If you or a loved one has smoked for many years, it may seem like too much damage has already been done to go through the agony of quitting smoking. While damage to your health may have already occurred, it is actually never too late to quit smoking. And the great news is that the sooner you quit, the rewarding benefits are immediate! According to the American Cancer Society, within just 20 minutes after quitting, your heart and blood pressure drop. In just 12 hours, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal, and in as little as 2 weeks, your circulation improves and your lung function increases.

The Challenges of Quitting When You’re Older

If you have been smoking for a number of years, not only is smoking a habit, but it is an addiction that may be tied to many of the events and routines that make up your life. Maybe you’ve tried to quit in the past, even on several occasions, without success. You may feel defeated when it comes to trying to quit again when you’ve experienced failure with it in the past. You may even have fear that you will be more irritable, nervous or tense if you lose your outlet of smoking. Some people fear they will gain weight, or that life may simply be boring without smoking.

One thing you can feel confident about if you have the desire to quit smoking, is that you have strength and resolve that many younger people may not possess yet. No doubt you have done very hard things over your lifetime and have experienced many triumphs and trials that make you who you are today. You never know, you just might have the strength to finally quit that you didn’t have long ago in your youth. Dr. Tai Hing Lam of the University of Hong Kong says, “many older smokers misbelieve that they are too old to quit or too old to benefit from quitting. Because of reverse causality and from seeing deaths of old friends who had quit recently, some misbelieve that quitting could be harmful.” He advises that patients need to be warned that smoking increases your chances of dying from smoking-induced diseases (such as cancer, heart diseases, stroke and respiratory and many other serious diseases), and quitting at any time greatly reduces those risks.

The Advantages of Quitting Today

It really is never too late to quit smoking. The benefits are immediate and very rewarding. Your breath smells better, yellowed teeth begin to whiten, food begins to taste better, and those everyday activities such as climbing stairs or getting in and out of a car no longer leave you breathless. The health benefits are remarkable and should motivate you to quit today! Some health benefits include:

• Your circulation and lung function will improve

• Reduction in risk of heart attack, stroke, and cancer

• If you suffer from chronic bronchitis or emphysema, quitting stops further damage

• Overall physical health will improve, stamina and energy will increase

Many older people that quit smoking report that they wish they had quit a lot sooner, and that they feel relieved and grateful to be free from the addiction. Long-term smokers can feel significant improvements in their health once they quit, which motivates them to stay strong and habit-free. If you have experienced a heart attack, quitting can reduce your chance of having another attack. If you have experienced long-term health problems, quitting can increase your mental and physical stamina to regain your life and take control of these precious years and feel great again. It really is never too late to quit smoking!