New Study Shows How Much Each Cigarette Shortens Life and the Benefits of Quitting

A new study has revealed that each cigarette smoked reduces a person’s life by an average of 19.5 minutes, with women losing 22 minutes and men 17 minutes per cigarette. Conducted by University College London and commissioned by the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care, the research offers a more alarming picture than previous estimates, which suggested that each cigarette took off about 11 minutes.

The study found that smoking a full pack of 20 cigarettes shortens life by nearly 7 hours. Even smoking just one cigarette a day for 10 years can significantly reduce life expectancy—by 43 days for men and 56 days for women.

Public Health Minister Andrew Gwynne called smoking an “expensive and deadly habit,” emphasizing the importance of quitting. The study also shows that quitting at any age can significantly improve health and extend life. Sarah Jackson, Principal Research Fellow at UCL, noted that quitting brings immediate benefits and that it’s never too late to make a positive change.

Dr. Sarah Jarvis highlighted that smoking contributes to many serious health issues, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and COPD. The study underscores that smokers not only lose years of life but also suffer from a shorter span of good health.

The research, to be published in the Journal of Addiction, stresses the long-term impact of smoking on both life expectancy and quality of life.