Alexa Williams
9/24/09
7:18pm
After a drastic decrease in heart attacks in England in the year following a smoking ban, it led researchers to the correlation that smoking bans decrease the risk of heart attacks. After further study, it was actually found that the correlation was even strong than they originally thought. This decrease is thought to be the result of less smoking and less people being exposed in public places to second hand smoke. Dr. Lightwood has said that implementing 100% smoke free zones in work, school, and other public areas is something to be done to benefit the public in a large way. In North America as well as Europe, smoking bans have been reported to cut heart attack cases by nearly one third.
This is not very shocking news, and in all honestly seems a bit obvious. Second hand smoke is known to be very bad for the general public. Even to me, who has a cigarette occasionally, walking into a smoke filled bar or concert venue is extremely annoying. Smoking being banned in New York, when I lived there, made a noticeable difference in my breathing and overall health. Now, NYC is considering banning smoking at parks and beaches. I am anxiously waiting for this same law to be implemented in North Carolina.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8267523.stm
3 comments:
I agree that it's not shocking news that smoking bans help decrease heart attacks. I think North Carolina has implemented a law to ban smoking in at least restaurants and I think a few other places. I think it's good that places are looking out for the health of non-smokers but I'm sure the people who do smoke feel like their rights are being trampled on.
I have to say, as a smoker, I am not looking forward to bans on smoking. At the very least we should leave bars open to smoking. The owners should be able to decide what they want.
No one ever realized how much healthier it is to smoke outdoors.
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