A UCL study reveals each cigarette cuts 20 minutes off life, doubling previous estimates. Quitting smoking drastically improves health, as UK introduces stricter anti-smoking measures in 2024.
A groundbreaking study conducted by scientists at University College London (UCL) has revealed that each cigarette smoked could shave up to 22 minutes off a woman’s life and 17 minutes off a man’s. These findings, commissioned by the Government, nearly double previous estimates, which suggested that a cigarette costs an average of 11 minutes of life.
The research underscores the cumulative damage caused by smoking, emphasizing that quitting, even after years of smoking, can significantly improve health and extend life expectancy. For example, a person who smokes 10 cigarettes a day and quits on January 1 can prevent the loss of a day of life by January 8, a week by February 20, and an entire month by August 5.
The study coincides with the Government’s introduction of stricter anti-smoking measures. Proposals include extending the indoor smoking ban to outdoor areas such as playgrounds, school entrances, and hospital grounds to protect vulnerable individuals from secondhand smoke. Additionally, plans to restrict vape advertising, limit flavors and packaging, and ban disposable vapes by June 2025 are part of the broader Tobacco and Vapes Bill. The bill also aims to gradually increase the legal smoking age for anyone born after January 1, 2009.
Andrew Gwynne, a health minister, highlighted the transformative health benefits of quitting smoking. “From the moment you quit, your body begins to heal. Within hours, your heart rate slows, and oxygen levels improve,” he said. Gwynne also praised the new legislation as a critical step toward tackling the harms of smoking and preventing nicotine addiction among young people.
The study, published recently in the Journal of Addiction, also notes that smoking accelerates aging, with a 60-year-old smoker having the health profile of a 70-year-old non-smoker. Dr. Sarah Jackson, from UCL’s Alcohol and Tobacco Research Group, stressed the importance of public awareness. “Each cigarette reduces life expectancy, but quitting can significantly improve health outcomes,” she said.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jeanelle de Gruchy reinforced the call for action, urging smokers to make quitting their New Year’s resolution. “Stopping smoking is one of the best decisions you can make for your health. Start the year fresh and leave smoking in the past,” she said.
Tobacco kills more than 8 million people each year, including an estimated 1.3 million non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke and, remains a leading cause of preventable deaths in the UK, killing approximately 80,000 people annually and contributing to a quarter of all cancer cases. As UK Government introduces stronger measures to combat smoking, the message is clear: quitting not only extends life but enhances its quality.
Read Also: 14 Simple ways to boost your life expectancy
Read Also: Husbands who take on more housework improve their wives’ mental health
Read Also: Smoking, Poor Diet, and Lack of Exercise Linked to Increased Cancer Risk
