New analysis has shown how many days people cut their lives short with every cigarette they smoke as many smokers consider kicking the habit in the new year.
For every cigarette smoked, men lose 17 minutes of life while a woman’s life is cut short by 22 minutes, experts have estimated.
Previous estimates suggest that each cigarette shortens a smoker’s life by 11 minutes, but new research has found the true time is much longer than initally thought.
The new estimates, which suggest that each cigarette leads to 20 minutes' loss of life on average across both genders, are based on more up-to-date figures from long-term studies tracking the health of the population.
Researchers from University College London said that the harm caused by smoking is “cumulative” and the sooner a person stops smoking, and the more cigarettes they avoid smoking, the longer they live.
The new analysis, commissioned by the Department for Health and Social Care, suggests that if a smoker who burns 10 cigarettes a day quits on January 1, then by January 8 they could “prevent loss of a full day of life”.
By February 20, their lives could be extended by a whole week.
And if their quitting is successful until August 5, they will probably live for a whole month longer than if they had continued to smoke.
“Studies suggest that smokers typically lose about the same number of healthy years as they do total years of life," the authors added.
“Thus smoking primarily eats into the relatively healthy middle years rather than shortening the period at the end of life, which is often marked by chronic illness or disability. So a 60-year-old smoker will typically have the health profile of a 70-year-old non-smoker.”
The analysis, to be published in the Journal of Addiction, concludes: “We estimate that on average, smokers in Britain who do not quit lose approximately 20 minutes of life expectancy for each cigarette they smoke. This is time that would likely be spent in relatively good health.
“Stopping smoking at every age is beneficial but the sooner smokers get off this escalator of death the longer and healthier they can expect their lives to be.”
“It is vital that people understand just how harmful smoking is and how much quitting can improve their health and life expectancy," said Dr Sarah Jackson, principal research fellow from the UCL Alcohol and Tobacco Research Group.
“The evidence suggests people lose, on average, around 20 minutes of life for each cigarette they smoke. The sooner a person stops smoking, the longer they live.
“Quitting at any age substantially improves health and the benefits start almost immediately. It’s never too late to make a positive change for your health and there are a range of effective products and treatments that can help smokers quit for good.”
Health officials have said that smokers can find advice, support and resources with the National Health Service Quit Smoking app, as well as the online Personal Quit Plan.
“Smoking is an expensive and deadly habit and these findings reveal the shocking reality of this addiction, highlighting how important it is to quit," Public Health Minister Andrew Gwynne said. “The new year offers a perfect chance for smokers to make a new resolution and take that step.”
Commenting on the paper, Prof Sanjay Agrawal, special adviser on tobacco at the Royal College of Physicians, said: “Every cigarette smoked costs precious minutes of life, and the cumulative impact is devastating, not only for individuals but also for our healthcare system and economy.
“This research is a powerful reminder of the urgent need to address cigarette smoking as the leading preventable cause of death and disease in the UK.”
