{"id":13101,"date":"2018-01-03T07:00:12","date_gmt":"2018-01-03T13:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senioradvisor.com\/blog\/?p=13101"},"modified":"2018-01-10T10:53:39","modified_gmt":"2018-01-10T16:53:39","slug":"strategies-to-quit-smoking-in-your-senior-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/d30braiqprupoq.cloudfront.net\/blog\/2018\/01\/strategies-to-quit-smoking-in-your-senior-years\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Strategies to Quit Smoking in Your Senior Years"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 style=\"font-weight: 300;\">9 Strategies to Quit Smoking in Your Senior Years<\/h1>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 300;\">At this point, you\u2019ve been hearing it for years. You know all about the health risks that come with smoking, like:<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-13105\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/img.prod.aplaceformom.com\/main\/uploads\/sa-blog\/2018\/01\/strategies-to-quit-smoking-in-your-senior-years-350x184.jpg\" alt=\"9 Strategies to Quit Smoking in Your Senior Years\" width=\"350\" height=\"184\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/img.prod.aplaceformom.com\/main\/uploads\/sa-blog\/2018\/01\/strategies-to-quit-smoking-in-your-senior-years-350x184.jpg 350w, https:\/\/s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/img.prod.aplaceformom.com\/main\/uploads\/sa-blog\/2018\/01\/strategies-to-quit-smoking-in-your-senior-years-768x403.jpg 768w, https:\/\/s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/img.prod.aplaceformom.com\/main\/uploads\/sa-blog\/2018\/01\/strategies-to-quit-smoking-in-your-senior-years-1024x538.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/img.prod.aplaceformom.com\/main\/uploads\/sa-blog\/2018\/01\/strategies-to-quit-smoking-in-your-senior-years.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4098701\/\"><b><strong>Alzheimer\u2019s<\/strong><\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Breathing disorders like asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.senioradvisor.com\/blog\/2017\/11\/senior-diabetes-prevention-tips-to-reduce-your-risk\/\"><b><strong>Diabetes<\/strong><\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.senioradvisor.com\/blog\/2017\/11\/senior-diabetes-prevention-tips-to-reduce-your-risk\/\"><b><strong>Heart disease<\/strong><\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.senioradvisor.com\/blog\/2016\/05\/how-to-reduce-high-blood-pressure\/\"><b><strong>High blood pressure<\/strong><\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Kidney disease<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.senioradvisor.com\/blog\/2016\/06\/lung-cancer-screenings\/\"><b><strong>Lung cancer<\/strong><\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Macular degeneration<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.senioradvisor.com\/blog\/2016\/01\/pneumonia-in-the-elderly\/\"><b><strong>Pneumonia<\/strong><\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.senioradvisor.com\/blog\/2016\/02\/heart-disease-and-stroke\/\"><b><strong>Strokes<\/strong><\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 300;\">But if you\u2019re a senior that smokes, none of this is probably news to you. If you\u2019ve been smoking for decades, what difference will\u00a0quitting really make?<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 300;\">A lot, as it happens.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/11067570\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b><strong>Research confirms<\/strong><\/b><\/a>\u00a0that while you won\u2019t see improvements as quickly as you would have if you\u2019d quit at 30, you will still see health improvements if you quit in your senior years.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Studies also show that seniors are actually more likely to be successful if they commit to quitting than younger smokers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Here are a few strategies you can make use of, to help you succeed this time:<\/p>\n<h3><b><\/b>1. Define your reasons why.<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 300;\">One of the best places to start the process of quitting is to really decide why this choice matters to you. It doesn\u2019t have to be anything on the list above. Think about what quitting means for you personally. Maybe you\u2019re ready to quit because you want to be around long enough to see your grandson graduate from high school. Or maybe you\u2019re tired of seeing loved ones cringe at the smell when they go to hug you.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Think through how quitting would make your life better and write your reasons down. This will both help you clarify that you do really want to quit and give you something to go back to anytime your resolve starts wavering.<\/p>\n<h3><b><\/b>2. Identify your triggers.<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Part of smoking addiction is physical, but some of it is more habitual. You get used to having a cigarette with every cup of coffee or heading outside for one each day after lunch. Pinpoint the activities or times of day you associate most with smoking \u2013 these are the moments you\u2019ll be most tempted and should try to prepare for.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 300;\">If you know those five minutes after lunch will be particularly hard, you can be prepared with an alternate activity to fill the gap \u2013 maybe brushing your teeth right after lunch or taking a walk around the block \u2013 anything that will take your mind off the desire to smoke.<\/p>\n<h3><b><\/b>3. Plan.<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 300;\">How many times have you decided in the moment you\u2019re ready to quit, but then the next day you experience something stressful and figure maybe it\u2019s not the right time after all? Your momentary decision should come coupled with an ongoing plan if you\u2019re going to stick to it.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Figure out the timeline you want to quit\u00a0on\u00a0\u2013 are you going cold turkey today, or starting by cutting down little by little? Think about tools you can try to stick with your resolve to quit (some handy ones are included later in our list). If you\u2019re a smartphone user, there\u2019s an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/smokefree.gov\/apps-quitstart\">app that can help<\/a>. If you\u2019re more\u00a0old fashioned\u00a0in your planning, make use of your calendar to turn your larger goal into specific steps you can consistently follow.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Try smoking cessation counseling.<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 300;\">A lot of people find it easier to quit if they work with someone who helps.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicare.gov\/coverage\/smoking-and-tobacco-use-cessation.html\"><b><strong>Medicare covers smoking cessation counseling<\/strong><\/b><\/a>, so you probably have free access to in-person help you didn\u2019t know about yet. You can also try the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/smokefree.gov\/tools-tips\/speak-expert\"><b><strong>smoking cessation\u00a0Quitline<\/strong><\/b>\u00a0<\/a>at\u00a0800-QUIT-NOW.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Having someone talk you through your options and provide actionable tips to help you quit could be the thing you need to actually pull it off this time.<\/p>\n<h3><b><\/b>5. Use over-the-counter medications<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 300;\">There are several OTC meds that will replace the nicotine you miss from cigarettes to help you reduce the cravings over time. If you haven\u2019t yet, try out:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Nicotine gum<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Nicotine lozenges<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Nicotine patches<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Studies have shown\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmedhealth\/PMH0010505\/\">nicotine replacement options<\/a>\u00a0improve the chances of quitting by 50-70%. Not bad. They\u2019re definitely worth a try.<\/p>\n<h3>6. Use prescription medications.<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 300;\">If over-the-counter options don\u2019t work for you, talk to your doctor. They can consider if any of the prescription medications for quitting are a good fit for your situation. These include nicotine inhalers and nasal sprays, and in some cases certain antidepressants.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Depending on the prescription plan you have with Medicaid, some of these options may be fully covered for you. It\u2019s worth checking to see if you can get them for free or cheap.<\/p>\n<h3>7. Use support groups.<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Quitting anything addictive is hard and many people have found the process gets easier when you can talk to others dealing with the same thing. Across the United States, there are\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nicotine-anonymous.org\/find-a-meeting.html\"><b><strong>Nicotine Anonymous<\/strong><\/b><\/a>\u00a0support groups set up just for that purpose. See what\u2019s near you and give it a try. You can learn from what\u2019s worked for other quitters and talk about your struggles with other people who get it.<\/p>\n<h3><b><\/b>8. Quit the Habit.<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 300;\">As previously mentioned, so much of the draw of smoking is related to the habitual nature of it. Try to find something to replace that. It could be chewing gum, brushing your teeth, going for walks, or making hot tea each time you get a craving. Having something else to do with your hands and mind when the craving hits will help you re-train your brain toward a healthier habit.<\/p>\n<h3>9. Use your friends and family to help.<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 300;\">A counselor and support group can be crucial support during this time, but your chances of success will be much higher if the people around you are also committed to supporting you along the way. Ask them to encourage you as you go and hold you accountable if they see you slipping.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Hearing the people you love tell you how proud of you they are and celebrating each new milestone with you can go a long way to incentivizing you to stick with it. Chances\u00a0are,\u00a0the people who love you will be eager to help.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 300;\">You know it\u2019s bad for you and you know your life will be better once you quit. Take the steps now to make it happen. Just because you\u2019re getting older doesn\u2019t mean the effort won\u2019t be worth it; if anything, it\u2019s more meaningful to take that step now to improve the years you have left.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>9 Strategies to Quit Smoking in Your Senior Years At this point, you\u2019ve been hearing it for years. You know all about the health risks that come with smoking, like: Alzheimer\u2019s Breathing disorders like asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema Diabetes Heart disease High blood pressure Kidney disease Lung cancer Macular degeneration Pneumonia Strokes But if you\u2019re a senior that smokes, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2199,"featured_media":13105,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[200,35],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-13101","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-families-caregivers","8":"category-senior-health-fitness"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>9 Strategies to Quit Smoking in Your Senior Years<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you\u2019ve been smoking for decades, what difference will quitting make?\u00a0A lot, as it happens. 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