Can quitting smoking cause severe problems or death in elderly life long smokers?

Question

This is a concern being voiced around my workplace (San Diego VA Hospital), especially among the elderly smokers here (lots and lots of them). Most of the people in authority I’ve talked to say no, but some say the benefits outweigh the risks. That sounds like there could be some possibility of a dangerous result from quitting. And two people I’ve known and helped take care of have died from things that hadn’t even been a concern before they quit.

Answer 1

Sometimes you can have problems if you quit too fast or cold turkey because your body becomes mentally and physically addicted and depends on the cigs. Just quit a reasonable pace. The benefits of not smoking will outweigh the risks of quiting. Use the patch and/or the gum. You'll start saving some money too, from not buying all the cigs.

Answer 2

I'd also say no to your question. Why should it be dangerous to quit smoking? People who have been smoking for a long time have already damaged their bodies enough. Of course, quitting is always better than continuing to smoke, but the majority of the damage has already been done and can't be reversed. The only benefit is that at least it's not getting worse if they quit. They can't make the damage undone, but at least they're not adding to it. As people get older, they have more and more health problems. Smoking certainly won't do any good for someone who has cardiovascular issues. While some people don't die through the direct effect of smoking, their smoking habits may have indirectly contributed to other diseases.
Quitting is always the best option, no matter what age. Even if it means you're only gaining a couple of months of life.

Answer 3

I don't know what the medical stats are on that one, but my dad 80, smoked all his life and died within a year after he quit.
He had other health problems, but none related to smoking.