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Although there are fewer middle-aged women who smoke compared to men and younger women, there are many health risks and complications that are very specific to the middle-aged woman.

In particular, the effects of smoking on a woman’s hormones lead to a variety of medical issues. Women who smoke, especially those who started in their adolescence, tend to reach menopause two to three years earlier than non-smoking women, with an increase in the severity of side effects.  This could be a result of either a toxic effect smoking has on the ovaries or it could be from a reduction in estrogen levels. The reduced levels of estrogen also lead to premature bone deterioration, and loss of bone density 5 to 10 percent earlier than non-smoking women who reach menopause.  Lower bone density also leads to early onset of osteoporosis.

Cancer risks are also increased in women smokers. Recent research has found a strong link between smoking and breast cancer.  For postmenopausal women who smoke or used to smoke, the risk of breast cancer was 16 percent higher.

Smoking heavily during middle age in both males and females greatly increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia. According to a recent study by Kaiser Permanente, for two-pack-a-day smokers, the risk was more than doubled compared to non-smokers.  Compared to non-smokers, the risk for smoking one to two packs a day, increases by 44 percent, and for those who smoked about half a pack a day in mid-life, the risk was increased by 37 percent.

If you are a smoker and are trying to quit smoking, it is possible to quit. We are now recruiting individuals to participate in a clinical research study. We are looking for individuals, both with and without a history of a mental health disorder. For more information, visit our About the Trial page.