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Benefits to Quitting Smoking

Donna Nichols • February 22, 2021

Why you are never too old to benefit from quitting smoking!

Are you a smoker? If so, you probably hear it all the time from your doctor. . . “You should really quit smoking! It leads to all kinds of respiratory issues.”

You think, I know, I hear it all the time, but I don’t want to quit.

Well, I’m not a doctor and I’m not going to tell you to quit smoking. I’m here to point out the benefits should you decide to quit smoking.

Did you know that you can reap the benefits of quitting smoking within twenty minutes?

Yep, that’s right, twenty minutes!

After just twenty minutes, your heart rate and blood pressure drop.

People who quit smoking tend to get fewer colds, have fewer upper respiratory issues, such as bronchitis and pneumonia, and feel healthier.

Imagine being less susceptible to colds and the flu.

Do you have recurring bronchitis? Have you ever had pneumonia? These conditions are not fun and they hurt, and smoking helps them to recur.

Did you know? After only twelve hours, the carbon monoxide level in your blood returns to normal, and in as soon as two weeks to three months, your circulation improves and lung function increases.

According to the National Cancer Institute, being older creates both challenges and advantages when it comes to quitting.

The challenges of smoking:

It’s likely you’ve tried to quit before, maybe even more than once. Knowing how hard it is may make you feel discouraged about trying again. And if you’ve been smoking for a long time, it may be so much a part of everyday life, it’s hard to imagine quitting.

The advantages of quitting:

Older adults have some strengths that younger people may not have, and they are strengths that can help them quit. Over their lifetimes, they have had lots of experience accomplishing difficult tasks.

At this point in their lives, they are likely to be better prepared to quit smoking than when they were younger.

They know quitting is tough, and they know it won’t be easy, so once they decide to try again, they may be more willing to work at it to make sure they succeed.

The immediate benefits to quitting smoking:

Soon after quitting you’ll notice your breath smells better, stained teeth get whiter, food tastes better, and everyday activities like climbing stairs might not leave you out of breath as much.

You’ll also be protecting your loved ones from the dangers of secondhand smoke. And smoking is expensive. Calculate how much money you spend each month on cigarettes for extra motivation to quit.

Are you a smoker who is worried about the smell of their breath? Do you eat mints or chew gum to make your breath smell or taste better?

Imagine not having to do that anymore. Think of the money you’ll save, not only on the cost of cigarettes but on the cost of the mints and/or gum.

Are you worried about being irritable or getting fat if you quit smoking?

Maybe you’re worried about being bored without smoking, hmm, what will I do if I’m not having a cigarette? This is when you need to have a support system in place, and something to take the place of cigarettes, and NOT food.

I wrote a blog about the best diet to help you live longer and healthier; maybe that blog can give you some ideas on what foods to eat when you choose to stop smoking.

Check it out to learn more , you may find some foods you really like, but never knew were healthy!

Some people chew on toothpicks, fiddle with a pencil, or exercise in place of smoking.

Whichever way you choose to replace the cigarettes, make sure it will work for YOU!! If it’s not going to work, then quitting won’t work.

Make sure you choose a way to quit that will work!!

Who wants to work hard at quitting smoking only to find it didn’t work.

Just remember. . . the benefits really out-weigh what cigarettes do to your body.

If you need help or encouragement as a Caregiver give us a call at  386-847-2322  or check out our  Caregiver Support Group. Our  Senior Advisors  are here to walk with you through this journey. 

Make Valentine’s Day Special for Seniors

By Donna Nichols • February 5, 2025
Valentine’s Day tends to zero in on romantic love, but what about our seniors? They too often get forgotten. We have some ways to make Valentine’s Day special for them too. Spend the day with your loved one. Spending quality time with a loved one is more important to a senior than anything else. There is no greater gift than time and please make sure you have enough, so you are not rushed. Do your elderly loved one have a favorite meal? Perhaps you can prepare it for them, or if they are able, you can prepare it together. How fun would that be for you both? Be sure to discuss the enjoyment it brought you while you are sharing the meal together. How about a game of name that love song? You could prepare a playlist of love songs from the generation and play them to see how many they get correct. Or, if you can sing, you can sing some for them and see if they can recollect them. Take some time for reminiscing, go through old photo albums, or ask about old times. Ask them about when you were young and what trouble you caused; this will give you all something to laugh (or cry) about. Has your loved one been cooped up all winter? Take them out for a nice lunch, or weather permitting, a picnic in the park. Go for coffee and a donut, then head out to see a movie. Make a “date” of it. Maybe your senior is into crafts. You can design special Valentine’s Day cards for other family members. This way your senior can express their love for them and send it to them in their own unique way. You can create other greeting cards as well. Bake some special treats together. Does your senior have some favorite cookies or cake? You could bake it together, or you can bake it for them. Then you can enjoy it after you have the meal you prepared together. Yummy, delicious!! You can watch some romantic movies together if they prefer to stay in the house or the weather isn’t so good. If they like to color, you can buy them some of those large coloring books and you can color together. Don’t forget the decorations and the flowers! Make the house or apartment as festive as possible. Even if they live in as assisted living community, you can still decorate their room to the nines! Make it as festive as possible! If you live in another state or can’t be close to your senior for Valentine’s Day, how about sending them a specially crafted care package. You can hand make some gifts, add some photos of family and friends, and send a personally recorded message. You can bake some homemade treats and incorporate some things that are of personal interest to them. This will show how much you care for them and make their Valentine’s Day extra special even if you can’t be with them.  There are so many ways to make Valentine’s Day special for seniors. Let’s not forget about them; make sure to show them they are so loved too!

February is National Heart Month

By Donna Nichols • February 4, 2025
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Hydration Tips for the Winter

By Donna Nichols • January 8, 2025
I’ve written many blogs about the importance of staying hydrated in the summer, but did you know it’s just as important to stay hydrated in the winter months? I’ve shared some important tips on how to stay hydrated in the winter and why. Cold, dry air can dehydrate you easily and quickly. Even if you don’t feel thirsty. Proper hydration can help regulate your body temperature, maintain healthy organ function, and prevent fatigue, dry skin, and headaches. In the colder months, you do not feel thirsty, that’s why it’s so important to make sure you drink plenty of water. Why is winter hydration so important? Colder air tends to be drier causing moisture to evaporate through your breathing which can cause dehydration. In colder weather, you may not feel as thirsty, causing you to become dehydrated quickly. Also, wearing more clothing traps sweat inside your clothing causing more fluid loss. What are some of the benefits of staying hydrated in the winter? • Drinking enough water helps keep your skin hydrated and prevents dryness. This will help with that dry, itchy skin feeling we all get in the winter. • Water helps your body maintain a regular core temperature. Which is so important to maintain in the winter. • Drinking plenty of water supports your immune system, which helps fight off winter colds and the flu. We all want to fight those germs off! • When you are dehydrated, you become tired easily, so drinking plenty of water helps keep your energy levels up. How do you stay hydrated in the winter? • Make sure you drink plenty of water. Set reminders if you must; you probably won’t feel as thirsty in the winter, but you need to keep drinking that water! • You don’t have to drink cold water; room temperature water works. You can also drink tea or water with lemon, as long as you’re getting your water. • If you’re going out, carry a water bottle with you to ensure you have water to drink. • Eat fruits and vegetables that contain water. Tomatoes, lettuce, strawberries, watermelon, cauliflower, mushrooms, cucumber, apples, and pineapple are just a few that contain high water contents. • If you think you’re dehydrated, check your urine; if it’s a darker color, that can suggest dehydration. Urine should be a pale, yellow color. As you can see, staying hydrated in the winter is just as important as staying hydrated in the summer, if not more. In the winter you don’t realize you are thirsty therefore you tend not to drink as much water as you should. This has the potential of wreaking havoc on your body. Please make sure you drink plenty of water in the wintertime as you do in the summertime. We have rebranded our company, we are now Assisted Senior Services! Call us for ANYTHING SENIOR!! 386-847-2322!
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