No matter your age, quitting smoking immediately cuts some important health risks. According to the American Lung Association, when an older person stops smoking, circulation immediately improves. The lungs begin an immediate repair process, and just one year after quitting the risk off heart disease linked to smoking is cut almost in half, along with a reduced risk of stroke, lung disease, and some cancers.
Moreover, men who quit smoking at age 65 add up to two years to their life, while women add almost four years! Together with watching your weight and getting enough exercise, quitting smoking could help you live significantly longer!
What happens if you don’t quit? The American Lung Association reports that men over age of 65 who smoke are twice as likely to die from a stroke, while women smokers are 1.5 times at greater risk. Similarly, for all smokers over age 65, the risk of dying from a heart attack is 60% higher than for non-smokers. Smoking also increases the risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, as well as cataracts, a leading cause of blindness and vision loss associated with aging.
If you have questions about quitting smoking, feel free to call Richard at MedSave. Richard is a Certified Smoking Cessation Educator.
Source: www.webmd.com
