Reports from UK smoking cessation programs or health departments

New Study: Smoking One Cigarette Cuts Life Expectancy by 20 Minutes, Quitting Offers Gains

Dec 30, 2024, 03:16 PM

A new study from University College London, commissioned by the UK's Department of Health and Social Care, has revealed that smoking a single cigarette can reduce life expectancy by an average of 20 minutes. The research, published in the Journal of Addiction, found that men lose approximately 17 minutes of life per cigarette, while women lose about 22 minutes. This is nearly double the previously estimated impact of 11 minutes per cigarette. The study suggests that quitting smoking can lead to significant gains in life expectancy, with a smoker who quits on January 1 potentially preventing the loss of a full day of life by January 8, and up to 50 days by the end of the year if they continue to abstain. Specifically, a smoker consuming 10 cigarettes a day who quits on January 1 could extend their life expectancy by a week by February 5, and by a month by August 5.