Eddie Gonzales Jr. – MessageToEagle.com – A recent study by University of Toronto researchers at Unity Health Toronto reveals that individuals who courageously break free from the chains of smoking experience significant enhancements in life expectancy within just a few years.
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It’s never too late to make positive changes in your life, so begin your journey towards a healthier, longer life.
The research, released in NEJM Evidence, indicates that individuals who cease smoking before reaching 40 years of age can anticipate a lifespan nearly equivalent to non-smokers.
Moreover, it is noted that individuals who quit smoking at any stage in life can expect to regain a lifespan similar to those who have never smoked after a decade of cessation. Interestingly, approximately half of this benefit can be observed within just three years.
“Quitting smoking is ridiculously effective in reducing the risk of death, and people can reap those rewards remarkably quickly,” said Prabhat Jha, a professor at U of T’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Temerty Faculty of Medicine, who is executive director of the Centre for Global Health Research at Unity Health Toronto.
The research encompassed 1.5 million adults from four different countries namely, the U.S., UK, Canada, and Norway. The study was conducted over a period of 15 years.
Individuals between 40 and 79, have an approximately three times higher risk of mortality compared to their non-smoking counterparts. This indicates that, on average, they may experience a reduction in life expectancy by 12 to 13 years.
“Many people think it’s too late to quit smoking, especially in middle age,” said Jha in a press release. “But these results counter that line of thought. It’s never too late, the impact is fast and you can reduce risk across major diseases, meaning a longer and better quality of life.”
The study shows that quitting smoking significantly decreased the likelihood of mortality due to vascular disease and cancer, specifically. Former smokers also experienced a reduction in their risk of death from respiratory diseases.
In the four countries under study, there are approximately 60 million smokers, and globally, the number exceeds a billion. Despite a significant reduction in smoking rates by over 25% since 1990, tobacco remains a major contributor to avoidable deaths worldwide.
“Helping smokers quit is one of most effective ways to substantially improve health. And we know how to do that, by raising taxes on cigarettes and improving cessation supports.”
“When smokers interact with the health care system in any way, physicians and health professionals can encourage them to quit, pointing out how well quitting works,” Jha said. “This can be done with concern, and without judgement or stigma, recognizing that cigarettes are engineered to be highly addictive.”
Written by Eddie Gonzales Jr. – MessageToEagle.com Staff Writer