A recent study published in Addiction revealed the shocking health toll of smoking. Conducted by UCL researchers and commissioned by the U.K. Department for Health and Social Care, the paper reported that smoking just one cigarette shortens life expectancy by an average of 20 minutes.
The research found that on average, men lose 17 minutes of life per cigarette, while women lose 22 minutes. This equates to nearly seven hours of life lost for every pack smoked, according to lead author Sarah Jackson. Unlike common assumptions, the life lost often comes from relatively healthier years, reducing time that could have been spent in good health with loved ones.
Quitting earlier in life can restore life expectancy back to normal
Using data from the British Doctors Study and the Million Women Study, researchers determined that lifelong smokers lose about 10 years of life expectancy compared to nonsmokers. Similar patterns have been observed in the U.S., as noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The study also examined the potential for recovering lost years. Quitting at a younger age—by the 20s or early 30s—can restore life expectancy to levels similar to nonsmokers. However, the older a person is when they quit, the less life they can recover. Still, quitting smoking at any age naturally leads to a longer life expectancy than continuing to smoke.
Many smokers are still trying to quit cold turkey
Meanwhile, another UCL study has found that nearly half of smokers in England attempting to quit smoking each year, rely on methods with low success rates. Published in JAMA Network and funded by Cancer Research UK, the studu analyzed the quit attempts of over 25,000 smokers.
The findings revealed that while a range of effective cessation tools is available in England, many smokers continue to choose less effective strategies or attempt to quit without assistance, such as willpower alone or over-the-counter nic replacement therapy (NRT) like patches and gum. Sadly, these approaches significantly reduce their chances of success compared to more effective methods like vaping, using prescription medication, or other nic alternatives like heated tobacco products.
Lead study author Dr. Sarah Jackson, emphasized the need for better communication and support services to encourage smokers to use proven cessation aids. The study found that approximately two million smokers in England attempted to quit in 2024, nearly 40% of all smokers. However, success rates varied significantly depending on the method used. Those who attempted to quit “cold turkey” were among the least successful, even though this remains one of the most common approaches. Jackson likened quitting smoking to rolling dice—while some individuals succeed on their first try, using evidence-based support dramatically increases the likelihood of success.
Encouragingly, the proportion of smokers attempting to quit has risen from 29% in 2019 to 38% in 2024, with success rates improving from 14.2% to 27.1% over the same period. Experts are now urging the government to continue funding stop-smoking services through 2029. The NHS and Department of Health reaffirmed their commitment to smoking cessation programs, with increased investment in public awareness campaigns and additional funding for local services.
Source:https://www.vapingpost.com/