It is never too late to benefit from ending smoking or excess alco hol intake. Among persons age 65 -74, about 18 percent of women smoke. While this figure seems relatively low, it should be interpreted with caution. Because smoking increases the rate of death from coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancer, many people who smoke do not live long. Smoking is also a major contributor to lung disorders, such as emphysema and pneumonia, which can have devastating effects on the elderly.
Alcoholism is underrecognized late in life.
The problem can arise after someone has suffered a loss or may have become established over years. The aged brain is more sensitive to alcohol, which in excess can cause confusion, falls, and injury. As it interacts with other drugs, alcohol can either interfere with their action or increase its own or the drugs' effects. Elderly people not only take more medications than any other age group, but also experience more adverse side effects. This is related to several factors, including exposure to a larger number of medications, drug interactions, errors in taking medication, delayed elimination of medications from the body, and a higher sensitivity to the medications themselves.