Smoking cigarettes is an important accelerator of the aging process which compromises the life expectancy, and the quality of life. Smokers over 50 years old have a higher dependence on nicotine, smoke more cigarettes, smoke longer, have more health problems related to smoking and have more difficulty in quitting smoking. The main causes of death from smoking are cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. Nowadays, there are a number of strategies to stop smoking cigarettes, non-pharmacological and pharmacological, which are also advantageous for the elderly. This study aims to report data on smoking in Brazil and in the world, the pathology involved and the toxic effects of cigarette components as well as suggest treatment strategies, especially in the elderly. We examined published articles from the databases: Pubmed, Scielo, Portal Capes, Ministério da Saúde, Instituto Nacional do Cancer, IBGE and the World Health Organization. We concluded that smoking is a source of risk and major cause of numerous diseases. But the desire to quit is higher among those who recognize that this habit affects their health. While the benefits of stopping smoking are higher among younger, smoking cessation at any age reduces the risk of death and improves the general health condition.
Aging; Smoking; Elderly; Life Expectancy; Quality of Life; Tobacco Use Disorder; Cardiovascular Diseases; Lung Neoplasms; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive