New Study Finds Each Cigarette Reduces Life by 20 Minutes

Overview

• A University College London study estimates that a single cigarette shortens life expectancy by an average of 20 minutes, up from the 11-minute estimate in 2000.
• The research analyzed data from multiple large-scale studies, including the British Doctors Study and the Million Women Study, to update previous findings.
• Smoking primarily reduces relatively healthy middle years of life, with lifelong smokers losing an average of 10 to 11 years compared to non-smokers.
• Quitting smoking at any age improves life expectancy, though earlier cessation yields the most significant benefits, according to researchers.
• Smoking rates have declined over the past two decades, but it remains a leading cause of preventable disease and premature death globally.