Quitting smoking at 36/37

[Getafuckinggripman]

I'm at the point now where I'm really starting to think about my future health and feel guilty and start thinking about cancer and lung disease everytime I spark one up. I've smoked since my teens so around 20 odd years. Sometimes heavily when I'm drinking at the weekends but mainly light. A couple / few per day or days without one at all. But still bad of course. I guess I'm just looking for reassurance really or if that can't be given then cold hard truth it is! Have I left it too late at my age?!

Never too late.
Are you going nicotine replacement?

Never too late. The risks diminish quite rapidly, but you do retain an increased risk overall.
You will be amazed at the differences it makes. Go for it.

I quit a few years ago at 30 and the difference is amazing. I was on about 15-20 a day and had been smoking since I was 13.

I really really recommend Alan Carr's Easyway book or audiobook. I'd tried to quit many times but this really did it, I've never had another since I finished it. If you're ready to quit, it's great.

He also deals with 'light' smoking really well imo.

Do it. My mum quit in her 40s and hasn't looked back - she's now mid 60s. She went for a lung function test a little while ago and the consultant said they should see her through to her 90s (as long as nothing else gets her!).

It's never too late to stop but obviously the sooner the better

My DH stopped recently at 50 after a health scare. Don't wait for things to get that bad. Do it now.

He has quit using Nicolette lozenges and hasn't looked back

Champix tablets, kicked a 20 a day, 30 Yr habit on champix.
Ask your gp, mine won't prescribe them as they are expensive, my gp wanted me to go to a stop smoking group where you talk about smoking, talking about it makes me want to smoke.🙄
Anyway, I bought champix from Oxford online pharmacy, total legit site, fill out a form, Dr prescribes it then informs your gp, a starter pack is approx £40.
Good luck, I know how hard it is

No thats the right age to definitelt stop though. I used to work in smoking cessation and after 35 you are storing up problems for the future. Good luck!

I quit at 40 (2 years ago), cold turkey, I was a on and off again smoker. It wasn't too difficult. The only time I fancy one is if I'm extreamly drunk.

@mistyskiesafterrain yes I've done a bit of Googling and it says if you quit by 40 you'll reduce your risks by 90% or something. I don't see that as "okay to smoke until you're 40" though!

@Countrypunk aw that's great news for your Mum! She's lucky.

I won't risk Champix I'm afraid although I would like to, it's very iffy for mental health and whilst I don't have severe mental health problems I am highly sensitive and suffer with anxiety. I will be giving that book a go though. I've heard a lot about it.

I don't think I'm necessarily addicted to nicotine to be honest, I just really enjoy a fag especially when I'm socialising. It's a habit more than an addiction. It's almost like something to do that I'm used to. It goes with a drink or a lunch break etc. I probably buy a pack of 20 every week. But I know I'm at a point now where if I want to preserve my future health it's time to kick this fucker out for good.

Don't laugh but I have a plastic fag with a tiny little hole in, it feels like you're sucking something in. I will look a total twat but I might try that again soon 🙈

Most people I know switched to vaping. You could try that? Some still vape, and a few quit vaping after a while. Still much healthier than smoking and considering you don’t smoke a lot it might be easier. Good luck and well done for trying to quit.

@AmberHeartKitty thank you. No disrespect intended but my own personal opinion is that vaping is just as terrible as smoking and in a couple of decades we'll probably be seeing strong evidence of that x

@Getafuckinggripman

I'm at the point now where I'm really starting to think about my future health and feel guilty and start thinking about cancer and lung disease everytime I spark one up. I've smoked since my teens so around 20 odd years. Sometimes heavily when I'm drinking at the weekends but mainly light. A couple / few per day or days without one at all. But still bad of course. I guess I'm just looking for reassurance really or if that can't be given then cold hard truth it is! Have I left it too late at my age?!

No. I went cold turkey on 1st January (39) and feel so much better for it.

I gave up at 36.
I went cold turkey and it worked.
I haven't smoked since.

I gave up 20 years ago at 30 - went cold turkey and never looked back.