A team of researchers has shown that stopping smoking can, at any age, extend life expectancy by several years.
- According to the study, a 35-year-old smoker who quits can expect to gain on average eight additional years of life compared to what they can expect if they continue to smoke.
- A 65-year-old person who quits smoking can gain an average of 1.7 years of life, while a 75-year-old smoker could extend their life expectancy by 0.7 years. Furthermore, at age 75, 8% of people who stop smoking can expect to gain four years.
- Conversely, the study calculated the cost of continuing to smoke. A 35-year-old smoker who persists until death will lose on average 9.1 years of life expectancy compared to a non-smoker.
1 year, 4 years, 8 years… A new study reveals that quitting smoking, regardless of the age of the last cigarette, can significantly extend life expectancy. She suggests that even at age 60 or 70, it’s never too late to gain a few precious years. Results, published in theAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicinewhich offer a glimmer of hope to smokers and give health professionals material to encourage their patients to quit smoking.
Encourage older people to stop smoking
“We’ve seen a remarkable decline in smoking among young adults over the past decade, but rates among older adults are stagnating, explain researchers from the University of Michigan, in the United States, in a press release. Our goal was to prove that quitting smoking is beneficial at all ages and to encourage older people to quit.”
One of the most striking findings of this study is that a 35-year-old smoker who quits can expect to gain an average of eight additional years of life compared to what he or she can expect if he or she continues to smoke. But even more surprising, these benefits persist until old age: a 65-year-old person who stops smoking can gain an average of 1.7 years of life, while a 75-year-old smoker could extend their life expectancy. of 0.7 years.
Up to 4 years of additional life for smokers aged 75
To better put these figures into perspective, note that a 65-year-old smoker who gives up cigarettes has almost a one in four chance of gaining at least one additional year. At age 75, this probability remains around one in seven. “Although the gains may seem small in absolute terms, they represent a significant proportion of an individual’s remaining life expectancy. […] When it comes to extending your life, every day counts.” And besides, for some, the life gains can be very high: at age 75, around 8% of people who stop smoking can hope to recover four years of life.
Conversely, the study also calculated the cost of continuing to smoke. A 35-year-old smoker who persists until death will lose on average 9.1 years of life expectancy compared to a non-smoker, almost a decade lost. The message is therefore clear: while quitting early offers the greatest benefits, it is never too late to quit. Why not from November 1st, which will mark the start of the 9e edition of Tobacco Free Month ?
