A fresh wave of inspiration may be hitting older smokers following a study by the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Conventional wisdom suggests younger individuals stand the most to gain from stubbing out the last cigarette. However, fresh data indicates that the benefits of quitting extend well into the golden years. According to the University of Michigan's news release, offers compelling reasons for even those at 75 to consider quitting.
As Thuy Le, PhD, put it, "We have seen a remarkable decline in young adult smoking over the past decade." Nonetheless, rates among seniors have not improved at a similar pace. Through all-cause mortality data and the construction of 'life tables', the study found that quitting at ages 35 through 75 could firmly add up to 8 and 0.7 years to one’s life, respectively. "We wanted to show that stopping smoking is beneficial at any age and provide [an] incentive for older people who smoke to quit," Le told New Atlas.
The long-term health advantages of kicking the habit are echoed by The American Cancer Society, emphasizing smoking cessation can reduce risks of various cancers, lung and heart complications, and extend life expectancy. Despite the greater public health focus on younger demographics, these findings are a pointed reminder that it is never too late to make a positive change.
Deciding to quit can quickly begin to restore taste, and smell, reduce shortness of breath during activities, and, not to mention, save a significant amount of money that would have been spent on tobacco. These additional benefits are a boon alongside the potential of adding years to one's lifespan. Kenneth Warner, a co-author of the study, asserts, "The cessation benefit is not limited to young and middle-aged adults who smoke; this study demonstrates its applicability to seniors as well," according to New Atlas.
The potential for quality life despite quitting at an older age is starkly illustrated in the study's findings, with a notable 23.4% chance of gaining at least one year of life for those halting smoking at 65, dropping to 14.2% at 75. Importantly, these gains represent a significant portion of an individual's remaining life expectancy, thus giving clinicians a sturdy scientific foundation to advocate for smoking cessation among their older patients.
