Smoking can lead to poor health and several life-threatening diseases. Although quitting is often difficult for older adults, especially those who have smoked for much of their lives, letting go of the bad habit could boost their cognitive health and make them less vulnerable to some cancers and heart disease. Below are some of the reasons seniors should quit smoking.
1. Boost Bone Health
Smoking can decrease bone density and increase the risk of osteoporosis. Poor bone health also leads to fractures, broken bones, traumas, and other injuries caused by falls. However, seniors who stop smoking can increase the circulation in their bodies and boost their bone health.
Quitting bad habits such as smoking is only one way older adults can boost their health. Seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional senior care. Home Care Assistance is here to help your elderly loved one accomplish daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier and more fulfilling life.
2. Prevent Heart Attacks & Strokes
Smoking narrows the arteries, makes the heart work overtime, and increases the risk of a heart attack. Consuming tobacco products can also trigger irregular heart rhythms, raise blood pressure, and increase the odds of a stroke. To prevent heart disease, your loved one needs to stop smoking and adopt other healthy lifestyle choices.
3. Lower the Risk of Lung Cancer
Smoking damages the cells that line the lungs, which increases the risk of developing lung cancer. Every time cigarette smoke is inhaled, the cancer-causing substances in the smoke change the lung tissue. Aging slows the body’s ability to repair the damage to lung tissue, which raises the risk of lung cancer.
4. Decrease Coughing
When your loved one stops smoking, the tiny structures that move mucus out of the lungs should begin to function normally. As a result, the hair-like structures can handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infections such as pneumonia. Smoking weakens the immune system, and quitting cigarettes can boost your parent’s ability to fight off bacteria and infections.
5. Stave Off Alzheimer’s Disease
Tobacco products can trigger oxidative stress and harm various organs, including the brain. Oxidative stress leads to the formation of neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques in the brain, which increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. If your loved one continues to smoke, the tobacco could damage his or her arteries and interfere with the free flow of blood in the brain. When brain cells and neurons are deprived of oxygen and nutrients, the risk of Alzheimer’s disease can increase.
Alzheimer’s can be challenging for seniors to manage without assistance, and it can be just as challenging for families who don’t have experience in providing Alzheimer’s care. Victoria Home Care Assistance provides Alzheimer’s care seniors and their families can depend on. Our proprietary Cognitive Therapeutics Method was designed to help seniors with Alzheimer’s and other memory-related conditions live happier and healthier lives.
6. Promote Better Sleep
Nicotine rushes through the system and disrupts sleep patterns, which increases the risk of insomnia and breathing issues. Sleep is important for older adults because it allows their bodies to clear out toxins and repair cell damage that has taken place during the day. If your loved one continues to smoke, his or her body may not be able to rid itself of toxins, leading to a poor quality of life.
Many older adults need help letting go of bad habits and adopting healthy ones. If your aging loved one needs help managing everyday tasks or encouragement to adopt healthier lifestyle choices, turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of elderly home care. Victoria Home Care Assistance provides professional in-home caregivers around the clock to help seniors live longer, happier, and healthier lives. To learn about our quality-assured services, give us a call at (250) 592-4881 today.