It’s never too late to quit smoking. Even seniors can obtain health benefits from smoking cessation. Here are six reasons your senior loved one needs to quit smoking to enjoy better health.
1. Reduce Heart Attack Risk
Smoking is one of the most significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease and heart attack. Soon after quitting smoking, the risk of having a heart attack decreases. Smoking can cause cardiac arrhythmia, which refers to an abnormal or erratic heartbeat.
2. Alleviate COPD Symptoms
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can cause severe shortness of breath, chest pain, frequent infections, and the accumulation of thick secretions in the lungs that are difficult to expectorate. COPD commonly affects seniors who have smoked heavily for years. Quitting smoking can help seniors establish a better pattern of breathing and prevent future lung damage.
There are a variety of age-related health conditions that can make it more challenging for seniors to live independently. However, many of the challenges they face can be easier to address if their families opt for professional home care. You can rely on expertly trained caregivers to keep your loved one safe and comfortable while aging in place.
3. Lower Cancer Risk
Cigarette smoking doesn’t just raise the risk of lung cancer. It may also increase the risk of cancers of the bladder, tongue, pancreas, and pharynx. Quitting smoking can significantly reduce your loved one’s risk of these malignancies, even if he or she has smoked for a long time. If cigarette smoking is stopped early enough, the risk of smoking-related cancers may eventually diminish to that of a nonsmoker.
4. Prevent Capillary Damage
Smoking can cause capillary damage, leading to poor circulation. When circulation is poor, your loved one may be at risk for diabetes-related stasis ulcers, slow wound healing, edema, high blood pressure, and infections. Once your loved one has quit smoking, blood flow should increase, which may boost energy levels and immunity.
5. Lower Cholesterol
Cigarette smoking raises total cholesterol levels, and it can also increase low-density lipoproteins, or LDL cholesterol. Also known as “bad cholesterol,” LDL cholesterol is thought to raise the risk of heart attack and stroke. Seniors with high total cholesterol or elevated LDL cholesterol should quit smoking now so they can enjoy healthier lipid levels and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Recovering from a stroke, managing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, and a variety of other health-related situations can make it difficult for a senior to continue living at home without someone there to help. Oklahoma City, OK, live-in care professionals are trained to help seniors who need 24/7 assistance. With the help of a live-in caregiver, your elderly loved one can maintain a higher quality of life while aging in place.
6. Maintain Healthy Blood Pressure
Aging adults who have high blood pressure should quit smoking to keep hypertension at bay. Smoking also causes diminished circulation and may contribute to arteriosclerosis, another risk factor for high blood pressure. If blood pressure gets too high, your loved one may be at higher risk for an aneurysm, angina, heart attack, and stroke.
If your loved one is unable to quit smoking independently, make an appointment with a physician to learn about effective smoking cessation treatments, which may include nicotine replacement patches or chewing gum, antidepressants, psychological counseling, and hospital-based support groups. The physician will also remind your loved one of the many health benefits associated with smoking cessation. In addition to boosting physical health, quitting smoking may enhance mental health as well.
Professional caregivers with training in promoting healthy habits can be a wonderful source of information and support for seniors who are trying to quit smoking. If you have a senior loved one who needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Lifestar Home Care, a leading provider of home care Oklahoma City families can trust. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia. We’ll work with you to create a customized home care plan that’s suited for your loved one’s unique needs. Call the Lifestar Home Care team today.