Smoking Leads to Hundreds of Thousands More Deaths Every Year Than Thought Earlier

 A new study conducted by an international group, led by researchers at Glasgow University, revealed that smoking leads to hundreds of thousands more deaths every year than thought earlier.

The researchers group discovered that puffing raises the chances of dying from cancers of the colon, rectum and prostate and also from lymphatic leukaemia.

According to the data provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO), these maladies cause 930,000 deaths throughout the world every year, plus more than five million smoking-related deaths caused by diseases such as lung cancer.

The results of new study, which was based on data available from 17,363 male civil servants based in London, found a 43% increase in the chances of dying from colon cancer, a 40% higher risk of dying from cancer of the rectal, a 23% rise in mortality from prostate cancer; and a 53% increase in chances of dying due to lymphatic leukaemia among smokers.

The researchers said, “Cigarette smoking appears to be a risk factor for several malignancies of previously unclear association with tobacco use.”

“What this study shows is that smoking is linked to more kinds of cancer than previously thought.

“It’s important to remember that cancer is not a single disease and that the various kinds of cancers are different illnesses so you couldn't necessarily assume that smoking was linked to them in the same way. What's unclear is how exactly smoking causes these cancers,” added Dr. David Batty of Glasgow University.

The study results have been published in the latest edition of the ‘Annals of Oncology’ journal.