New research from University College London (UCL) shows smokers who choose to quit at the start of the year could save a whole day of their life by 8th January.
It’s the beginning of a new year which, for many, marks the start of following a new year’s resolution. Some of the most common ones include saving money, joining the gym and swearing off the takeaways – all of which point to a healthier lifestyle. However, a new study from UCL highlights that one resolution could literally save your life.
Commissioned by the Department for Health and Social Care, the research, which is titled ‘The price of a cigarette: 20 minutes of life?’ and was published in the online journal Addiction, shows that smokers who chose to give up smoking on 1st January could save a whole day of their life by 8th January 2025.
The discovery came as experts found that every smoked cigarette can steal approximately 20 minutes of your life – this equates to nearly seven hours of life lost when smoking a pack of 20.
With this in mind, every smoker who decides to ditch the habit at the start of the year could get a week of their life back by 20th February and could avoid losing 50 days by the end of the year.
Commenting on the research, Professor Sanjay Agrawal, the Royal College of Physicians special adviser on tobacco, said: ‘Every cigarette smoked costs precious minutes of life, and the cumulative impact is devasting, not only for individuals but also for our healthcare system and economy. This research is a powerful reminder of the urgent need to address cigarette smoking as the leading preventable cause of death and disease in the UK.’
The publication of UCL’s study follows the introduction of the landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which has just passed its second reading in the House of Commons. The legislation aims to create the first-ever smoke-free generation by phasing out the sale of tobacco products to anyone in the UK born after 1st January 2009.
What’s more, the bill also holds the power to extend the indoor smoking ban to certain outdoor settings including children’s play areas to reduce the risks associated with second-hand smoking.
‘The government’s commitment to supporting smokers to quit through initiatives like the updated NHS Quit Smoking App, increased funding for stop-smoking services, and the landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill is critical,’ Professor Agrawal added. ‘These measures will not only support smokers now in their quitting journey but also help prevent a new generation from becoming addicted.’
‘As we approach 2025, I encourage smokers to make a new year’s resolution to quit. This decision is an investment in their future health and quality of life. With the right support, it is never too late to quit and reap the benefits of a healthier, longer life,’ Professor Agrawal continued.
Echoing a similar tone, Sarah Jackson, principal research fellow at UCL Alcohol and Tobacco Research Group and co-author of the study, said: ‘It is vital that people understand just how harmful smoking is and how much quitting can improve their life expectancy.
‘The evidence suggests people lose on average, around 20 minutes of their life for each cigarette they smoke. The sooner a person stops smoking, the longer they live. Quitting at any age substantially improves health and the benefits start almost immediately.’
Arguably the publication of this study couldn’t have come at a better time as separate research published in BMC Medicine illustrates smoking is the number one preventable cause of death, disability and ill health in the UK. It contributes to an estimated 80,000 deaths a year in the UK and one-in-four of all cancer deaths in England and kills up to two thirds of its long-term users.
The research from UCL can be found in full here.
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