People start smoking for different reasons. Many people take up the habit as teenagers because they think it makes them look sophisticated, or because their friends and family members smoke. In any case, most people never anticipate becoming addicted and unable to stop. Unfortunately, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that approximately 1,000 people under the age of 18 become regular smokers every day, even though research proves that smoking shortens lifespan. Proof comes via international research in several disciplines, including oncology, cardiology, genetics and biochemistry.
Fast Facts
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that one in five deaths in the U.S. each year, or 443,000 deaths annually, are directly attributed to smoking. Of these, approximately 49,000 deaths are due to exposure to secondhand smoke. On a global scale, smoking results in five million premature deaths every year. In addition, a long-term smoker can expect his lifespan to decrease by an average of 13 to 14 years.
Cancer Risk
According to the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, or SFBR, cigarette smoke alters gene expression, which can have a significant impact on cell metabolism and increase the risk of disease. Lead study author, Jac Charlesworth, Ph.D., reported in the July 15, 2010, issue of" BMC Medical Genomics" that smoking-related changes in more than 300 individual genes within the white blood cells of more than 1,200 study subjects were observed. However, even though changes were found in many unique genes, changes were also detected among entire networks of related genes, which the research team says may significantly increase the risk of developing a variety of cancers.
Cardiovascular Health
According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, chemicals found in cigarette smoke contribute to a variety of risk factors for heart attack and stroke, including high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease and peripheral arterial disease. Specifically, smoking causes the walls of blood vessels to lose elasticity and blood vessels to constrict, which means less blood and oxygen are delivered to the organs. In addition, the buildup of arterial plaque further restricts blood flow.
Time Lost
Researchers from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom have determined that a smoker's lifespan is shortened with each cigarette smoked. Using data compiled and published over a 40-year period by 34,000 physicians, the researchers found a difference in the average life expectancy between smokers and nonsmokers of 6.5 years. The researchers then calculated that an adult smoking an average of 5,772 cigarettes per year from age 17 until death at age 61 would consume an average total of 311,688 cigarettes. Given the decrease in life expectancy in smokers by 6.5 years compared to nonsmokers, the cost of each cigarette in terms of time lost is 11 minutes.
Bottom Line
The effect of smoking on life expectancy varies considerably between individuals since a variety of factors are involved, such as genetics and diet. However, it is reasonable to conclude that smoking will shorten your life, even if it's not possible to know precisely how much. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Smoking and Tobacco Use
- Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research: Smoking Has Significant Influence on Our Genes and How They Function
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: Health Risks of Smoking
- "British Medical Journal"; Time for a Smoke? One Cigarette Reduces Your Life by 11 Minutes; M. Shaw et al.; Jan. 1, 2000.
