World No Tobacco Day Reminder from Experts: Quitting Smoking Benefits People of Any Age

The older you are, the longer you've been addicted to smoking, and quitting is undoubtedly more difficult. Mr. Li, who has been smoking for 40 years, successfully quit smoking six months ago. Recently, however, he was diagnosed with lung cancer, which left those around him puzzled: Did quitting smoking lead to cancer? Is there a connection between Mr. Li's cancer and quitting smoking? Should older individuals quit smoking? This year's May 31 marks the 36th World No Tobacco Day, and our newspaper invited Dr. Han Shuhua, the chief physician of the Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Department at Southeast University Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, to answer questions for elderly smokers.

The Dangers of Smoking

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco causes over 8 million deaths each year (about 13% of all deaths), with 600,000 occurring among non-smokers due to secondhand smoke. The dangers of smoking far exceed your imagination.

Dr. Han Shuhua explains that smoking easily triggers lung diseases, with the lungs being the most affected organ. Harmful substances such as tar and nicotine in smoke are inhaled into the lungs, gradually accumulating and eroding lung tissue, leading to various lung diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. Smoking also increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, severely damaging blood vessels, causing endothelial injury, leading to vascular spasms, increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, cholesterol accumulation, and a higher likelihood of blood clots, which can trigger atherosclerosis. More dangerously, smoking can also induce strokes; unstable atherosclerotic plaques can rupture or detach, quickly blocking blood vessels and causing acute myocardial infarction or stroke, posing a serious threat to life.

Quitting Smoking is Beneficial at Any Age

Among many smokers, elderly smokers make up a significant proportion. Many elderly smokers feel that after so many years of smoking, they have no discomfort, so why should they choose to quit and suffer? After a lifetime of smoking, suddenly stopping might even make them more prone to illness. Dr. Han Shuhua explains that smoking has already caused significant damage to the bodies of elderly smokers, and the longer the smoking duration, the greater the damage. For example, Mr. Li's decision to quit smoking was not wrong, but the mistake was quitting too late. After smoking for over 40 years, Mr. Li was already in a high-risk group for lung cancer, and cancer cells were continuously growing; it was just coincidentally discovered during his quitting period.

In medicine, the smoking index is generally used to measure the amount of smoking, calculated as the number of years smoked multiplied by the number of cigarettes smoked per day. For instance, if a smoker smokes a pack of 20 cigarettes daily for 20 years, their smoking index would be 20×20=400. A smoking index greater than 400 should be classified as a risk group. Of course, as the smoking index increases, the risk of lung cancer also rises. Therefore, it is never too late to quit smoking, regardless of age.

Dr. Han Shuhua reminds us that quitting smoking is beneficial at any age. Smokers, on average, lose about 10 years of life compared to non-smokers. Quitting smoking at ages 60, 50, 40, or 30 can respectively gain about 3, 6, 9, or 10 years of expected life. Especially for expectant fathers, quitting smoking earlier increases the chances of having a healthy baby.

E-Cigarettes are Not a Reliable Way to Quit

You can often see “e-cigarettes” in shopping malls and convenience stores, marketed as “healthy smoking, easy quitting,” and they are quite popular among young people. But are e-cigarettes really a healthy alternative for quitting? Dr. Han Shuhua points out that there are many types of e-cigarettes, most of which work by electrically heating e-liquid. The e-liquid is vaporized at high temperatures, and users inhale the aerosol, creating a sensation similar to smoking traditional cigarettes. This new tobacco product does not require combustion, only provides nicotine without tar, yet achieves the effect of traditional cigarettes, and also contains various sweet flavors that appeal to young people.

Dr. Han Shuhua states that the flavoring agents in e-cigarette vapor are “hidden dangers.” There are nearly 30 volatile components, 90% of which are propylene glycol, glycerin, or a mixture of both. Propylene glycol is recognized as a safe food additive, but “edible does not mean inhalable.” Inhaling can irritate the respiratory tract in the short term, and the long-term effects of repeated inhalation on the body are still unknown. Additionally, due to the rapid heating speed of e-cigarette devices, a highly toxic molecule called acrolein is produced during this process.

Moreover, e-cigarette devices may also contain carcinogens and other toxic chemicals. If production is not standardized, the e-liquid may easily exceed safe levels of toxic and harmful substances.

Scientific Quitting and Health Benefits

In hospital smoking cessation clinics, the degree of tobacco dependence is generally assessed through self-assessment questionnaires, and the level of nicotine dependence is measured to estimate the degree of addiction to tobacco. For those with mild dependence, a gradual reduction method can be used, and nicotine replacement therapy, such as nicotine gum, can be tried; for those with moderate to severe dependence, the use of smoking cessation medications is encouraged; for those with severe dependence, psychological intervention may also be necessary.

Dr. Han Shuhua says that cravings generally last only a few minutes, and holding on for a bit will help. Distracting oneself is one of the best methods to combat cravings. If cravings hit, don’t panic; here are five ways to divert your attention: take 15 deep breaths; drink a glass of water; take a walk or exercise; brush your teeth or wash your face; chat with family or friends. (Wang Qian)