Smoke ban saves residents

A town that banned smoking for six months had 60 per cent fewer potentially fatal heart attacks, largely because of the absence of passive smoking, according to a new study.

Helena, Montana, banned smoking in public places and buildings but the ban was suspended six months later after a legal challenge.

Hospital admissions for severe heart attack fell from a normal average of seven per month to less than four. That is a drop of nearly 60 per cent.
There was no significant change in the number of admissions from outside the area.

The study provides the first evidence of the effect of a smoking ban on a real population, say the researchers. It shows that smoke-free policies both protect people from long-term dangers of passive smoking and rapidly prevent heart attacks, Dr Richard Sargent, of the city's St Peter's Community Hospital, told the American College of Cardiology meeting in Chicago.

"This suggests that protecting people from the toxins in secondhand smoke not only make life more pleasant, it immediately starts saving lives," said team member Dr Stanton Glantz.