In a study to examine the effectiveness of cigarette smoking ban laws on health outcomes, researchers examined heart attack and related health problems in areas with such bans in different regions around the world. Their findings indicate that laws that ban smoking are not only effective in decreasing the number of heart attacks, but they also decrease asthma and other respiratory ailment hospital admissions.
The study examined smoking bans in a widely diverse group of countries, ranging from the United States to Uruguay. In regions where smoking bans were the most comprehensive, such as included restaurants, bars and workplaces, the health benefits were most obvious. In German, for example, comprehensive smoking bans were associated with almost immediate substantial reductions in heart attack and stroke hospitalizations. Additionally there was a 24 percent decrease in hospitalizations for respiratory conditions such as COPD and asthma.
Although there are many places in the United States and around the world that resist cigarette smoking bans, the health benefits of reducing exposure to second hand smoke are staggering. The worldwide examination of health benefits from this kind of legislation verifies and validates other studies that smoke-free laws decrease heart attack and stroke levels.
Support for Smoking Bans
According to a recent Gallup poll, the one thing that the majority of us can agree on is that smoking should be banned in public places. In fact, approximately 59 percent of Americans support a total ban on smoking in public places. This is the highest level of agreement since Gallup started asking the question in 2001.
Currently adult smoking levels remain steady at 22 percent. In 1954, the highest levels of smoking for adults were recorded at 45 percent. There are pockets in the Unites States where smoking bans continue to be controversial. For example, recent cigarette smoking ban legislation in Alabama has been met with upset and furor by many citizens.
Do you support smoking bans? Do you have health conditions that are made worse when you are around cigarette smoke?
– The Alternative Daily