If you’re considering a New Year’s resolution to quit smoking, recent research suggests that doing so could significantly increase your life expectancy. A study conducted on British smokers revealed that, on average, each cigarette smoked can reduce overall life expectancy by about 20 minutes. After adjusting for various factors, researchers estimated that men lose approximately 17 minutes of life expectancy per cigarette, while women lose around 22 minutes.
For individuals smoking a pack of 20 cigarettes daily, this translates to nearly seven hours of life lost per pack. Dr. Sarah Jackson, the lead author of the study, emphasized that the time lost due to smoking could otherwise be spent with loved ones in good health.
The research, commissioned by the UK Department for Health and Social Care, drew data from the British Doctors Study and the Million Women Study. These studies found that lifelong smokers, on average, lose about 10 years of life compared to nonsmokers.
In the United States, smokers are estimated to have a life expectancy at least 10 years shorter than nonsmokers, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The cumulative harm caused by smoking underscores the importance of quitting, with the potential to regain lost life expectancy depending on factors such as age and duration of smoking.
Quitting smoking at a young age, particularly in one's 20s or early 30s, can lead to a life expectancy similar to that of nonsmokers. However, even quitting later in life can still result in a longer life expectancy compared to continuing to smoke.
Research indicates that quitting smoking can yield immediate benefits. For instance, a person smoking 10 cigarettes daily who quits on January 1 could prevent the loss of a full day of life by January 8. By the end of the year, they could have avoided losing 50 days of life expectancy.
Despite declining smoking rates, cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the US, claiming over 480,000 lives annually. Quitting before age 40 can reduce the risk of smoking-related deaths by about 90%, as per the CDC.
Another study published in the journal Nature highlighted the detrimental effects of smoking on the immune system, increasing the risk of infections, cancers, and autoimmune diseases. While quitting smoking can improve immune response over time, the study emphasized the importance of quitting as soon as possible.
In conclusion, quitting smoking is a crucial step towards improving health and extending life expectancy. Regardless of age, quitting smoking can lead to a longer and healthier life, making it a decision with significant benefits for overall well-being.
