June Russell's Health Facts

Smoking - Seniors

Smokers enter nursing homes earlier and stayed longer than nonsmokers. Nonsmokers entered nursing homes at a later age and lived longer. (AARP bulletin, July/Aug. 1999)

Elderly people who smoke are 4 times more likely to become mentally impaired than people who never smoked. (HealthCentral.Com, May 2000)

Cigarette smoking and major depression combine to reduce the body’s ability to fight off cancer and other diseases, say researchers from the University of California. White blood cell counts may be elevated by smoking. Stopping smoking is critical. (“Smoking while depressed weakens immune system,” Reuters health, healthcentral.com - Oct. 2000)

Researchers calculate that elderly people who smoke are more likely to become mentally impaired than people who never smoked. (ASH, May-June 2000)

For information about macular degeneration, see Smoking - Eyes.

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