How many minutes of life each cigarette takes away
A study by University College London has shown that each cigarette smoked reduces life expectancy by an average of 20 minutes: 17 minutes for men and 22 minutes for women. Quitting smoking for a week at a rate of 10 cigarettes a day saves a full day of life. Data on the benefits of quitting and the mechanisms of smoking harm are provided.
A new study by University College London (UCL) has made it possible to quantify the harm of smoking. According to the scientists' data, each cigarette smoked reduces life expectancy by an average of 20 minutes: for men, this figure is about 17 minutes, for women — 22 minutes. Calculations are provided: quitting smoking for a week with a daily rate of 10 cigarettes saves a full day of life. The article cites data from the UK Office for National Statistics, according to which in 2023 there were about six million smokers over the age of 18 in the country. The material also lists the positive effects of quitting smoking: normalization of heart rate within 20 minutes, reduction of carbon monoxide levels in the blood within 12 hours, improvement of blood circulation and lung function within a few weeks. The mechanisms of the negative impact of smoking on the body are described: increased blood viscosity, increased blood pressure and heart rate, narrowing of arteries. The article is educational in nature, encouraging people to quit the bad habit.