Report links smoking to more diseases

Washington, D.C.--  50 years after the U.S Surgeon General first linked smoking to lung cancer, a new report from the Surgeon General now shows smoking is even more dangerous than previously believed. 

\"Diabetes, liver cancer, colon cancer as well as erectile dysfunction.  Out of every three cancers in the United States one of those cancers is caused by cigarette smoking,\" said Acting U.S. Surgeon General Boris Lushniak. 

Macular degeneration, rhemetoid arthritis and certain defects are also on the list. 

About 18 percent of Americans smoke, that's down dramatically from 42 percent in 1964.  20 million Americans have died from smoking-related diseases since that first report back in 1964.  Nearly half a million will died in the coming year.  The surgeon general is calling for more price hikes on cigarettes and expanding indoor smoking bans.