Stop Smoking - It's Never Too Late To Quit Smoking

Can't teach an old dog new tricks? Medical evidence strongly suggests otherwise. Picking up a new trick or two is not only possible, it's well worth it. Now, there is no need to get offended. No one is suggesting you are old, or a dog. It is simply a point of reference. There is a need, however, to be optimistic about reducing the odds of developing a smoking-related illness when you quit smoking after the age of 50.

The good news gets even better. Putting down the cigs for good after 50 years of age (or any age for that matter) will not only improve overall health, but many tobacco-related conditions can actually be reversed. According to the American Heart Association, people between the ages of 60-64 who quit smoking are 10 percent less likely to die during the next 15 years than regular smokers.

Still looking for that extra incentive to put down the old habit? Pull out a calendar and let's look at some numbers. The Surgeon General Report states that within one to nine months after quitting, coughing and shortness of breath decrease and the lungs regain their ability to clean and moderate themselves, thereby reducing the chances of infection. Give up smoking for a year and the excess risk of coronary heart disease becomes half that of a regular smoker's. After 10 years of being cigarette-free, the risk of lung, mouth, throat and other cancers (including esophagus, cervix, bladder and pancreas) are reduced by almost half. Best of all, the risk of coronary heart disease is the same as a non-smoker's after 15 years of a smoke-free lifestyle.