Study: Just one cigarette could reduce life expectancy by 20 minutes

A study A recent study by University College London (UCL) highlights the devastating impact of smoking on human life expectancy. The study, commissioned by the UK government, found that each cigarette smoked reduces a person's life expectancy by an average of 20 minutes, a figure significantly higher than previous estimates of 11 minutes per cigarette.[1].

The study, commissioned by the Department of Health, draws on the most recent data from the British Doctors Study, which began in 1951 and is considered one of the world's first major studies of the effects of smoking. It is complemented by data from the Million Women Study, which has been tracking women's health since 1996.

Smoking reduces life expectancy by 10 to 15 years

The British study found significant gender differences. For women, the average reduction in life expectancy was 22 minutes per cigarette, compared to 17 minutes for men. Each pack of 20 cigarettes smoked represents the equivalent of 7 hours of life lost.

According to the analysis, if a smoker who smokes 10 cigarettes a day quits on January 1, he could gain a day of life in the space of 8 days, starting on January 8. The smoker could increase his life expectancy by a week if he quits by February 5 and by a whole month if he quits by August 5. By the end of the year, he could have avoided losing 50 days of life, according to the assessment. "People generally know that smoking is harmful, but they tend to underestimate the extent of this phenomenon", said Dr Sarah Jackson, lead researcher at UCL's Alcohol and Tobacco Research Group, "On average, a smoker loses 10 years of life expectancy compared to a non-smoker"[2].

The authors also point out that smoking significantly reduces healthy life expectancy, specifying "Smoking promotes the development of health problems. This means that a 60-year-old smoker will generally have the health profile of a 70-year-old non-smoker."

Immediate health effects after quitting  

The researchers noted that the earlier a person quits smoking, the greater the health benefits, although quitting remains beneficial regardless of age.

The benefits are also immediate after quitting. Twenty minutes after the last cigarette, the heart rate slows and oxygen circulates more freely to the heart and lungs. In addition to reducing risks to the brain and cardiovascular system, quitting smoking brings many other benefits. It reduces the risk of contracting certain cancers; it strengthens the immune system and greatly improves breathing capacity. It is also very beneficial for people who have already developed health problems related to their smoking. Smokers who quit smoking after a heart attack reduce the risk of another attack by 50%.

The authors also stress that smokers should quit smoking completely to reduce health risks. Previous work has shown that there is no safe level of smoking and that even smoking as little as one cigarette a day carries risks.

The UK government's efforts to achieve a smoke-free generation

The UK government is reminding people that any smoker who is thinking about quitting by 2025 can find advice, support and resources through the NHS Quit Smoking app. The app has recently been updated with new information on how to tackle cravings. It also offers the online Personal Quit Plan, which tailors its advice to each smoker's preferences.

The new report coincides with the UK government’s efforts to reduce smoking through the new Tobacco and Vaping Bill. Proposed measures include extending the existing indoor smoking ban to outdoor spaces such as playgrounds, schools and hospitals. Disposable vapes are set to be banned from June 2025. Restrictions on advertising and packaging of new products aimed at limiting young people’s introduction to nicotine are set to come into force. The Tobacco and Vaping Bill also proposes to gradually raise the minimum legal age for a person to buy cigarettes. This means that anyone born after 1 January 2009 could be permanently banned from buying tobacco products.

©Tobacco Free Generation

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[1] Communicated, Quit for a week and save a day, say health experts, UK Government website, published 30 December 2024, accessed the same day

[2] Ian Sample, Single cigarette takes 20 minutes off life expectancy, study finds, The Guardian, published December 30, 2024, accessed the same day