News regarding the effects of smoking bans.
Bans on smoking in public places really do work at reducing heart attacks from secondhand smoke, a major study finds. Smoke-free policies can reduce the risk of heart attack by up to 47 percent and significantly reduce the likelihood of other heart problems, according to a report released Thursday by the U.S. Institute of Medicine (IOM). The report also found compelling evidence that even a brief exposure to secondhand smoke can trigger a heart attack. “We did conclude a cause-and-effect relationship exists between heart disease and secondhand smoke exposure,” Dr. Lynn R. Goldman, chairwoman of the IOM committee, said during a press conference Thursday. – From US News & World Report