The Number of Minutes of Life Taken Away by One Cigarette Has Been Revealed## Conversation with Claude

Each cigarette takes away an average of 20 minutes from life - 17 minutes for men and 22 for women. Psychiatrist and narcologist Ruslan Isaev told "Gazeta.Ru" about this in an interview.

"Previously, it was believed that one cigarette reduces life by 11 minutes, but new research based on modern data and long-term observations provides a more accurate picture. As a result, smokers lose approximately 10 years of life compared to non-smokers," the specialist noted.

He emphasized that tobacco smoking not only reduces life expectancy but also significantly worsens its quality, provoking premature development of chronic diseases. Research, including data from the US National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), confirms: smokers over 60 have twice the mortality rate compared to non-smokers, and on average they die six years earlier.

According to Isaev, it's never too late to quit smoking - even in old age, this can extend life.

"Quitting smoking is difficult because nicotine participates in many biochemical processes in the body. By introducing it externally, a person disrupts these processes, which leads to strong biochemical and psychological dependence. This is not just a matter of willpower - it's a medical problem requiring a systematic approach and medical supervision. Nicotine addiction needs to be treated like any other disease, using evidence-based methods," the doctor concluded.