A recent report published by the U.S. Surgeon General has added more diseases to the official list of smoking related diseases, including type-2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and erection problems. The report marks the 50th anniversary of the landmark 1964 surgeon’s general report that helped to kickstart the anti-smoking movement in America.
The report is intended as a wake-up call to a country that has become apathetic about the dangers of smoking. While only 18 percent of adults smoke these days, significantly down from 42 percent in 1964, the rise of e-cigarettes could cause that number to increase. On the topic of e-cigarettes, the surgeon general was quick to stress that the long term effects of e-cigarettes are not yet understood, and could be potentially harmful.
No matter what method Americans are getting their tobacco in, they are still dying. The report predicted that nearly half a million people will die from smoking this year, and more will die from dangerous second hand smoke. The surgeon general stressed that if this current smoking trend continues, 5.6 million of today’s children and teens will go on to die prematurely during adulthood because of smoking.
While the list of diseases caused by smoking is already extensive, the report added several more:
* Type-2 diabetes
* Rheumatoid arthritis
* Liver cancer
* Colorectal cancer
* Macular degeneration
* Cleft palate birth defect
* Erection problems
The surgeon general hope the report serves as a grim reminder of how far we still need to go in the fight against cigarettes. The surgeon general has vowed to increase the price of cigarettes and expand the indoor-smoking ban.
Evan Hopkins is a 24 year old writer operating out of Atlanta, GA. When he isn’t writing, he enjoys reading books, drinking coffee, and folk music.