Bronchitis Edges Out Lung Cancer In Smoking Diseases
CDC: 8.6 Million Americans Have Smoking-Related Illnesses
POSTED: 3:18 pm EDT September 4,
2003
About 8.6 million Americans have chronic illnesses related to smoking, according to a government report. While lung cancer is often touted as the the No. 1 smoking danger, several other diseases more commonly result from the habit.
A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that chronic bronchitis and emphysema make up 59 percent of cigarette smoking-related diseases.The first national estimate found that 10 percent of current smokers have chronic smoking-related diseases. Chronic bronchitis was the most prevalent condition in this group, accounting for nearly half of the smoking-related illnesses among current smokers. For former smokers, the three most prevalent conditions were chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and previous heart attack.Lung cancer accounted for only 1 percent of all cigarette smoking-attributable illnesses, according to the report.And the habit isn't just dangerous, it's costly -- its damage wreaks $75 billion in direct medical costs and $82 billion in lost productivity, according to the CDC researchers, who looked at 2000 data from two national surveys and the U.S. Census Bureau.The researchers acknowledge that their study didn't take into account for participants' diet, exercise levels or geography, but they say the findings should encourage health care providers to be on the lookout for these diseases in smokers and prompt smokers to quit.
Smoking-Attributable Conditions Among Affected Smokers*
*Includes only those with illnesses attributed to smoking.
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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