A recent study has revealed that smoking a single cigarette could shorten life expectancy by as much as 20 minutes – a marked increase from prior estimates of 11 minutes per cigarette.
Conducted by researchers at University College London (UCL) and commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care, the study underscores the cumulative impact of smoking on longevity. It calculates that smoking a standard pack of 20 cigarettes could reduce a smoker’s life by almost seven hours.
The findings also highlight a difference in how smoking affects men and women. On average, each cigarette reduces a man’s lifespan by 17 minutes, while women lose an average of 22 minutes per cigarette smoked.
The study emphasises the significant health benefits of quitting smoking, even over short periods. For instance, a smoker who consumes 10 cigarettes daily and quits on January 1 could avoid losing an entire day of life by January 8. Extending their smoke-free period to February 5 would save them a week of life, while quitting until August 5 could add an entire month. By the end of the year, they might gain an additional 50 days of life expectancy.
Dr. Sarah Jackson, a principal research fellow at UCL’s Alcohol and Tobacco Research Group, stated: “This research highlights just how detrimental smoking is to health. The sooner someone quits, the greater the benefits. Quitting smoking improves life expectancy and health outcomes at any age, and there are numerous resources available to support smokers in making this positive change.”
Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death, disability, and disease in the UK, accounting for approximately 80,000 deaths annually. It contributes to one in four cancer-related deaths in England and is responsible for the premature deaths of up to two-thirds of long-term smokers.
The study further notes that smoking tends to erode the middle years of life, which are typically healthier, rather than simply reducing the later years marked by chronic illness or disability. For example, a 60-year-old smoker is likely to have the health profile of a 70-year-old non-smoker.
In a separate survey by Censuswide, over half (53 per cent) of current smokers reported plans to quit as part of their New Year’s resolutions for 2025.
This research reinforces the urgency for smokers to consider quitting, not just for the added years of life but also for an improvement in overall health and quality of life.
