Your health will improve if you stop smoking at any time, regardless of your age or length of smoking. You’ll probably live longer, breathe easier, have more energy, and save money if you give up. You will also:
- Lower your risk of cancer, heart attack, stroke, and lung disease
- Have better blood circulation
- Improve your sense of taste and smell
- Stop smelling like smoke
- Set a healthy example for your children and grandchildren
studies funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the U.S. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), quitting smoking will improve your health, even if you’re 60 years old or older and have been a long-time smoker.
Your life will be shorter if you smoke. Each year, it contributes to about one out of every five fatalities in the country. Smoking makes millions of Americans sick by causing:
- Lung disease. Smoking causes airway and lung damage, which can occasionally result in chronic bronchitis. Emphysema, which damages the lungs and makes breathing extremely difficult, can also result from it.
- Heart disease. Your risk of heart attack and stroke is increased by smoking.
- Cancer. Smoking increases the risk of developing cancer of the lungs, mouth, larynx (voice box), esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, kidneys, bladder, and cervix.
- Respiratory problems. Smokers are more likely than non-smokers to contract the flu, pneumonia, or other infections that can impair their ability to breathe.
- Osteoporosis. Smoking increases the likelihood of developing osteoporosis (weak bones).
- Eye diseases. The risk of eye conditions like cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which can cause vision loss and blindness, is increased by smoking.
- Diabetes. Smokers are more likely than non-smokers to develop type 2 diabetes, and smoking makes it more difficult to manage diabetes once you do. Diabetes is a serious condition that can cause amputations, blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, and nerve disease.
Smoking can also cause skin to become dull and wrinkly, muscles to tire easily, wounds to take longer to heal, and an increased risk of erectile dysfunction in men.
Nicotine is a Drug
The drug found in tobacco that makes cigarettes so addictive is called nicotine. Many smokers continue to experience intense cravings for cigarettes even after quitting, even though some people who stop smoking don’t experience any withdrawal symptoms. Additionally, they might be hungry, tired, or grumpy. Some people struggle with headaches, depression, difficulty falling asleep, or difficulty concentrating. With time, these signs get better.
Help With Quitting
Making a firm decision to stop and choosing a specific date are often cited as the first steps in successfully quitting smoking. Make a plan for how you will handle the circumstances that cause you to feel the urge to smoke and how you will handle cravings. To determine which strategy suits you the best, you might need to try a few different ones. For example, you might:
- Consult your physician.
- Read books on self-help.
- Attend counseling, either individual or group.
- SmokeFree60+ offers text messaging services that you can subscribe to or download for your smartphone.
- Get assistance from a friend.
- Establish a rewards system and consider what you could do with the money you would have spent on cigarettes.
- Go for a stroll or discover a brand-new activity that you like.
- Take medication to ease the withdrawal effects of nicotine.
Some individuals worry that if they stop, they will put on weight. Make a plan to exercise and stay physically active when you quit if that worries you; it may help you to avoid cravings and is necessary for healthy aging.
Breaking the Addiction
When you stop smoking, you might require assistance to manage your body’s craving for nicotine. Some smokers find success with nicotine replacement therapy. Gum, patches, and lozenges are available over the counter.
Prescription drugs are another option that could aid in quitting. You can lessen withdrawal symptoms and make it easier to stop smoking by using a nicotine nasal spray or inhaler.
To ease withdrawal symptoms, other medications may be used. The best medications for you may be discussed with your doctor.
Cigars, Pipes, Hookahs, Chewing Tobacco, and Snuff Are Not Safe
Some people believe that pipes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco (such as chewing and snuff) are risk-free substitutes for cigarettes. They are not, as smokeless tobacco causes pancreatic and oral cancer. Additionally, it leads to gum issues, oral leukoplakia (precancerous lesions), and nicotine addiction. Smokers of pipes and cigars run the risk of developing cancers of the mouth, lips, larynx, esophagus, and bladder. Smokers who breathe in are more likely to develop lung cancer, heart disease, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and emphysema. Many of the same health risks associated with smoking tobacco are also present when using a hookah.
Secondhand Smoke is Dangerous
Smokers’ family, friends, and even pets may suffer severe health issues as a result of secondhand smoke from cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. For those who already have heart or lung disease, secondhand smoke is especially dangerous. Secondhand smoke can lead to heart disease and lung cancer in adults. It can raise a baby’s risk of developing sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), which is the causeless death of a child under the age of one. If they are exposed to secondhand smoke, kids are also more likely to develop lung conditions, ear infections, and severe asthma.
Get the Facts About E-cigarettes
E-cigarettes, also known as electronic cigarettes, deliver nicotine, flavor, and other chemicals for the user to inhale. They are sometimes called “e-cigs,” “e-hookahs,” “mods,” “vape pens,” “vapes,” or “tank systems,” and may look like regular cigarettes, pens, or even In addition to nicotine, which is addictive, USB sticks may also contain other dangerous materials like lead and chemicals that cause cancer. Lung disease has been connected to some flavorings used in e-cigarettes. The long-term impacts that e-cigarettes may have on your health are still being researched by scientists. E-cigarettes have not been given FDA approval as a tool to help smokers quit. There is only weak evidence that they assist smokers in quitting.
Good News About Quitting
The good news is that after you quit smoking, even in your 60s, 70s, or beyond:
- Your blood pressure and heart rate return to more normal levels.
- Your nerve endings start to regenerate, improving your senses of taste and smell.
- You’ll notice an improvement in the way your heart, lungs, and circulatory system work.
- Less frequently will you cough and experience shortness of breath.
- You’ll experience a reduction in your risk of heart attack or stroke.
- Your breathing will get better.
- It will be less likely for you to develop cancer.
All these health advantages are compelling arguments for developing a smoking cessation strategy regardless of your age.
Call a Smoking Quitline
You can quit smoking or maintain your goals with the aid of a qualified counselor. You can call:
- The National Cancer Institute’s Smoking Quitline, 877-448-7848 (877-44U-QUIT)
- Smokefree.gov, which connects you with your State’s Quitline, 800-784-8669 (800-QUITNOW)
- Veterans Smoking Quitline, 855-784-8838 (855-QUITVET)
You Can Quit Smoking: Stick With It!
Before they successfully stop smoking for good, many people need to give it a few tries. You are not a failure if you err and smoke a cigarette. It is possible to succeed on your next attempt. To return to your objective, try using these suggestions.
It’s never too late to enjoy the advantages of quitting smoking. Quitting can significantly lower your risk of developing cancer, heart disease, and stroke over time, as well as your risk of passing away, even if you start later in life.
