Over 100 lung cell mutations occur by smoking a pack of cigarettes a day, according to a new study. The study is based out of London and looked at essentially the damage smoking does to the body.
Here in the United States (“US”), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) report that each year cigarette smoking is responsible for 480,000 deaths. Breaking the numbers down further this means that 1 in 5 deaths in the US are due to the harmful damage done to the body by smoking. Add to it, the CDC says that cigarette related deaths each year are more than each of the following, combined:
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- Illegal drug use
- Alcohol use
- Motor vehicle injuries
- Firearm-related incidents
As for cancer here in the US, the CDC points out that in lung cancer deaths, smoking is responsible for 9 out of 10 deaths (90%) for both men and women. In addition, more women die each year from lung cancer than breast cancer.
News reports state that the London study focused on, “…the devastating genetic damage, or mutations, caused by smoking in various organs in the body.” Additionally, researchers found, “…a direct link between the number of cigarettes smoked in a lifetime and the number of mutations in the DNA of cancerous tumors.”
The study points out that the damage done by cigarettes is not curtailed to the lungs. Tumors related to smoking can be found in other parts of the body, namely the liver, the bladder, and the throat for example.
To read more on the study and the data and findings associated with it, visit the link to the story in support of this post HERE. For those who are looking for information to help quit smoking, the American Lung Association has helpful information HERE.
