Smoking cessation for older adults
Smoking cessation for older adults is a critical health initiative that offers both immediate and long-term benefits. Many seniors may feel disheartened by the belief that their health has already deteriorated due to smoking, but quitting can lead to significant improvements in quality of life and well-being. Within just a day of cessation, individuals can experience enhanced blood circulation, lowered carbon monoxide levels, and reduced heart rate and blood pressure. Over time, benefits continue to accumulate, including improved lung function, increased energy, and a decreased risk of serious health conditions, such as heart disease, lung cancer, and various other diseases.
Research indicates that older adults often have higher success rates in quitting smoking compared to younger individuals, especially if they have existing health issues linked to smoking. Support from healthcare professionals, family, and community resources plays a vital role in the cessation process. Various methods are available to aid in quitting, including nicotine replacement therapies like gums and patches, as well as prescription medications. Additionally, innovative approaches such as web-based programs and mobile apps have proven effective for older smokers seeking to quit, highlighting the importance of accessible support systems. Overall, the journey to quitting smoking can be challenging, but the potential health benefits make it a worthwhile endeavor for older adults.
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Smoking cessation for older adults
DEFINITION: Many people do not realize that smoking cessation has immediate as well as long-term benefits. Seniors who quit smoking tend to enjoy better health and quality of life than their peers who continue to smoke.
Gaining Health Benefits
For many long-term or older smokers, the drive to quit smoking is often comprised or derailed by the feeling that the “damage is already done.” However, smoking cessation has numerous immediate health benefits, regardless of the individual's age. They include, in just one day: an increase of blood circulation; a decrease in carbon monoxide levels in the blood; a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure; and a decrease in the risk of having a heart attack. In several days to several weeks, smoking cessation can improve the sense of smell and taste, increase lung capacity, and ease breathing. In several weeks to nine months, individuals should see energy levels increase and should have cleaner and more functional lungs.
Quitting smoking has additional health benefits as well. Colds and other respiratory tract infections become less common, and both sinus congestion and shortness of breath decrease. The risk of heart disease and lung cancer also decreases, and the risk can eventually be similar to that of a lifelong nonsmoker. Additionally, smoking cessation decreases the risk of peripheral vascular disease, stroke, diabetes, and chronic lung disease (bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma). Giving up cigarettes may also reduce the risk of cataracts, macular degeneration, thyroid conditions, hearing loss, chronic kidney disease, erectile dysfunction, dementia, and osteoporosis. Further research is needed, but smoking may also reduce the effectiveness of vaccines.
Older individuals who smoke are usually more successful at quitting smoking than younger smokers. This is especially true if they already have health problems, particularly those associated with smoking. Studies suggest that older adults who ask their doctors about help for smoking cessation are more likely to receive that help and are more likely to be successful quitters. While quitting all at once tends to be most effective, selecting an appropriate method of quitting and learning how to handle stress are important for those considering smoking cessation. The following are imperative for successful smoking cessation: understanding cravings and how to handle them through distraction; understanding the importance of familial and other support; and avoiding weight gain by eating healthy and exercising. It should also be noted that most ex-smokers make several attempts to quit before they are successful.
Research indicates that web-based smoking cessation interventions are more successful in adults over sixty-five than middle-aged or young adults. Online support groups, mobile apps, and social media campaigns are also engaging, relatively fun ways for older adults to quit smoking with community support. Raising awareness of this type of resource may help lower the rate of smoking in older adults. Also, traditional nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products aid older adults, including nicotine gum, patches, and lozenges available over the counter, and nicotine nasal spray or inhaler is available by prescription. The nicotine-free drugs varenicline and bupropion are also available by prescription and are proven to help individuals quit smoking. Using NRT increases one's chance of quitting by 50 to 70 percent.
Bibliography
Appel, D. W., and T. K. Aldrich. “Smoking Cessation in the Elderly.” Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, vol. 19, no. 1, 2003, pp. 77–100.
Elhassen, Amir, and R. Dobbin Chow. “Smoking Cessation in the Elderly.” Clinical Geriatrics, vol. 15, no. 2, 2007, pp. 38–45.
Henley, S. Jane, et al. “Smoking Cessation Behaviors among Older U.S. Adults.” Preventive Medicine Reports, vol. 16, 17 Aug. 2019, doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2019.100978.
Kwon, Diana M., et al. “Older Adults Who Smoke: Do They Engage with and Benefit from Web-Based Smoking Cessation Interventions?” Preventive Medicine, vol. 161, 2022, doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107118.
Whitson, H. E., et al. “Patterns and Predictors of Smoking Cessation in an Elderly Cohort.” Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, vol. 54, no. 3, 2006, pp. 466–71.