"Quitting Smoking Can Also Extend Life Expectancy"
A study has found that each cigarette smoked shortens life expectancy by 20 minutes. This means that a pack of 20 cigarettes reduces life expectancy by 7 hours.
According to a report by the British daily The Guardian on the 29th (local time), a research team from University College London (UCL) analyzed recent medical data commissioned by the Department of Health and found that each cigarette smoked reduces life expectancy by 17 minutes for men and 22 minutes for women, with an average reduction of 20 minutes.
The research team emphasized that quitting smoking can benefit health at any time and that complete cessation is necessary. They explained that a smoker who smokes 10 cigarettes a day and quits smoking from January 1st next year can extend their life expectancy by one day in just 8 days. They also analyzed that quitting smoking for one year until the end of the year results in about a 50-day increase in life expectancy.
Dr. Sarah Jackson of UCL pointed out that while people generally know smoking is harmful, they tend to underestimate the dangers of cigarettes. She noted that smoking mainly erodes the relatively healthy middle-aged period and accelerates the onset of unhealthy periods. For example, a 60-year-old smoker has the health status of a typical 70-year-old non-smoker.
Professor Sanjay Agrawal, a smoking expert at the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) in the UK, said regarding this study, "Each cigarette smoked consumes life," and added, "The cumulative impact is fatal not only to individuals but also to healthcare systems and the economy, and this study highlights the urgency of addressing smoking issues."
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