Do you think that after a certain age, quitting smoking has no health effects? Make no mistake, it’s never too late to reap the benefits of quitting smoking. Indeed, a recent Canadian study published in the journal NEJM Evidencerevealed that quitting cigarettes regardless of the age at which you quit increased life expectancy.
As Prabhat Jha, professor at the University of Toronto and lead author of the study, explains in a statement, “many people think it’s too late to quit smoking, especially in middle age. But it’s never too late, the impact is rapid and you can reduce the risk of major diseases, which means a better and longer quality of life. To carry out this study, scientists analyzed and compared the impact of quitting smoking on the life expectancy of former smokers, smokers and non-smokers.
Quitting smoking: a real positive impact on life expectancy at all ages
To assess the impact of stopping smoking on life expectancy, scientists conducted an observational study involving nearly 1.5 million adults from different countries: United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Norway. The participants were followed for fifteen years. After analyzing the data, researchers discovered that people who quit smoking before the age of 40 can expect to live almost as long as those who have never smoked. Additionally, those who quit smoking at any age regain survival close to that of a non-smoker about 10 years after quitting, and about half of this benefit occurs within just three years. Thus, people who stop smoking see their life expectancy increase considerably after just a few years. As experts explain, quitting smoking is in all cases associated with a longer life expectancy. This is why it is essential to try to quit smoking whatever the age at which the trigger occurs. For some people, it may take more or less time, what matters is being able to quit for good.
Scientists point out that quitting smoking helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, cancers, or respiratory diseases. This is why, as Public Health France indicates, “tobacco remains the leading cause of avoidable mortality in France”. “Helping smokers to quit smoking is therefore one of the most effective ways to significantly improve health” according to Professor Prabhat Jha. For this, the expert believes that it is necessary “to increase taxes on cigarettes and improve cessation assistance.”
Sources:
- Smoking Cessation and Short- and Longer-Term Mortality, NEJM Evidence, February 8, 2024
- Quitting smoking at any age brings big health benefits, fast: study, Temerty Faculty of Medicine
- Smoking in 2022: a stable number of smokers and health inequalities still marked, Mildeca