Evidence that smoking bans improve health

As municipalities ban smoking at workplaces and in public buildings, evidence of the benefits are beginning to appear in the press.

Dallas

  • A steep decline in heart attacks
  • In the 18 months after a no-smoking ordinance took effect in Pueblo in 2003, hospital admissions for heart attacks for city residents dropped 27%

San Francisco

  • After the law went into effect bartenders experienced a substantial reduction in respiratory symptoms of eye, nose and throat irritation symptoms

Scotland

  • Significant improvements in respiratory symptoms and lung function within 2 months following a ban on smoking in confined public places

I am aware of no reports where health was adversely affected by smoking bans.

10/12/06 20:45 JR

Hi, I’m JR

John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.