First Time Study Proves Smoking And Cancer Link In History Today, January 11, 1964

JAKARTA - The Chief Surgeon of the United States (US), Luther Terry, knows that his report is shocking. He deliberately chose to release it on January 11, 1964, which coincided with a Saturday, to limit its immediate effect on the stock market. It was on this date, on behalf of the US Government, that Terry announced the definitive link between smoking and cancer.

Citing the ACS Journal at the time, smoking was an important part of American culture and the tobacco industry was an important part of the US economy. In the survey, 52 percent of American men and 35 percent of American women were active smokers. The US grows, produces, and exports more tobacco than any other country. In 1960, tobacco contributed 15 billion US dollars in wages to about 660,000 US workers.

Prior to the discovery of the dangers of smoking, many doctors responded positively to smoking. The ad for one cigarette brand, Lucky Strike, uses a doctor's answer to imply that their cigarettes must be good for the throat.

In 1937, the Philip Morris company took a step forward with a Saturday Evening Post advertisement claiming that doctors had conducted research showing "when smokers turn to Philip Morris, every case of irritation goes away completely and definitely improves." What was not mentioned was that Philip Morris had sponsored the doctors.

Terry's findings about the dangers of smoking in 1964 were not the first. In the previous 7 years, there has been at least a prior statement of other general surgery. There have been multiple notices from expert panels in the US and outside the US.

Terry released the findings, entitled Smoking and Health, stating a conclusive link between smoking and heart and lung cancer in men. The report also states that the same relationship applies to women. Although at that time there were fewer women smoking and not enough data were available.

Citing History, in the report, Terry explained that anecdotal evidence has always shown the negative health effects of smoking. Earlier in the 1930s, doctors had also noticed an increase in lung cancer cases. The first medical studies to raise lung cancer concerns were published in Great Britain in the late 1940s.

US tobacco companies then continued to lobby the government to keep smoking legal and advertise reduced levels of tar and nicotine in their products. After the report, over time as many as 44 percent of Americans believe that smoking causes cancer.

A number of medical associations warn that tobacco use is associated with lung and heart disease. Despite all this, nearly half of Americans still smoke and smoking is commonplace in restaurants, bars, offices and homes.

Although tobacco companies spend millions and largely succeed in fending off anti-smoking laws, other research shows that the report increases the percentage of Americans who believe in a cancer connection.

In addition, the number of smokers decreased by about 11 percent between 1965 and 1985. California, USA, became the first state to ban smoking in enclosed public spaces in 1995. Another 25 states subsequently passed similar laws, including 50 of the 60 largest cities. in the US.

In 2019, the US general surgeon also announced a link between serious illness and e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes are becoming an option for smokers and many traditional tobacco companies are starting to invest in e-cigarettes.

*Read other information about TODAY's HISTORY or read other interesting articles from Putri Ainur Islam.