Knowing how smoking affects heart health can make quitting smoking later in life easier. Removing this habit from your life can result in lower blood pressure, a balanced heart rate, and a reduced risk of several cancers.
Additionally, stopping now can add at least one extra year of life in some older people, according to an American Journal of Preventive Medicine study by Le et al.
Smoking and aging aren't a good combination, but there are resources and cardiovascular health tips to consider in Morristown, TN. Patches, medication, programs, and adopting a healthier diet are some of the things nicotine-using seniors can do now to help cease smoking.
The earlier you quit smoking, the better, but seniors who quit now can still add years to life, improve overall heart health, and reduce various cancer risks. Those with hypertension, which smoking often causes, can reduce the associated risks, such as heart failure.
Being a smoker isn't just bad for the lungs, but the heart as well. This habit can produce blood clots that block arteries and plaque buildup that narrows vessels.
When smoking, body tissues don't get the required oxygen since smoking lowers the amount of oxygen in the blood. This also affects your ability to heal from a bruise, injury, or after surgery.
The heart has to work overtime due to quick spikes, which increase your blood pressure and heart rate.
However, better senior heart wellness can start within minutes of not smoking. After 20 minutes, heart rate and blood pressure decrease.
In two weeks, circulation improves, and in two years of quitting, your risk of a heart attack drastically drops.
Your risk of coronary heart disease is reduced by 50% after three to six years. By year 15 of being smoke-free, your risk of coronary heart disease matches that of a non-smoker.
According to the American Cancer Society, as many as 80% of lung cancer cases are from smoking. Continuing to smoke also increases the risk of head, neck, bladder, and kidney cancer. This habit also puts others who don't smoke at all at risk due to secondhand smoke.
However, you can cut your cancer risk in half after ceasing smoking for five to ten years.
Regardless of age, seniors can stop smoking right now to start enjoying several health and lifestyle benefits. There are several helpful resources, which include patches, medication, and cessation programs. Plus, there's nature and activities to keep you busy.
A nicotine patch is a large bandage that sticks to your skin and slowly releases nicotine into your system. Expect to use it for eight to ten weeks, but some may need it for a longer period. It works by reducing your nicotine dosage over time, which can slowly help reduce your reliance on it.
According to the American Cancer Society, medications to help stop smoking include:
Be aware that some of these medications can have side effects like nausea, vomiting, headache, sleeping issues, constipation, dry mouth, rashes, risk of seizures, and fatigue.
Try to stay busy by enjoying some of the resources at your TerraBella Morristown senior community, such as yoga, walking groups, exercise classes, and art workshops. Staying active with positive activities can distract from the need to have a cigarette. Plus, the invigoration you'll feel from not smoking, along with endorphins produced from exercise, may encourage you to stay clean.
Being nestled between the Great Smoky Mountains and the Cherokee Lake area, TerraBella residents have the ideal environment for healthier alternatives like exploring nature through hiking, fishing, boating, golfing, and attending festivals. A PubMed study by Wu and Chiou in Addiction found that simply exposing smokers to pictures of natural landscapes also helped curb smoking habits.
When you stop smoking, you can expect to have nicotine cravings. One thing to replace your habit with is gum, a healthy snack, or a mint.
Sugarless gum, raw veggies and nuts, mints, or candies may help provide a burst of something tasty that can reduce the need for a cigarette. Sometimes drinking a glass of water can also help.
As you quit smoking, your sense of taste and smell will also improve. Therefore, investing in a healthier diet with a range of fruit and vegetables may also fuel your taste buds and reduce nicotine cravings. Since smoking reduces your absorption of vital nutrients like vitamin D, vitamin C, and calcium, start with items like citrus, kale, and berries for snacks.
Dark chocolate may also help reduce cravings, according to one study by Gomes et al.
Over time, with the right lifestyle adjustments, a weak heart can be made stronger. A heart-healthy lifestyle that includes no cigarettes, a proper diet, more exercise, less alcohol, proper weight management, and better stress management all benefit senior heart health.
Additionally, keep up with your regularly scheduled heart screenings that include blood tests, blood pressure readings, EKGs, and, in some cases, CT scans to check your heart for calcium buildup.
Unfortunately, smokers' lungs do not ever 100% match those of someone who's never smoked, especially if you smoked for a long time. However, quitting significantly heals your lungs and can restore better function.
Much like your heart, your lungs will start to immediately heal after you stop smoking. You'll notice mucus clearing, reduced inflammation, and overall better circulation.
If you're a senior who has smoked all your life, it's not too late to quit. Saying goodbye to nicotine is a big step in heart risk prevention, and knowing how smoking affects heart health can make the decision easier. As you stop smoking, you'll enjoy more energy, reduced blood pressure, better circulation, faster healing, and restore sense of smell and taste.
At TerraBella Morristown, you can easily take your mind off smoking by strolling the gardens or exploring the city's extensive trails, parks, and lakes. Enjoy community cooking and art workshops and wellness programs, while revamping your smell and taste buds over fresh chef-prepared meals. Contact us to learn more about our senior living community and schedule a tour.