A new study conducted by University College London (UCL) has revealed that smoking has a more significant impact on life expectancy than previously believed. The study, commissioned by the Department for Health and Social Care, found that each cigarette smoked reduces a person’s life by an average of 17 minutes for men and 22 minutes for women. These findings are higher than earlier estimates, which suggested that each cigarette took around 11 minutes off a person’s life. This means that a pack of 20 cigarettes can shorten a person's life by nearly seven hours. The study emphasizes that smoking doesn’t just shorten the total number of years lived, but also cuts into the healthier middle years of life, reducing the time spent in good health.

The research also highlighted the importance of quitting smoking as early as possible to regain some of the lost years. Smokers who quit the habit could start to see immediate health benefits. For example, if a smoker quits on New Year’s Day, they could gain back a week of life by February 20, 2024. By the end of the year, quitting could prevent the loss of up to 50 days of life. The study stressed that these health benefits are maximized when smokers quit completely, as there is no safe level of smoking. Even those who smoke just one cigarette a day still face a significantly higher risk of heart disease and stroke compared to non-smokers.

The UCL study also reflects the growing concern about the global tobacco epidemic. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco use remains one of the leading causes of preventable death worldwide, killing more than 8 million people annually. This includes 1.3 million non-smokers who die due to exposure to second-hand smoke. The research shows that the majority of tobacco users, around 80%, live in low- and middle-income countries, where the health burden of tobacco-related diseases is especially severe. This new study calls for urgent action to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking and the importance of quitting to improve both individual health and public well-being.