I've been quit now for a week and I feel like I've got a really bad cough which I can't shake. Is this normal?

[charliedog]

[EmJay Partner]

A week of not smoking is absolutely brilliant! Having a cough can be one of the signs that your body is healing itself.

There are small fine hairs in your nose and throat called cilia which acts as a filter and also help clean the lungs.

One of the chemicals in cigarettes is tar, this gets deposited in the lungs and damages these small hairs. Within 24 hours of stopping smoking, these hairs start to recover and begin to clear years' worth of the tar that has settled at the bottom of your lungs. The coughing is a sign that they are doing their job. Be patient, the coughing is temporary. However, if you are worried and the cough still persists after 2 weeks then pop along to see your doctor.

Well done on reaching your first week of not smoking!