What is the life expectancy of a chronic smoker?

The study shows that smokers die relatively young. An estimated 23 percent of consistent heavy smokers never reach the age of 65. This is 11 percent among light smokers and 7 percent among non-smokers. Life expectancy decreases by 13 years on average for heavy smokers compared to people who have never smoked.

Are you ever too old to stop smoking?

It is never too late to quit smoking, even when you have smoked for many years. Even over the age of 65, quitting smoking can help people live longer and have a better quality of life. A man who stops smoking at that age increases his life expectancy by 1.5 – 2 years.

Why do smokers live longer than other people?

 On average, smokers’ life expectancy is 10 years less than non-smokers.  The long-lived smokers are the exception and the researchers said that their findings suggest that they may be a “biologically distinct group” that is endowed with genetic variants that allow them to respond differently to exposure. Story continues below advertisement

Why are some people less susceptible to the effects of smoking?

That’s because a very few people are physiologically less susceptible to the arterial aging and carcinogenic effects of cigarette smoke than the rest of us. These people have higher levels of specific enzymes that activate the carcinogens contained in smoke.

What are the benefits of quitting smoking?

While quitting smoking can be very difficult for some smokers, there are smoking cessation programs and medications that can help smokers quit. There are many lifelong benefits of doing so, like increased lung function and decreased risk of heart disease and cancer.

Why do some people keep their lungs healthy despite smoking?

The genetic factors that explain why some people seem to maintain healthy lungs despite a lifetime of smoking have been uncovered by British scientists.