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Five Keys for Quitting
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Resources for Quitting
Tobacco is the single most preventable cause of death and disease, even among older adults. You’ve heard the story about how tobacco use (smoking, chewing, or using snuff) increases your risk of heart disease, cancer and stroke. But, did you know that tobacco related deaths have their most dramatic impact on the young-old, especially those of you in the 50 to 70 year old age range? Or, that smokers have more acute and chronic illnesses and more restricted-activity days, and more bed-disability? This could affect your ability to stay independent.
You may still be saying to yourself, “I am too old for quitting to do me any good.” “What’s the point at my age?” “I won’t see any of the benefits of quitting for a long time.” Well… that’s NOT true!
Changes in lifestyle, such as tobacco cessation, can cause immediate and long-term improvements in your health, especially for older adults. Upon quitting, healing begins immediately!
Within 20 minutes of quitting, your blood pressure and pulse rates begin to drop to normal and your body temperature increases to normal.
Within 24 hours, the chance of a heart attack begins to decrease.
Within 48 hours, food will begin to taste and smell better.
Within 72 hours, bronchial tubes relax and breathing becomes easier and lung capacity increases.
Between 1 and 9 months after quitting, coughing, sinus congestion and shortness of breath all decrease.
Within months, your risk of heart disease falls abruptly.
During the first year after quitting, your self-image and self-esteem improve and the sense of control you feel over your life increases.
Within 3-5 years, the risk of heart disease falls to a level indistinguishable from that of individuals who have never smoked. This is true no matter how long or how much you have smoked.
After 10 years, the risk of lung cancer is 30-50% of that in continuing smokers. However, your risk of lung cancer began declining the day you quit smoking.
By 15 years, the risk of lung cancer is almost as low as if you had never smoked.
And if you don’t care about yourself, and you still think you are too old for quitting to make a difference…what about your family, your friends or your grandchildren. Secondhand smoke is just as dangerous.
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