As the new year approaches, health experts are encouraging smokers to quit after new research reveals that smoking has a more significant impact on life expectancy than previously understood. A study conducted by University College London (UCL) found that each cigarette smoked reduces a person’s life expectancy by approximately 20 minutes. This means that a pack of 20 cigarettes could shorten one’s life by almost seven hours.

The study indicates that a smoker who smokes 10 cigarettes daily can avoid losing a full day of life by quitting on January 1. If they continue to stay smoke-free until February 5, they could add a full week to their life, and by the end of the year, they could avoid losing 50 days of life expectancy.

Dr. Sarah Jackson, a principal research fellow at UCL’s Alcohol and Tobacco Research Group, noted that while many people know smoking is harmful, they often don’t fully realize the extent of the damage. "Smokers who continue the habit can lose about 10 years of life—years that could otherwise be spent with loved ones, enjoying meaningful milestones and moments," she explained.

Smoking is one of the top preventable causes of death worldwide, contributing to around 80,000 deaths each year in the UK. The study, commissioned by the Department of Health, uses data from long-term studies such as the British Doctors Study and the Million Women Study. These studies show that lifelong smokers lose an average of 10 years of life compared to non-smokers.

The recent analysis, published in the Journal of Addiction, indicates that smoking reduces life expectancy by 17 minutes for men and 22 minutes for women per cigarette. This estimate is nearly double the previous figure of 11 minutes per cigarette, based on earlier research. The damage caused by smoking primarily affects the relatively healthy years of life, accelerating the onset of illness during midlife. For example, a 60-year-old smoker may have the health profile of a 70-year-old non-smoker.

While some smokers live long lives, others succumb to smoking-related illnesses as early as their 40s. Factors such as smoking habits, including the type of cigarette, how deeply smokers inhale, and individual susceptibility to toxins, influence the outcomes. The study emphasizes the importance of quitting entirely, as even smoking one cigarette a day can still significantly raise the risk of heart disease and stroke.

The Department of Health offers tools such as the NHS Quit Smoking app and the Personal Quit Plan to help smokers quit, offering tailored advice and support. Prof. Sanjay Agrawal, a special adviser on tobacco at the Royal College of Physicians, stressed the urgent need to address smoking as the leading preventable cause of death and disease in the UK. He emphasized, "Each cigarette takes away valuable minutes of life, and the long-term impact is catastrophic—not just for individuals, but also for our healthcare system and economy."

The study reveals that the sooner smokers quit, the more they can benefit. Smokers who quit on January 1 could regain a week of life by February 20, and by the end of the year, they could avoid losing up to 50 days of life expectancy. Quitting smoking at any age can lead to longer and healthier life, although earlier quitting results in greater benefits.

While the number of smokers has been declining since the 1960s, smoking remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death, killing more than 480,000 people annually in the United States. Quitting before age 40 can reduce the risk of dying from smoking-related diseases by about 90%.

In addition to life expectancy, smoking also affects the immune system. A study published in Nature found that smoking impairs the immune response, increasing the risk of infections, cancers, and autoimmune diseases. Even after quitting, it can take years for the immune system to fully recover, but improvements begin relatively soon.

Dr. Darragh Duffy, a co-author of the Nature study, urged smokers to quit immediately: "The immune system starts to recover once smokers stop. It’s never too late to quit, but the ideal time to stop is now."

References:

1. Sample, Ian. "Single Cigarette Takes 20 Minutes off Life Expectancy, Study Finds." The Guardian, December 30, 2024. Accessed December 28, 2024. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/dec/30/single-cigarette-takes-20-minutes-off-life-expectancy-study.

2. Jackson, Sarah E., Martin J. Jarvis, and Robert West. "The Price of a Cigarette: 20 Minutes of Life?" Addiction (2024). Accessed December 28, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16757.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Sai Sindhuja K/MSM)