Older non smokers benfit more from smoking ban

According to recent studies, older, non smokers will benefit the most from newly imposed smoking bans.

Research conducted at the University of Edinburgh concurs with this. However, a new study which took place in New Zealand has found that 3 years preceding the smoking bans in workplaces, heart attacks in women aged 55-74 fell by 9%. What was more interesting was the fact that rates fell by 13% for non smokers of the same demographic.

Researchers looked into the trends in minor heart attacks in the three years after the smoking was banned in public places throughout New Zealand. This included pubs and restaurants.

Findings

The study also noted an average drop in heart attacks in over 30s, of 5% during the initial 3 years of the ban. In relation, DR Jamie Pearce of the School of GeoSciences at the University of Edinburgh claims: “This short-term research indicates a link between a smoking ban in bars and restaurants and a reduction in severe heart attacks.”

They discovered that heart attack rates were reduced in non smokers of all age groups whilst there was a fairly significant fall in hospital admissions for men and women.

Interestingly enough though, it also uncovered that that socio economics played a role as people from affluent areas benefited more than those from less wealthy regions. Experts argue this is because wealthier people are more likely to dine out and to use the ban to help them with their smoking cessation.