Smoking is responsible for:
1 out of every 5 deaths in the US (20% or about 500,000)
Almost 1 out of every 3 cancer deaths in the US (30% or about 168,000)
Some words from the Surgeon General on smoking (SG Report, 2004):
- Smoking causes diseases in nearly every organ of the body.
- For every premature death caused each year by smoking, there are at least 20 smokers with a serious smoking-related illness [equates to at least 10 million]. The costs in human life and in health costs to the nation are staggering.
- Smoking causes genetic changes in cells of the lung that ultimately lead to the development of lung cancer.
How about on second-hand smoke (SG Report, 2006):
- There is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
- It is a serious health hazard that can lead to disease and premature death in children and nonsmoking adults.
- Even brief exposure to secondhand smoke has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system and increases risk for heart disease and lung cancer.
Smoking and the tobacco companies are evil incarnate. I’ve found some incredibly fascinating videos on the subject including The Flintstones (yes, the cartoon) doing ads for Winston, Commercial - More Doctors Smoke Camels Than Any Other Cigarette, and Not a Cough in a Carload - Images from the Tobacco Industry’s Campaign to Hide the Hazards of Smoking 1920s - 1950s by Stanford’s School of Medicine.
By the way, all of the deaths from smoking break down like this:
30% Lung Cancer
20% Heart Disease
20% Chronic Lung Disease
20% Other
10% Other Cancers
5% Stroke
Annual Deaths Attributable to Cigarette Smoking—United States, 1997–2001, CDC
Award Winning Anti Smoking Commercial [This one is jaw-dropping] (2:00)
Flintstones - Winston Cigarette Commerical (4:00)
Note: This is from when The Flintstones was a prime-time show.
Cigarettes are good for you! (1:00)
No need to watch this one after the cigarette commercial.
More Doctors Smoke Camels Than Any Other Cigarette (1:00)
You Don’t Always Die From Tobacco (1:00)
Tobacco Industry’s Campaign to Hide the Hazards of Smoking (7:44)
Modern Marvels: Tobacco - The History Channel (8:59)
Endorsement for Death (2:56)
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