Quitting smoking can have significant benefits on life expectancy, research commissioned by the U.K. government suggests.
According to the study, smoking just one cigarette can reduce a person’s life expectancy by around 20 minutes. However, quitting for a week can theoretically add back an entire day of life expectancy, assuming the smoker consumes 10 cigarettes per day. Over the course of a year, quitting smoking could result in buying back around 50 days of life expectancy.
Despite a decline in smoking rates among young people in recent years, 11.6% of U.S. adults still smoke, and 3.8% of youth do so as well. The habit is linked to numerous serious health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, lung cancer, breathing issues, and stroke.
Experts urge smokers to consider giving up the habit as a New Year’s resolution for 2025. “The sooner a person stops smoking, the longer they live,” said Sarah Jackson, principal research fellow at University College London. Quitting at any age can improve health and life expectancy, with benefits starting almost immediately.
Smoking also worsens quality of life and increases the risk of various health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The study used data from two decades-long population studies to work out its findings, which show a stronger impact on life expectancy than previous research. The average impact of smoking per cigarette is around 20 minutes, although this doesn’t take into account the cumulative effect over time.
To help smokers quit, various tools are available, including nicotine replacement products like gum and patches, as well as counseling and advice via phone, SMS, or online in the U.S. Experts emphasize that quitting can be life-saving and encourages people to make it a priority for 2025.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/katherinehignett/2024/12/30/one-cigarette-takes-20-minutes-off-life-your-life-study-suggests