More than 8.5-Million US Citizens Have Smoking-Related Diseases
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Posted on Jan 28, 2004, 12 p.m.
By Bill Freeman
Results of a recent study have revealed that at least 8.6-million US citizens have smoking-related diseases, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Researchers at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that more than 4.5-million smokers and non-smokers had chronic bronchitis in 2000, while more than 3-million were suffering from emphysema, a disease that is characterized by a chronic shortness of breath.
Results of a recent study have revealed that at least 8.6-million US citizens have smoking-related diseases, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Researchers at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that more than 4.5-million smokers and non-smokers had chronic bronchitis in 2000, while more than 3-million were suffering from emphysema, a disease that is characterized by a chronic shortness of breath. However Terry Pechacek, the CDC's associate director of science, says that these estimates are conservative as they largely relied upon self-reporting in surveys, and that "many smokers are in some degree of denial, so we know that this is an underestimate." Therefore, it is likely that the true figures will be much higher. The study also revealed that the nations 46.5-million smokers are costing the country $75-billion in direct medical costs and $82-billion in lost productivity each year. The CDC considers cigarette smoking to be the leading preventable cause of death in the US. At present, roughly 440,000 US citizens die each year from lung cancer and smoking-related diseases.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, September 5, 2003.
