“Each Cigarette Smoked Could Cut 20 Minutes from Your Life, Study Finds”
Smoking a Single Cigarette Could Cut 20 Minutes Off Your Life
New research suggests that each cigarette smoked could reduce a person’s lifespan by 20 minutes—nearly double the previous estimate of 11 minutes per cigarette.
The study, commissioned by the Department for Health and Social Care and conducted by researchers from University College London (UCL), found that quitting smoking can lead to significant life expectancy gains. According to the data, a smoker who consumes 10 cigarettes daily and quits on January 1 could prevent the loss of an entire day of life by January 8. By February 20, they may extend their life by a full week, and if they remain smoke-free until August 5, they could gain an additional month.
The findings show that the impact of smoking varies slightly between genders. On average, each cigarette shortens a man’s life by 17 minutes, while for women, the reduction is even higher at 22 minutes.
Researchers analyzed long-term health data and emphasized that the damage caused by smoking is cumulative. The sooner a person quits, and the fewer cigarettes they consume, the greater their chance of living a longer and healthier life.
“Studies suggest that smokers lose not only total years of life but also healthy years,” the researchers explained. “A 60-year-old smoker typically has the health profile of a 70-year-old non-smoker, meaning smoking primarily accelerates aging and reduces quality of life.”
The study, soon to be published in the Journal of Addiction, reinforces the urgent need for smokers to quit. “Stopping smoking at any age is beneficial,” the authors concluded, “but the sooner someone quits, the longer and healthier their life is likely to be.”
Dr. Sarah Jackson, principal research fellow at UCL’s Alcohol and Tobacco Research Group, underscored the importance of raising awareness about the benefits of quitting. “The sooner someone stops smoking, the more they extend their life expectancy. The benefits begin almost immediately,” she said.
Public Health Minister Andrew Gwynne echoed this sentiment, describing smoking as an “expensive and deadly habit.” He urged smokers to take the new year as an opportunity to quit, saying, “These findings highlight the shocking reality of smoking’s impact, reinforcing the importance of quitting for good.”
