Smoking Bans Benefit the Health of Non-Smokers

Many states have implemented non-smoking laws statewide. These laws appear to have helped non-smokers, but not smokers. Even without having any risk factors for heart disease, people can still suffer a heart attack. In a recent press release, researchers from Indiana University found that hospital admissions for heart attacks decreased by 70 percent after smoking bans were instituted.

In previous studies that targeted the results of smoking bans, the effects on smokers was studied, or non-smokers but not non-smokers who did not have any risk factors for having heart disease.

This research study looked at potential benefits from implementing smoking bans for non-smokers. Risk factors include physical conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or previous heart surgery.

"Heart attack admissions for smokers saw no similar decline during the study, so the benefits of the ban appear to come more from the reduced exposure to second-hand smoke among non-smokers than from reduced consumption of tobacco among smokers," said Dong-Chul Seo, an assistant professor in IU Bloomington's Department of Applied Health Science.

Researchers have determined that second-hand smoke is dangerous for one's health. Even limited exposure may be harmful. Researchers have determined that one's risk for having a heart attack is significantly increased after exposure to second-hand smoke for as little as 30 minutes.

Through this study, researchers determined that this impact even affected non-smokers who did not have any previous health risks for heart disease.

The chemicals that are found in smoke and their effect on the body may cause this. Smoke contains carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide makes our blood vessels tighten, or constrict.

This means that there isn't as much blood flowing through the body. Since blood carries and delivers oxygen to our cells, since less blood flows, less oxygen is getting to our cells.

Researchers expressed concerns over their findings because nearly half of non-smokers in America may be exposed to second hand smoke on a regular basis.

About this study

In conducting this study, hospital admissions records were examined for the presence of heart attack in two counties of Indiana (Monroe and Delaware County). A heart attack is officially termed an "acute myocardial infarction" (AMI) by medical professionals.

Both counties that were studied are very similar in income levels, ethnic diversity, heart disease death rates, and population, with one exception. Monroe County did not allow smoking in bars, retail spaces, restaurants, and workplaces. Delaware County did not have any smoking bans hen this study was conducted.

The American Institutes for Research, and Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation provided funding for this study.

Source:
http://www.newswise.com/p/articles/view/535443/