As a public health professional with a focus on epidemiology and health behaviors, I can provide you with an informed perspective on the impact of smoking on life expectancy.

Smoking is a leading cause of preventable death worldwide. It is associated with a myriad of health issues, including various types of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory illnesses, and other chronic conditions. The reduction in life expectancy due to smoking can vary based on several factors, including the number of cigarettes smoked per day, the duration of smoking, and the individual's overall health status.

On average, it is estimated that smokers shorten their lives by 10 to 15 years compared to non-smokers. However, this is a general figure and the actual impact can be less or more depending on the aforementioned factors. For instance, someone who smokes heavily for many years is likely to experience a greater reduction in life expectancy than someone who smokes lightly for a shorter period.

Moreover, smoking not only shortens life but also often leads to a lower quality of life due to the increased risk of disease and disability. It's important to note that even after quitting smoking, the risk of developing smoking-related diseases remains elevated for some time, although it does decrease significantly over time.

In conclusion, while the exact amount by which smoking shortens one's life can vary, it is clear that the habit has a substantial negative impact on health and longevity.

read more >>

The effect of smoking on life span. ... The amount of life expectancy lost for each pack of cigarettes smoked is 28 minutes, and the years of life expectancy a typical smoker loses is 25 years. Source: Dying to Quit," 1998 book by Janet Brigham. Every cigarette a man smokes reduces his life by 11 minutes.read more >>