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Share your quitting journey

Lifestyle changes can improve health at any age

Thomas3.20.2010
0 2 14

At a recent webinar on smoking cessation one man claimed that all his friends who quit smoking got sick after they gave it up.

Michael Mark, of the Illinois Tobacco Quitline who ran the webinar, says it is common to hear such comments because people are looking for excuses not to quit.

"The facts are absolute," he says. "There is no possible way that continuing smoking would benefit that individual or any individual."

Whether trying to cut back on drinking, smoking or changing years of poor eating habits, medical professionals agree: No matter the age it's not too late to benefit from lifestyle changes.

Why stop now?
 

   While there are as many excuses as there are people offering them, age and being set in your ways is not considered a valid argument.
  
   It isn't uncommon for someone faced with a major lifestyle change to think, "this is the way I've been doing things my whole life. Why stop now."
  
   One good reason, says Dr. Vincent Bufalino, CEO of Midwest Heart Specialists, is heart disease and related complications for many can be controlled or avoided.
  
   "This is a lifestyle disease," Bufalino says adding genetics do play a role for some people but for many it has more to do with the way they live.
  
   The benefits of making changes far outweigh the consequences of keeping things the same. Give me one good reason


Just as there are excuses there are reasons to make a change, many of them backed by research and statistics.

Mark says it is the 55 and older group they speak to more than anybody. "They're still vibrant and still have the capacity to exercise and enjoy life," Mark says.

Rather than a mentality of "I've smoked all these years the damage is done why would I quit now?," Mark suggests people should think about stopping the progression.

"Quit destroying what you have," he says. "You're approaching retirement, you have dreams."

Bufalino says many patients in cardiovascular services are in the 55 and older crowd, typically to assess risk for heart disease. There are many factors considered including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, family history, weight, diet and exercise, Bufalino says.

"Absolutely you can clearly reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke at any age," Bufalino says. "It's amazing how much better folks can feel if they are willing to exercise a few days a week."

For those who already have established lung disease such as chronic bronchitis or emphysema, quitting is still beneficial because the rate of the progression of the disease and severity of symptoms is slowed.

Quitting smoking can improve blood circulation, decrease the amount of carbon dioxide levels in the blood, improve heart rate and blood pressure and the percentage of developing lung disease goes down.

So what could you expect from quitting? Mark says some people may experience increased coughing and mucus production after quitting because areas of the lungs that have been asleep are beginning to wake up. But he says benefits include an increased sense of smell and taste, improved lung capacity and energy and decrease in shortness or breath and infections. Risk of heart attack or stroke also goes down.

For those who are skeptical, just ask a physician. "There are countless stories," Bufalino says. He mentions a man he has followed for 15 years who had a bypass in his mid-60s but changed his lifestyle.

"He's run 20 marathons by now and is in his mid 70s. It's totally revolutionized his life." While that may be an extreme example Bufalino says many people see it as a wakeup call and a second chance.

With a life expectancy now around 79, Bufalino says changes can improve quality of life.

"Get in, get seen and evaluated," Bufalino says. "And change now."

Getting help

Bufalino says he understands change isn't easy and there may be a fear factor, but there are resources available to help.

Cardiac patients are offered a cardiac rehabilitation program involving structured exercise three times a week while monitored by an EKG. It is a three-month program designed to equip the patient to continue exercising on their own.

For others, he says, it may mean walking 10 minutes a day and working up to more.

"You have to get something you are comfortable with and stay with it," he says.

For those interested in quitting smoking they can contact the Illinois Tobacco Quitline, 866-QUIT-YES (866-784-8937), a free service from the state. Mark says they try to take people through the quitting process so they won't experience withdrawal symptoms. He says many people hesitate because they've tried before and failed, but he says they may not have used the right method or product for their needs.

The Quitline incorporate everything from smoking cessation classes to lozenges, patches and armbands. "The right combination is different for every person," Mark says.

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About the Author
63 years old. 20 year smoker. 11 Years FREE! Diagnosed with COPD. Choosing a Quality LIFE! It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. -Galatians 5:1