Smoking is harmful to your health and costs your life. A new study shows how many years of life can be gained by quitting smoking depending on age.
Smoking is much more than just a habit. It is a leading cause of numerous serious illnesses and deaths worldwide. Tobacco consumption is responsible for around a fifth of all cancers. Cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure or strokes are also often caused by smoking.
But if you stay away from cigarettes, you not only reduce the risk of various diseases. Quitting smoking can also save a few years of life – according to a new study from the University of Michigan (USA). Therefore, it is never too late to stop smoking. Even people of old age could still gain valuable years of life by quitting smoking.
The researchers analyzed data from smokers, ex-smokers and people who had never smoked in different age groups between 35 and 75 years old to determine the effects of quitting smoking on life expectancy. The results were clear. Here’s how a lifelong smoker lost weight at the age of:
However, quitting smoking early could bring back a few years:
The chances of gaining at least one additional year of life were about 23 percent for smokers over 65 and about 14 percent for smokers over 75. The study authors emphasized: “The benefits of smoking cessation are not limited to young and middle-aged smokers; this study also shows benefits for seniors.” It is always beneficial to stop smoking – regardless of age and the number of cigarettes you have smoked. Doctors should motivate their patients to quit smoking, regardless of age.