According to Maria Inman, education instructor and smoking-cessation class coordinator at Western Baptist Hospital, the answer is yes. “Even people who have smoked for decades are seeing improvements in their health after they quit,” says Inman. “Plus, there are the countless other benefits of quitting—from easier breathing when exercising to protecting grandchildren from secondhand smoke.”

Quitting Still Pays
In one study, researchers followed men who quit smoking around age 64. What did they find? Even after an average of 43 years of smoking, these men were able to reduce their risk of death from cancer, heart disease, and other problems.

Men who kept smoking after age 65 reduced their life expectancy by about six years. Even some of the ex-smokers with chronic illnesses lived longer than the smokers.

However, the sooner older smokers quit, the more benefit they will see, says a study of more than 5,000 women and men age 65 and older. Smokers who had quit between ages 40 and 60 only had a 7 percent decrease in lung function compared with peers who had never smoked. However, smokers who waited till after age 60 to quit experienced a 14 percent decrease in lung function.

Approaches that Work
“Smoking is a difficult habit and addiction to end,” says Inman. She advises that those wishing to quit may want to consult their doctor about the best approach to take. He or she may suggest one or all of the following ways.

• Nicotine gum and patches are over-the-counter drugs that help reduce cravings. They deliver a steady dose of nicotine throughout the day. Nicotine gum also gives smokers something to do when they feel like smoking. A prescription nasal spray, inhaler, and lozenges also are available.
• Bupropion is a prescription antidepressant that has proven useful in helping people stop smoking. The drug hinders brain chemicals that play a key role in nicotine addiction.
• Stop-smoking programs and exercise can help people change their smoking habits. In one study, regular exercise combined with counseling helped women stay smoke free.