| Can't teach an old dog new tricks? Medical evidence | | | | for a year and the excess risk of coronary heart |
| strongly suggests otherwise. Picking up a new trick or | | | | disease becomes half that of a regular smoker's. After |
| two is not only possible, it's well worth it. Now, there | | | | 10 years of being cigarette-free, the risk of lung, mouth, |
| is no need to get offended. No one is suggesting you | | | | throat and other cancers (including esophagus, cervix, |
| are old, or a dog. It is simply a point of reference. | | | | bladder and pancreas) are reduced by almost half. |
| There is a need, however, to be optimistic about | | | | Best of all, the risk of coronary heart disease is the |
| reducing the odds of developing a smoking-related | | | | same as a non-smoker's after 15 years of a |
| illness when you quit smoking after the age of 50. | | | | smoke-free lifestyle. |
| The good news gets even better. Putting down the | | | | These benefits not only translate into reduced pain and |
| cigs for good after 50 years of age (or any age for | | | | suffering, but they also reduce the chances of being |
| that matter) will not only improve overall health, but | | | | burdened by preventable medical bills and the arbitrary |
| many tobacco-related conditions can actually be | | | | expense of cigs. Getting 15 years of life back is |
| reversed. According to the American Heart | | | | impressive enough, but knowing the quality of life during |
| Association, people between the ages of 60-64 who | | | | those 15+ years will be enjoyable is a gratifying |
| quit smoking are 10 percent less likely to die during | | | | incentive. |
| the next 15 years than regular smokers. | | | | So before you decide you're too old to quit, or that it's |
| Still looking for that extra incentive to put down the old | | | | too much of a hassle, take some time to review the |
| habit? Pull out a calendar and let's look at some | | | | facts and beneficial aspects of doing so. Whether it's |
| numbers. The Surgeon General Report states that | | | | the need to be there for family or purely out of |
| within one to nine months after quitting, coughing and | | | | self-interest, the reasons and benefits of giving up |
| shortness of breath decrease and the lungs regain | | | | smoking are almost innumerable; regardless of age. |
| their ability to clean and moderate themselves, thereby | | | | Set the example and show the younger ones there's |
| reducing the chances of infection. Give up smoking | | | | a thing or two they can learn from you. |