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Sunday, March 9, 2008

Quitting Smoking: It's Never Too Late


Greetings Everyone

Many people spend a lifetime trying to give up smoking, but there is good news for older smokers from research carried out at the Peninsula Medical School in South West England.

A study by Dr. Iain Lang and his colleagues has revealed that the point of retirement is one of the most effective times to try to give up smoking. The study followed 1712 smokers aged 50 years and older over a six-year period, taking into account their work status (whether an individual was working or retired) and smoking status (whether a non-smoker or smoker).

The research showed that a total of 42.5 per cent of those who had recently retired had quit smoking, compared with 29.3 per cent of those in employment and 30.2 per cent for those who were already retired. The results indicate those who undergo the transition into retirement are more likely to quit smoking than those who do not.

Said Dr. Lang: "Retirement is one of the great transitions in life, which is why a greater proportion of people may find it easier to make significant changes elsewhere in their lives at this time. Retirement is a point of life at which people have a whole range of opportunities to do things they haven't previously felt able to do. We are excited at the possibility that what we have seen with smoking may also apply to other aspects of lifestyle, like eating more healthily and doing more exercise. That would be a great result not just for the health of the individual but also because it would relieve some of the pressure placed upon the NHS by an ageing population."

He added: "However, anyone who isn't planning to retire just yet shouldn't put off quitting. The sooner you quit the sooner you will experience the benefits -- when it comes to stopping smoking there's no time like the present!"

The Peninsula Medical School team also suggests that employers who are putting together retirement training for their staff should also include guidance about how to have a healthy retirement.

Dr Lang stated: "We would also like to see more employers use retirement as a catalyst for supporting the ongoing health of their retired employees. Preparing them for a healthy retirement is good HR policy -- and quitting smoking will be an important part of that."

Adapted from materials provided by Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry.

Hope you found this post useful in your quest to butt-out.

Best Regards
Robert Drysdale(biobob)

6 comments:

Ziggy said...

Quitting smoking can benefit your health at any age, no matter how long you have been smoking.

I just wanted to say that one of the problems that many people encounter after they quit smoking is the fact that they believe they will never smoke again and this feeling gives them the security to feel comfortable to have the occasional puff.

It comes as quite a surprise to find that even after a very long time there are receptors in the brain that are only too willing to react to the nicotine like it was yesterday and for many people this can result in a relapse to their previous habit all too soon.

It is simply not worth the risk to let this happen again after all you went through to get off the habit in the first place.

You will be risking all the repair work to your health and within minutes of taking that puff you could be headed back to the addiction of the previous habit.

Smoking habits all start with one puff and that's how it all started for you in the first place.
It will happen more easily the second time because the receptors are there and they are always ready to invite back the nicotine.

There is no reason to prove to yourself or anyone else that you can have a smoke and not fall back into your old ways. You should remember the addictive power of nicotine and the fact that no one is safe to 'test' it without setting themselves up for disaster.

Kelly said...

Yup. My downfall every time.... just one.

Mz Diva said...

Me too...I always try to remember that I can never have "just one" because I will be a pack a day smoker in no time. It is too hard to stop smoking once I pick it up again. I need to stay quit....
Peace,
Diva

Internet Marketing Matser said...

I strongly agree its never too late to quit smoking. The most important thing is to make up ones mind towards it. Many people tend to think if they quit, they will start putting on weight. This is a general misconception and an article i found here: http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Quit-Smoking-Cigarettes---Doing-It-Without-Gaining-Weight&id=4967595 sheds more light on this!

Jesse said...

The nicotine addiction can be reversed, given that the smoker has enough willpower to prevent themselves to succumb to the addiction. In my case, it has been five years since I last smoked a cigarette, due to my unending care for my personal being, and after seeing my teeth being stained by the addiction. Also, after getting rid of the addiction for the first time, I went to the dentists in Myrtle Beach, SC for a teeth whitening treatment and dental cleaning to be able to cleanse my mouth from past wrongdoings.

Nannie Jolin said...

The image you've included is very appropriate. You can't wait 'til you cough your lungs out before you stop smoking. If you can't really quit smoking those cigarettes, why not try the alternatives like e-cigs, or maybe vaporizers?