Smokers lose 20 minutes of life with a single cigarette: new study warns

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Women lose an average of 22 minutes of life per cigarette, while men lose 17 minutes, according to a new study by researchers from University College London (UCL).

Earlier estimates suggested that each cigarette shortened life by about 11 minutes. However, the latest study, based on long-term population health data, found that smoking costs an average of 20 minutes of life per cigarette across both genders.

The research, commissioned by UK's Department for Health and Social Care, highlights that the damage caused by smoking is cumulative. This means the earlier someone quits smoking, the better their chances of living a longer and healthier life.

The study highlights the immediate benefits of quitting, if one does it on January 1. For example:

A person smoking 10 cigarettes a day could prevent the loss of one full day of life within just eight days of quitting. By February, they could gain an extra week of life. By August, they could extend their lifespan by an entire month.

"A person smoking 10 cigarettes per day who quits smoking on the 1st of January 2025 could prevent loss of a full day of life by the 8th of January, a week of life by the 20th of February, and a month by the 5th of August. By the end of the year, they could have avoided losing 50 days of life," the authors wrote.