present. Coughing is your body’s way of getting rid of unwanted substances in the system, so you may experience a cough during the withdrawal process. This could last for a few weeks, again depending on how many cigarettes you smoked per day.

Headaches -

These are generally on the mild side. They show up first and also taper off first. Nicotine causes the blood vessels in your body to narrow and thus reduces the blood flow to your brain, hence the headaches.

The carbon monoxide in tobacco has an adverse effect on your brain and again, can trigger a headache.

Fatigue -

Nicotine is a substance that generally heightens your senses. If you were a frequent smoker, then a lack of nicotine in your system could lead to you feeling tired and fatigued.

Although these symptoms may be similar to the Covid-19 symptoms mentioned by health experts, it could also just be a withdrawal of nicotine from your system. So monitor yourself accordingly and get tested if you experience these symptoms continuously.

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