Will Retirement Help You Quit Smoking for Good?

If you’re at retirement age, you probably want to focus on doing the things you’re passionate about or even setting new goals to achieve. 

Retirement is the perfect time for this because you have more time and no longer need to worry about work.

Since you have more free time to take care of yourself and rethink your choices, it might also be the right moment to start your quit-smoking journey and finally kick the habit.

However, it’s important to manage your expectations when quitting smoking at this stage of life. 

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Decades of smoking may have already caused health complications, and quitting now won’t undo all the damage instantly. 

But, it’s never too late to improve your health and quality of life by quitting.

Keep reading for tips and advice on how to quit smoking at retirement age and increase your chances of success.

An Almost Stress-Free Lifestyle Helps Quitting

So, why is retirement the perfect time to create a healthier, smoke-free lifestyle?

For starters, this is the phase where you’ve got all the time in the world to spend with your loved ones and chase those dreams you may have put on hold during your working years.

You’re no longer dealing with the stress, deadlines, and pressure that often make quitting harder for those still in the workforce.

In fact, research shows that retirees tend to find it easier to quit smoking because of the lifestyle changes that come with this stage of life.

Stress from work and life pressures are major factors behind nicotine consumption and dependence. 

Many people turn to smoking as a way to cope with these stresses, which then become reinforced through habit and routine.

But once you retire, those stresses ease off, and you have more space and focus to establish new, healthier routines. 

This shift can make it much easier to finally cut ties with cigarettes for good.

A Deeper Understanding of Your Health Vulnerabilities

Reaching old age doesn’t just bring more life experience; it also comes with the realisation of just how important good health is. 

That’s why many retirees focus on understanding their health vulnerabilities better and making positive changes.

But that doesn’t mean you should wait until retirement to quit smoking for good. 

Smokers who have carried on with the habit until retirement are at a much higher risk of developing or already dealing with the following health issues:

COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic lung disease that affects the airways and makes breathing difficult. People at their retirement age or beyond who haven’t stopped smoking years before could have chronic bronchitis and emphysema – two of COPD’s main conditions.

The primary cause of COPD is cigarette smoking, but long-term exposure to other lung irritants such as air pollution, chemical fumes, and dust can also contribute to the development of the disease. And, as you age, COPD’s symptoms become much more severe and lethal.

Cardiovascular Diseases

As you grow older, your heart and cardiovascular systems can grow weaker. Consistent smoking will damage the blood vessels and increase the risk of heart diseases, including coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. 

It also contributes to the development of atherosclerosis – a condition characterized by plaque buildup in the arteries, which increases the risk of high blood pressure and possible aneurysm.

Lung Cancer

It goes without saying that the older you get, the higher your risk of having lung cancer. And if you continuously smoke, the risk gets higher.

Cigarettes are the primary cause of lung cancer, accounting for most cases. It damages the cells in the lungs and can lead to the development of cancerous tumors.

Why Quit Smoking Before You Retire?

Retirement may increase your chances of kicking the habit, but it pays to quit much earlier and ensure you actually get to enjoy your retirement (if you get there at all).

Quitting early, about two or three decades before your retirement age or even earlier, gives you plenty of advantages. 

When you quit smoking, you can save over $10,000 every year from ciggies. With the increasing taxes and costs of tobacco, quitting early lets you save up for your child’s college fund, a brand new campervan, or a 6-month trip around Europe. Take your pick.

Furthermore, by quitting early, you can restore your health back to your pre-smoking days, even after retirement. Younger bodies, even under the duress and anxiety of work, recover much faster physically and can have better-looking skin after quitting smoking.

Within a year or more of quitting cigarettes, you’ll be much better at exercise, hiking, and mental activities when you get older because of your healthier body.

How Helpful Is Vaping for Retirees Trying to Quit Nicotine?

Many retired older adults may have switched to vaping or nicotine vaping products (NVPs) as a means to quit smoking and avoid inhaling the dangerous chemicals of burnt tobacco. 

NVPs are a helpful tool for smoking cessation, with the latest Cochrane Review finding high-certainty evidence that NVPs are more effective than NRT in helping people stop smoking.

But, it’s very important to choose the responsible and trusted options found under prescription in your local pharmacy, as the presence of lethal chemicals in the illegal NVPs sold under the counter in corner stores and tobacconists make these illicit options just as bad as smoking.

NVP products sold in pharmacies are made under stringent pharmaceutical standards on the manufacturing process and ingredients, are toxicologically assessed for inhalation, are locally insured, and are specifically designed to help you stop smoking.

A retiree, or anyone at all, who is fully committed to kicking the habit must go through a smoking cessation journey that pursues eventual nicotine abstinence by using NRT and NVPs from pharmacies as quitting tools. 

Getting Started on Your Quit Journey

The data shows that most retirees find it easier to quit smoking with their newfound freedom and motivation. Anyone, including retirees, will greatly benefit from working with a GP on their quit journey.

GPs have guided many ex-smokers to remain smokefree for years or decades. They can give you a smoking cessation programme with your possible withdrawal and craving intensity in mind.

Factoring those in, they can prescribe NRT products to cushion your cravings and withdrawals by providing a small amount of nicotine without the dangers of smoking cigarettes.

If NRT products don’t work well for you, GPs can prescribe NVPs from pharmacies as a second-line solution. These products focus more on imitating various aspects of cigarettes, such as the throat hit and hand-to-mouth gestures associated with smoking, without the harms that come from inhaling tobacco smoke.

Summary

Smoking is truly much easier to quit during retirement as former employees are free from the stresses of a professional lifestyle. However, quitting early years before retirement ensures retirees won’t have to face significant health issues and get more out of life doing the things they love and want to pursue.

We know you’re reading this because you’re about to reach retirement and want to stop smoking. We can help.

Smokefree Clinic gives you access to many medically reviewed and trustworthy resources that can inform and aid you in your path to wellness, so have a look around! 

If you’re ready to get started, Smokefree can connect you to Australian healthcare professionals who excel in helping patients quit smoking for good.

Link Reference:

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10149464/
• https://www.cochrane.org/news/latest-cochrane-review-finds-high-certainty-evidence-nicotine-e-cigarettes-are-more-effective
• https://www.bbc.com/news/health-65614078