In Europe, heart attacks dip by 10% after smoking ban
Jonathan Leake | Times of India Bangalore | September 14 2009
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The ban on public smoking has caused a fall in heart attack rates of 10%, researchers have found.
Researchers commissioned by the British government have found a far sharper fall than they expected in the number of heart attacks across England in the year after the ban was imposed in July 2007.
In Scotland, where the ban was imposed a year earlier, heart attack rates have fallen by 14% because of the ban. The success of the public smoking ban is emerging as one of the most significant improvements in public health that UK has seen, even measured by heart attack rates alone.
Over time the ban should bring more benefits by cutting cancer and chronic pulmonary disease killers also caused by smoking. We are amazed by just how big and how rapid (the benefits) are, said John Britton, director of the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies at Nottingham University.
The research into heart attack rates in England is being led by Anna Gilmore of Bath University . There is already overwhelming evidence that reducing peoples exposure to cigarette smoke reduces hospital admissions due to heart attacks , she said.
Ellen Mason, a cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: Exposure to cigarette smoke induces rapid changes in blood chemistry , making it more prone to clotting . In someone who has damaged arteries, smoke exposure can tip the balance and cause an attack.
Similar results were reported in western Europe after smoking bans. France had a 15% drop in emergency admissions for heart attacks after a year, while both Italy and Ireland had an 11% reduction . SUNDAY TIMES, LONDON
Researchers commissioned by the British government have found a far sharper fall than they expected in the number of heart attacks across England in the year after the ban was imposed in July 2007.
In Scotland, where the ban was imposed a year earlier, heart attack rates have fallen by 14% because of the ban. The success of the public smoking ban is emerging as one of the most significant improvements in public health that UK has seen, even measured by heart attack rates alone.
Over time the ban should bring more benefits by cutting cancer and chronic pulmonary disease killers also caused by smoking. We are amazed by just how big and how rapid (the benefits) are, said John Britton, director of the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies at Nottingham University.
The research into heart attack rates in England is being led by Anna Gilmore of Bath University . There is already overwhelming evidence that reducing peoples exposure to cigarette smoke reduces hospital admissions due to heart attacks , she said.
Ellen Mason, a cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: Exposure to cigarette smoke induces rapid changes in blood chemistry , making it more prone to clotting . In someone who has damaged arteries, smoke exposure can tip the balance and cause an attack.
Similar results were reported in western Europe after smoking bans. France had a 15% drop in emergency admissions for heart attacks after a year, while both Italy and Ireland had an 11% reduction . SUNDAY TIMES, LONDON
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