Cigarettes & Life Expectancy: Quitting Can Reclaim Lost Minutes
A recent study from University College London reveals that each cigarette smoked can reduce a person’s life expectancy by approximately 19.5 minutes, with women losing 22 minutes per cigarette and men 17 minutes.
Quitting smoking can significantly improve lifespan at any age and can start providing health benefits almost immediately. For instance, individuals who quit smoking by January 1 can regain a day of life within a week, extend their life by a week by February 20, and by a month by August 5.
Additionally, smoking not only shortens life expectancy but also reduces the number of healthy living years, worsening the quality of life by causing various health conditions like heart disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Financially, smoking is a costly habit; for instance, individuals in New York spend around $226,000 on tobacco over a lifetime