A study has revealed that the harmful effects of smoking on health are more severe than previously thought.
A research team led by Dr Sarah Jackson from University College London (UCL) published a study in the Journal of Addiction detailing how smoking shortens life expectancy.
The team analyzed data from the British Doctors Study, initiated in 1951, and the Million Women Health Study, ongoing since 1996, to assess smoking’s impact on lifespan.
The findings show that smoking a pack of cigarettes (20 cigarettes) reduces life expectancy by about 7 hours, with each cigarette cutting life by an average of 20 minutes. This is significantly higher than the previously estimated 11 minutes.
Moreover, the study found that a 60-year-old smoker typically has the health status of a 70-year-old non-smoker, demonstrating how smoking drastically reduces quality of life.
The researchers also examined the benefits of quitting. They noted that if a person smoking 10 cigarettes daily quits on January 1, they can save a day of life after just one week. Continuing to abstain until August 5 could extend their life by over a month, and maintaining cessation for a year could preserve about 50 days of life.
Jackson emphasized that smoking typically shortens an individual’s life by about a decade, resulting in the loss of precious time and moments with loved ones.
Smoking is a leading cause of fatal diseases such as lung cancer, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Its effects can vary based on factors including smoking frequency, inhalation depth, cigarette type, and individual sensitivity to toxins.
Despite these variables, the research team stressed that quitting smoking remains the only way to protect health and extend lifespan.
The notion that smoking just one cigarette a day is harmless is misguided. Even this minimal amount only reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease or stroke by 50% compared to heavier smokers. The researchers assert that there is no safe level of smoking.
A 2018 study published in the BMJ found that smoking just one cigarette daily increases cardiovascular disease risk by 48% for men and 57% for women compared to non-smokers. While slightly lower than the risks associated with smoking a pack a day, it still poses a significant danger.
Sanjay Agrawal from the Royal College of Physicians highlighted that smoking poses a significant burden not only on individual health but also on healthcare systems and economies, stressing the importance of treating it as a preventable leading cause of death.
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