Dr. Sarah Jackson, a principal research fellow at University College London’s (UCL) alcohol and tobacco research group, discussed the study’s findings and the adverse effects of smoking.
She noted: “People generally know that smoking is harmful but tend to underestimate just how much.”
On average, smokers who don’t quit lose about ten years of life. That’s a decade of valuable time, life experiences, and shared moments with family and friends.
The research, conducted by University College London, suggests that each cigarette smoked takes roughly 20 minutes off a person’s life. Consequently, a pack of 20 cigarettes can reduce a person’s lifespan by nearly seven hours.
Commissioned by the Department of Health, this study leverages the most recent data from the British Doctors Study and has been published in the Journal of Addiction.
Over time, this reduction can lead to various health issues alongside the loss of lifespan.
The evaluation detailed how much life individuals could potentially regain by quitting smoking in 2025.
Based on the findings, a smoker consuming 10 cigarettes daily could prevent the loss of an entire day of life by quitting on January 1 and maintaining abstinence by January 8.
If they continue smoke-free until February 5, they could gain an additional week of life expectancy and an entire month if they maintain it until August 5. By year’s end, they could have spared themselves from losing 50 days of life, according to the assessment.
Jackson further explained that continued smoking not only shortens life but also leads to other health complications.
She explained: “Some people might think they don’t mind missing out on a few years of life, given that old age is often marked by chronic illness or disability. But smoking doesn’t cut short the unhealthy period at the end of life.”
“It primarily eats into the relatively healthy years in midlife, bringing forward the onset of ill-health. This means a 60-year-old smoker will typically have the health profile of a 70-year-old non-smoker.”
The authors of the study also highlight the advantages of quitting smoking at any age, making it a potentially valuable New Year’s resolution for 2025.