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This video is adapted from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.16757
Smoking is one of the leading preventable causes of disease and early death worldwide.
Research from University College London reveals that the average loss of life per cigarette smoked, which is approximately 20 minutes: 17 for men and 22 for women.
In 2000, the BMJ published a study estimated that each cigarette smoked in Britain shortens a smoker's life by about 11 minutes. But new research tells a different story! Updated data shows that smokers could actually lose 20 minutes of life expectancy for every cigarette—17 minutes for men and 22 minutes for women.
So, what's changed? Well, smoking rates have dropped, but many smokers might actually be inhaling more deeply to get that same fix. Even though fewer cigarettes are being smoked, the health risks remain high.
Here's a shocking takeaway: If you smoke 10 cigarettes a day but decide to quit on the 1st of January 2025, you could save a full day of life by January 8th, a week by February 20th, and even 50 days by the end of the year!
The impact of smoking isn't just about the years lost, it also affects your health in those years. Smokers often feel like they age faster—imagine a 60-year-old smoker having the health of a 70-year-old non-smoker.
But it's not all doom and gloom! Quitting at any age is beneficial, and the sooner you stop, the healthier you'll be. Remember, reducing your smoking isn't enough, the best choice is total cessation to maximize your health benefits.