One Cigarette = 20 Minutes Off Your Life: The Harsh Math of Smoking

🚬 Think that "just one" cigarette won't hurt? Think again.

A University College London study reveals that for long-term smokers:
⏳ 1 cigarette steals ~20 minutes of life (17 mins for men, 22 mins for women)
📉 Damage is cumulative—every puff adds up
💡 But here’s the good news: Quitting at any age helps

🔍 Key Findings:
✅ Quitting for 1 week = Regain 1 day of life expectancy
✅ Quitting for 2 months = Save 1 full week
✅ Quitting by age 40 = Reduce smoking-related death risk by 90%

"The benefits start immediately and grow over time," stress researchers. "It’s never too late—but earlier is better."

💭 Why This Matters:
With 6.5M smokers in the UK alone, this study reframes quitting as "time regained"—not just risk avoided.

Your next cigarette? That’s 20 minutes you could spend laughing, loving, or living. ⏳

Reference

Sarah E. Jackson et al, The price of a cigarette: 20 minutes of life?, Addiction (2024). DOI: 10.1111/add.16757