In a study published in British Medical Journal (BMJ 2011; 343:d5506), it is projected that 40 million smokers could die from Tuberculosis (TB) by 2050.

Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that primarily infects the lungs, but can spread to other organs in the body. TB is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is contracted by breathing in the air droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person.

Smokers are twice as likely to contract tuberculosis and die from the infection than non-smokers. According to the study, many of the new TB cases anticipated before 2050 will be in Africa, eastern Mediterranean, and southeast Asian regions. In those areas of the world, there is a high populous and living conditions are not always sanitary. A high population in regions where medical care is not always an option, especially to those with low income, tuberculosis thrives. It has been twenty years since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared TB a "global health emergency," yet the number of cases has continued to rise.

International tobacco companies have increased marketing efforts in low-income, highly populated regions in Africa, Asia, and the Mediterranean. With an increase of smokers in this region, the risk for tuberculosis infection increases. Smoking prevents the body from fighting off the infection upon exposure. The continued damage to the lungs by the toxic chemicals entering the lungs creates an environment where TB can continue to flourish, grow, and eventually kill a person.

Dr. Sansay Basu and colleagues from the University of California set out to predict the effect of smoking on future TB cases. According to their model, 40 million deaths could occur between 2010 and 2050 as a result of tuberculosis. Smoking could undermine the worldwide goal of decreasing the number of TB related deaths by half by 2015. If current smoking trends continue, the number of new cases of TB could reach 18 million. "Aggressive tobacco control could avert millions of deaths from tuberculosis."

Although tuberculosis is a bacterial infection, drug resistant strains are increasing, preventing antibiotic treatment from working. If treatment fails, the damage caused to the lungs prevents a person from being able to breathe properly, causing the body to slowly begin to fail. Unfortunately, once exposed to TB, symptoms may not show up for many years making treatment during the earliest stages of the infection difficult. For those with risk factors of TB, it is suggested that a skin test is administered every few years. If the skin test reflects a positive reaction, chest x-rays will be done to look for signs that tuberculosis is active in the body and treatment will be discussed by medical professionals.

Reduce your risk of a deadly infection by quitting smoking today.