Smoking Bans Decrease Heart Attacks
Outlawing smoking in public places has a direct impact on the amount of heart attacks, a new US study says. According to Reuters, smoking bans can cut down the number by 36%, proving that these laws do actually work.
Led by James Lightwood from the University of California, researchers looked at data from 13 studies examining smoking bans in the US, Canada and Europe, and found that the number of heart attacks decreased almost immediately – 17% in the first year and 36% by the third year.
“This study adds to the already strong evidence that second-hand smoke causes heart attacks, and that passing 100% smoke-free laws in all workplaces and public places is something we can do to protect the public,” Lightwood told Reuters.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say second-hand smoke kills about 46 000 Americans each year and raises adults’ risk of developing heart disease by 25%.
Dr David Goff, of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina, told Reuters that in the current financial climate and with the country’s growing concern over its healthcare system, smoking bans are a cost-effective way to reduce heart attacks.
Celeb Diet Doc
Now if we could just ban sodas or at least levy a tax (think cigarette tax), we’ll see another healthy drop in diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer and a number of chronic diseases. Yup, it’s time to tax Coke and Pepsi. Sodas, along with other refined foods, are guilty of making America fat and it’s time to start spreading the increasing burden of health care costs with these responsible parties.
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