Between the ages of 70 and 79, weaning reduces the risk of death by 27%. Meeting in congress in Paris, the cardiologists insist on the immediate benefits for the heart and the lungs.
“No longer smoking is a loss of a part of me”, “Cigarettes are my everyday companion. What am I going to replace her with? “,” At my age, what’s the point of stopping smoking? The damage is done ! “. Dr Patrick Dupont, tobacco specialist at Paul Brousse hospital in Villejuif, has already heard this type of reflection. They are typical of people over 65 who often arrive under duress in tobacco consultations.
Admittedly, today around 10% of seniors are smokers and more than 5% of patients who attend these consultations are over 65 years old, but many elderly people think that smoking cessation is not for them. And they’re not the only ones to think so. “Many doctors believe that at their age, this little pleasure is not going to be taken away from them. ”
And they are wrong! “Indeed, 32% of people over 65 questioned in an American study wanted to quit within six months and 28% had already made an attempt within the year. It is far from negligible! I therefore think that we do not ask them enough if they want to quit smoking and we send them for a tobacco consultation only when they have a health problem ”, regrets Patrick Dupont.
Cardiologists currently meeting in congress, in Paris, for the European Days of the French Society of Cardiology, are also keen to fight against this misconception that smoking cessation is not done for seniors. According to them, it is never too late to try to end tobacco addiction. Studies prove it. Between the ages of 70 and 79, weaning reduces the risk of death by 27%. And on coronary accidents, “the impact is even more clear because the risk of having a heart attack is mainly linked to the fact of being a consumer in real time,” insists Professor Daniel Thomas, cardiologist at Pitié-Salpêtrière. Unlike cancer, the length of time you smoke is not the most important factor.
Listen to Prof. Daniel Thomas, cardiologist at Pitié-Salpêtrière: “As soon as you stop smoking, you eliminate this risk of thrombosis. “
And the heart is not the only one to benefit from smoking cessation, even late. The lungs can also find a kind of second youth. The pulmonologists are definite, with the putting on oxygen, the stopping of the tobacco is the only intervention having shown a favorable effect on the evolution of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Overall, quitting smoking slows down the decline in expiratory volume, which becomes identical to that of non-smokers. However, it is estimated that 15% of people over 65 are affected by COPD.
Is there still a need for different care for older smokers?
Studies are scarce on the subject, but “it seems that those over 60 have the same ability to quit smoking as the younger ones,” says Daniel Thomas. One thing is certain, however, the later the weaning, the stronger the motivation. “No doubt because from a certain age, we want to free ourselves from certain constraints and because the quality of life really begins to deteriorate. ”
Tobaccoologist Patrick Dupont notes that “this generation has a culture of perseverance. When they engage in withdrawal, they give themselves the means to succeed ”. Of course, if they have a long history with tobacco, it is also because they are often very addicted and therefore quitting will not be easy. Even though nicotine addiction is the same at 40 and 70.
As for cessation tools, only four have been shown to be effective on smokers of all ages: substitutes such as patches, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and two drugs, varenicline (Champix) and bupropion ( Zyban). But, concerning drugs, their prescription for seniors requires some adaptations.
Listen to Dr Patrick Dupont, tobacco specialist at Paul Brousse hospital in Villejuif: “We must pay attention to the doses if the patient is renal failure, diabetic, liver failure …”
If you are over 65 and you are one of that third of people who intend to quit smoking, then all you have to do is find the right opportunity to take the plunge. It may not be too late to make good resolutions for 2013. Otherwise, many doctors consider hospitalization for any pathology a good opportunity. For Professor Daniel Thomas, “any smoker who returns to the hospital should be systematically offered help with smoking cessation. “
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