Smoking Ban Results in Less Heart Attacks in Non Smokers

Research from Indiana University shows that since the nationwide smoking ban was put into effect, the incidence of hospital admissions for heart attacks has dropped 70%- in non smokers only. For smokers, they found no similar rate of decline during the study leading to the conclusion that the effects of the smoking ban are helping those who would be exposed to second hand smoke.

This is the first study to take a look at the effects of smoking bans in relation to heart attacks in non smokers. In previous studies, there was no distinction made between those who smoked and those who did not of if they did look at non smokers, they only looked at those who did not have any accompanying risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol or previous heart surgery.

Just a 30 minute exposure to second hand smoke can result in an increase of a person's risk for developing a hearth attack and this goes for those who do not have risk factors as well as those who do, although the rate for those with risk factors will be higher. Second hand smoke contains carbon monoxide which causes the blood vessels to constrict, which also reduces the level of oxygen in the blood that is carried to the brain and other vital organs including the heart. And close of half of the non smoking population is exposed to second hand smoke on a regular basis and this is after the smoking ban was put in place in so many cities across the county.

For this study, the researchers assessed the hospital admissions records for patients with acute myocardial infarction in two counties in Indiana, Monroe and Delaware. AMI happens when there is a blockage that prevents blood from reaching part of the heart. They were chosen because they are similar in population levels, both are home to colleges, have about the same median income and racial diversity as well as deaths from heart attacks. The two counties were chosen as much for what makes them different as well as what makes them the same. A the time of the study, Delaware County did not have any smoking bans in effect, while in Monroe County smoking was prohibited in restaurants, bars, retail spaces and workplaces.