What You Need to Do to Quit Smoking as You Grow Older
No matter how old you are, it is important to realize that it is never too late to start doing things to improve your health. Whether you are 15 or 95, looking out after your health could not only help to extend your life, but also make it so that each day that you have is a lot more enjoyable.
Many seniors can tell you that the older they get, the more difficult everyday activities can become. This can be improved by doing the simple things that help promote a healthier life, and none is a better choice than to stop smoking.
Does Quitting Smoking Really Matter as a Senior?
The first thing that many who were over 65 believe is that it is simply too late to start taking care of themselves now. This is especially true if they have been a longtime smoker, someone that has been smoking since they were in their early 20s or even before that.
While there are serious issues that may be irreversible because of the duration of time that someone has been smoking, the reality is that there are a number of health benefits that still occur by quitting, no matter how old you are. The most important of these is the fact that he greatly reduces the risk of heart disease, particularly if a person was just a moderate smoker.
For many years, doctors had concluded that it would take at least 15 years for a person to reap the benefits of quitting smoking, but that no longer is the case. Recent research has disclosed that a person who is over 65 and has stopped smoking can see the risks of such things as stroke, heart attack, and heart failure decrease in as little as five years period and that most will see the benefits by eight years.
It was also discovered that the risks to such things as lung cancer and blood disorders also decreased with those who quit smoking. While the duration of time was a bit longer before the benefits were seen, usually around 13 years, the fact that it did improve the overall health of a person is a good reason to decide to take the necessary step to quit smoking immediately.
So How Do You Quit?
The most significant challenge that people face in deciding to quit smoking is a bad habit that has been ingrained. By this time most people start their day with a cigarette, each of their breaks includes it, after each meal they include one, and even before they go to bed. It has become a considerable part of their routine.
What you have to do is to find alternatives to that routine. This starts by choosing to do things that take your mind off your previous routine and put it on something else. For example, instead of smoking when you first wake up, choose to brush your teeth, take a shower right away, or drink a glass of water to help you to wake up. What you will find is that by simply following alternatives to your normal routine you were going to be more successful.
You also have to be honest about your willingness to quit smoking. A lot of us make commitments to do things, but there is no real commitment there all. If you are going to have success in accomplishing anything, there has to be a commitment to making that happen.
You should start telling yourself exactly when you were going to quit. Establish a day, maybe even a time where you will decide that this is it. There will be no more! From that day on he will allow for no exceptions.
You also want to ensure that you don’t put yourself in a situation where you are likely to smoke again. Like an alcoholic should never return to a bar, you should not go to places where you know people will be smoking. Remove the placements so that you can be more successful.
Also, reward yourself for reaching your goal. For example, one man told himself that if he was able to quit smoking that the money he spent on cigarettes each day would go towards buying himself a new boat. Each day, he put aside that body, and within three years he had the boat. Set a goal and create a reward that you know will make it all worthwhile.
Because cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in those who are over 65, it makes sense to decide to do something that can extend your life and make it more enjoyable. With just a few steps you can dedicate yourself to having a better life, and make a big healthy goal you can achieve.
