Why It's Never Too Late to Quit Smoking - Reasons Why Here!

Photo of cigareet pack being crushed with hand.

If you’re a smoker and reading this article, the chances are you’re contemplating quitting. One of the conversations that could be going through your head at the moment is spoken by the voice that suggests to you: “It may be too late for me – I’ve been smoking for so long that quitting now won’t make a difference to my health.”

Today, I want to talk to that voice and tell it this is not true. I’ll explain why.

But let me preface what I’m going to share about that topic by saying there are no guarantees in life. Quitting today doesn’t mean you’ll be around tomorrow, next week or in a year’s time.

The fact is an accident could end your life tonight or an unrelated disease could strike you in the next few months.

So let’s take all that out of the equation and you realize as a grown-up life is full of twists and turns. Instead let’s talk about decreasing the risk of health-related issues caused by smoking by quitting now.

It’s generally accepted that smoking takes 10-years off your life expectancy. If you’ve smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for at least a few years since a teenager then this includes you – most start smoking at 15-years of age.

A recent study conducted over 50 years has concluded the following about quitting and the impact on those 10 years:

  • If you quit by age 40 you’ll gain back 9 out of the 10 years.
  • If you quit by age 50 you’ll gain back 6 out of the 10 years
  • If you quit by age 60 you’ll gain back 4 out of the 10 years.

By the way the study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine and has some startling facts about the higher risk of smoking for women than was previously thought, and you can read it all here >>>

Obviously, your mileage for risk reduction will vary depending on your particular history and circumstances. For example, if you’re in your late 20’s and early 30’s and quit now could you get back all of those 10-years so you’re at the same risk of health issues as a person that never smoked? Quite possibly.

The one danger noted by reviewers of the study is that smoker’s may interpret findings to mean they can smoke until they’re 40 and still get back 9 years out of the 10. The fact is, as I tell all my smoking clients, when you smoke you’re playing Russian roulette – you never know which cigarette is the one that causes the irreparable damage to your health. It could be the one you smoked when you were 19-years old, or the one you smoked a few days before your 40th birthday. Is it really worth the risk?

It’s also worth noting that the Affordable Care Act requires health insurers to cover smoking cessation programs. Companies such as Blue Cross Blue Shield already cover smoking cessation programs, and I always ask my clients their health coverage and provide them the required documentation so they can get reimbursed if it applies to them.

Moving forward more health carries will be adding this to their coverage and so before you book your quitting appointment check with your health insurer. Be aware they may only cover up to a certain dollar amount.

If you live in my service area, or want to discuss my online hypnosis sessions then read more information about my stop smoking hypnosis programs here >>>.

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR WHY IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO QUIT:

Stop Smoking Hypnosis Session - What to Expect for Success >>>

Why is it So Darn Hard to Quit Smoking and Ways to Make it Easier >>>

The Smoke That Has Your Name On It >>>

 

Erika Slater, CH
Director,
Free At Last Hypnosis

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