Ban smoking in public places = significant drop in heart attacks
The ban on smoking in public places, such as bars and restaurants, has been one of the greatest public health debates of the early 21st century. Now, two large studies suggest that communities that pass laws to curb secondhand smoke get a big payoff — a drop in heart attacks.
Overall, American, Canadian, and European cities that have implemented smoking bans had an average of 17 percent fewer heart attacks in the first year, compared with communities who had not taken such measures.
Then, each year after implementing smoking bans (at least for the first three years, the longest period studied), smoke-free communities have an average 26 percent decline in heart attacks, compared with those areas that still allow smokers to light up in public places…
How harmful is secondhand smoke? Nonsmokers have a 25 percent to 30 percent higher risk of heart attack if they inhale smoke at home or at work, and smoke has been shown to affect heart health within minutes, says Dr. David Meyers.
“We can measure chemical changes within 20 minutes,” he says. “The changes that occur primarily involve the clotting system. Basically, exposure to smoke makes your blood sticky and real clot-y and that’s what causes heart attacks.”
While this health effect is well established, it has not been clear if banning smoking could help reduce heart attacks, he says.
“We know that if you expose somebody, it’s bad,” says Meyers. “How about if you ban the exposure — will that make any difference? So that end of the logic had to be looked at, and now we can say, absolutely.”
RTFA. Anyone who still needs convincing – well, I worry about their ability to perceive the realities around them.
Both my parents died of smoking-related illness. I was ordinary enough in my own habits to start smoking at the age of 12. When I quit at 22, I was smoking 2½ packs a day. Fortunately, that was a long, long time ago. 
All it took was looking around and realizing that people who smoked had more illnesses of every kind.
There’s really not much to discuss here. It should have been banned years ago.
Jägermeister
September 22, 2009 at 11:40 am
There’s really not much to discuss here. It should have been banned years ago.
Mr. Fusion
September 22, 2009 at 12:45 pm
BTW, love the picture. Takes me back a few years to someone I knew. He should have quit years ago too.
Mr. Fusion
September 22, 2009 at 12:46 pm
This PROVES that smoking outdoors is a lot safer.
Bob
September 23, 2009 at 5:37 am
For non-smokers.
Jägermeister
September 23, 2009 at 6:12 am
And probably for smokers as well… they don’t need to recycle the same poison twice.
Jägermeister
September 23, 2009 at 6:12 am
Say what? I can see the marketing now,
TWO, …, TWO, …, TWO hits for the price of one. Double your smoking pleasure. Double your enjoyment. Smoke in a closet.
Kind of reminds me of one time many years ago, in between dinosaur chases, a couple of buddies and I tried to sit in a car and smoke pot. With the windows up. Joint after joint. After a while comes the realization you do need fresh air. But damn we had a good time and an Eight Track playing Bohemian Rhapsody and <Dark Side of the Moon.
Mr. Fusion
September 23, 2009 at 6:29 am
Double your enjoyment. Smoke in a closet.
LMAO
They should learn from the glue sniffers… blow the smoke into a plastic bag, then suck it back in… make sure nothing goes to waste.
Jägermeister
September 23, 2009 at 7:57 am