Each cigarette smoked could reduce life expectancy by 20 minutes, according to new estimates commissioned by the Department for Health and Social Care and conducted by researchers from University College London (UCL).
These updated figures surpass earlier estimates, which suggested each cigarette shortened life expectancy by 11 minutes.
The analysis revealed that the damage caused by smoking is cumulative, emphasising that the sooner someone quits, the more years of life they can regain.
For example, a 10-a-day smoker who quits on January 1 could prevent losing a full day of life by January 8. By February 20, their life expectancy may increase by a week, and by August 5, they could gain an extra month of life.
The data also shows gender differences, with men losing an average of 17 minutes per cigarette, while women lose 22 minutes.
Smokers who quit significantly improve their chances of enjoying more healthy years, as smoking primarily reduces relatively healthy middle years rather than years at the end of life.
Published in the Journal of Addiction, the study underscores the urgent need to quit smoking. Researchers concluded, “The sooner smokers get off this escalator of death, the longer and healthier their lives will be.”
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