A recent study conducted by behavioral scientists at University College London has revealed shocking information about the impact of smoking on lifespan. The study found that just one cigarette can reduce an individual’s lifespan by approximately 20 minutes. Published in the journal Addiction, the study analyzed data from the British Doctors Study and the Million Women Study to determine the effects of smoking on longevity.
Despite the well-documented health risks associated with smoking, more than 6.5 million people in the UK continue to smoke. The researchers at UCL hope that their findings will serve as a wake-up call to smokers, highlighting the immediate harm caused by each cigarette.
The study found that among long-term smokers, a single cigarette can reduce life expectancy by 17 minutes for men and 22 minutes for women. The researchers emphasized that the damage caused by smoking is cumulative, and the benefits of quitting smoking depend on various factors such as current health status, duration of smoking, and daily cigarette consumption.
Quitting smoking at a younger age was shown to yield greater benefits, with individuals who quit at age 40 reducing their risk of dying from smoking-related illnesses by up to 90%. The researchers also noted that the benefits of quitting smoking can be observed on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis. For example, abstaining from smoking for a week can prevent a one-day reduction in lifespan, while quitting for a couple of months can prevent a week’s worth of reduction.
The study, led by Sarah E. Jackson et al, sheds light on the immediate and long-term consequences of smoking on lifespan. The researchers hope that their findings will encourage more individuals to quit smoking and improve their overall health and longevity.
For more information, you can access the original study titled “The price of a cigarette: 20 minutes of life?” published in Addiction in 2024.
© 2025 Science X Network.
