Tobacco Facts.

According to the latest research by U.K. scientists, the implementation of a ban on smoking in public places in England contributed to a 2,4% decrease in the number of heart attacks, reported by U.K hospitals.

A research sponsored by the government and performed by the University of Bath research team marks the first time the scientists examined the number of heart attacks since the smoke-free policy was introduced in 2007.

The research team studied emergency hospital admissions for heart infarctions among people aged 18 and older across the nation from July 2002 to September 2008.

The research published in the British Medical Journal, concluded that the rate of myocardial infarctions dropped 2.4 %, or 1,200 less cases within 14 months after the ban on smoking in public places had been implemented.
A drop was reported for both men and women aged 60 and older, however not for persons younger than that age.

The research deduced that even in the United Kingdom – where levers of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke were lower than in the majority of other nations due to many smoke-free areas which prohibited smoking even before the nationwide ban came into effect - the strict anti-smoking policy has had a considerable impact on public health.

One of the authors of the research Dr Michelle Sims from the Centre for Tobacco Control Studies admitted that the introduction of the ban on smoking in enclosed public places resulted in a considerable decrease of 2.4% in the number of heart attacks reported by emergency hospitals.

She said that because of the strict anti-smoking legislation more than 1,200 emergency hospital admissions for heart seizures were prevented within 14 months.

The newest research as well demonstrated that non-smokers exposed to environmental tobacco smoke could be at an equal risk of cardiovascular diseases as the occasional smokers.

Dr Anna Gilmore, head of the Tobacco Control Research Center at the Bath University and leader of the research declared that the research gives additional evidence of health benefits the anti-smoking policy provides to people.

She added that taking into account the huge number of coronary heart diseases across England; even a 2 percent decrease has vital benefits for public health.

Cheryl Maxim, spokesperson for Britain Heart Foundation stated that the research demonstrated that prohibiting smoking in enclosed public spaces was totally the right step to make.

Robin Hewings, another scientist from UK Cancer Research Center said that the research demonstrated that smoke-free law has been an effective measure for improving public health, and that is why the majority of people supported it.

According to the scientist, another positive effect of the smoke-free legislation was the reduction in the number of adults lighting up in their homes, and especially in presence of their children, since it is a massive help in protecting non-smokers from ht risks related to second-hand smoke.

The anti-smoking advocates and public health groups are now urging the government to adopt further anti-smoking measures, such as plain packaging bill and ban on cigarette-vending machines.

Related posts:

1. Heart attack have fallen since smoking ban The number of people admitted to hospital for heart attacks...
2. Curtailing Second-Hand Smoke Cuts Heart-Attack Rates The growing numbers of bans on smoking in restaurants, bars...
3. Troubled times for New England tobacco farmers SOUTHWICK, Mass. — They’re among the lucky few, John, Fred...
4. Study shows smoking ban improves health Maryville anti-smoking advocates are applauding two new studies showing localities...
5. Cuban cigar sales drop 8 pct in ’09 Cuban cigar sales tumbled 8 percent to $360 million in...
6. British American Tobacco 1Q Volumes Drop 4% LONDON -British American Tobacco PLC (BATS.LN) Wednesday posted an accelerating...
7. Smoking ban benefits come swiftly Research is backing up what health professionals have long thought...
8. Alabama Voices: Smoking bans save lives Most Americans fail to appreciate the impact of smoking on...
9. Massachusetts Antismoking Plan Gets Attention BOSTON — When Massachusetts began offering virtually free treatments to...