😮💨 A cough may be proof your body hasn't given up
Coughing after you quit isn't the sound of a body breaking down. It may be the sound of a body pushing something out.
You quit smoking, and then you start coughing.
That's unsettling. You finally stopped, and yet you feel worse than before. Your throat is scratchy. There's phlegm. Your chest feels heavy in the morning. Why now, you think, after quitting.
But a cough is not always bad news.
The NHS describes coughing, breathlessness, and other breathing problems improving after you quit, with lung function rising. The CDC likewise explains that quitting improves respiratory symptoms and slows the decline of lung function. When the body gets away from smoke, the lungs and airways gradually try to go back to their real job. That process can include a stretch of discomfort.