This habit continues to take 20 minutes off your life

Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States; it claims more than 48,000 lives per year. 

Each cigarette has a lasting impact, according to new research in the journal Addiction. Researchers found that smoking a cigarette takes approximately 20 minutes off your life expectancy. If you do the math, that means every time you smoke a pack of 20 cigarettes, you shorten your life by nearly 7 hours.  

Dr. Prashant Joshi, a hematologist and oncologist with Advocate Health Care, sees the negative impact smoking has on health and wellness.  

“There is a delayed effect from smoking. You can be diagnosed with lung cancer several years after you stop smoking,” Dr. Joshi shares. “The longer you smoke, the more damage there is to your lungs. Therefore, it’s best to quit smoking as soon as you can or never forming the habit to begin with.”

Not only does smoking chip away at your life expectancy, it also is a risk factor for several illnesses.  

“Smoking contributes to heart disease, various cancers, lung disease, diabetes and stroke,” Dr. Joshi says. 

But hope is not lost. Smokers looking to quit can reverse some of the damage and stop their life expectancy from shortening by another 20 minutes. A primary care provider can work with you to create a plan to quit and point you to helpful resources.

Dr. Joshi says high risk current and former smokers should have lung cancer on their radar.  

“There is a strong national push for lung screenings,” he says. “If you’re a smoker, talk to your doctor to see if you are high risk and qualify for a lung cancer screening.” 

Want to learn more about your risk for lung cancer? Take a free online quiz.