How many minutes does a cigarette knock off the life of a smoker?

A stunning analysis of the health threat of smoking has revealed how long each cigarette ruins a person’s life.

Men lose 17 minutes of their life when they smoke, while a woman’s life is shortened by 22 minutes per cigarette, experts estimate.

This is an increase from previous estimates, which suggested that each cigarette shortens a smoker’s life by 11 minutes.

The new figures are based on more current results from studies into the health of the population.

Researchers from University College London said the damage caused by smoking was ‘cumulative’ and that the sooner someone quit smoking, the longer they would live.

The analysis, commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care, suggests that if a smoker who smokes ten cigarettes a day quits by January 1, they could ‘avoid the loss of a full day of life’ by January 8.

By February 20, their lives could be extended by an entire week, and by August 5, they will likely live a full month longer than if they had continued smoking.

The authors added: ‘Studies suggest that smokers typically lose as many healthy years as the total number of years of life. Smoking therefore mainly affects the relatively healthy middle years and does not shorten the period at the end of life, which is often characterized by a chronic illness or disability.

“So a 60-year-old smoker generally has the health profile of a 70-year-old non-smoker.”

The analysis, to be published in the Journal of Addiction, concludes: ‘The sooner smokers get off this escalator of death, the longer and healthier they can expect their lives to be.’

Dr. Sarah Jackson, lead researcher at the UCL Alcohol and Tobacco Research Group, said: ‘It is vital that people understand how harmful smoking is and how quitting smoking can improve their health and life expectancy.

‘The sooner someone stops smoking, the longer he lives. Quitting at any age significantly improves health and the benefits begin almost immediately.

‘It’s never too late to make a positive change for your health and there are a range of effective products and treatments that can help smokers quit for good.’

Research has shown that the damage caused by smoking is ‘cumulative’ and that the sooner a person stops smoking, the longer he or she will live (file photo)

Health officials have said smokers can find advice, support and resources with the NHS Quit Smoking app, as well as the online Personal Quit Plan.

Health Minister Andrew Gwynne said: ‘Smoking is an expensive and deadly habit and these findings highlight how important it is to quit. The new year offers smokers a perfect opportunity to make a new resolution and take that step.’

Commenting on the article, Professor Sanjay Agrawal, Special Adviser on Tobacco at the Royal College of Physicians, said: ‘Every cigarette smoked costs precious minutes of life, and the cumulative impact is devastating not only for individuals but also for our healthcare system.

‘This research is a powerful reminder of the urgent need to tackle cigarette smoking as the leading preventable cause of death and disease in Britain.’