Surgeon Generals Report Shows New Data on Health Consequences of Smoking

In the past 50 years, 20 million Americans have died because of smoking. This report highlights 50 years of progress in tobacco control and prevention, shows new data on health consequences of smoking, and discusses opportunities that can potentially end the smoking epidemic in the US. The century-long epidemic of cigarette smoking has caused a huge and avoidable public health catastrophe in the US. With these continuing rates, 5.6 million Americans younger than 18 years old who are alive today are projected to die prematurely from smoking-related diseases. Out of the 20 million, 2.5 of them were non-smokers who died from diseases caused by exposure to second hand smoke. More then 100,000 babies have died in the last 50 years from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, complications from prematurity, low birth weight, and other pregnancy problems resulting from parental smoking. Smoking still remains the single largest cause of preventable disease and death in the US. Their is scientific evidence that inhaling smoke is deadly; with this updated report, evidence has linked smoking to diseases of nearly all organs in the body. Smokers today have a greater risk of developing lung cancer than smokers in 1964. Woman now are as likely to die as men from many diseases caused by smoking. Their are proven tobacco control strategies and programs, with the combination of eliminating use of cigarettes and tobacco products that could help achieve a society free of tobacco-related death and disease. Scientific evidence contained in the report supports all of these facts. For further analysis on this report, click here for the executive summary.