A report done by US health experts has confirmed that indoor smoking bans have lowered the risk of heart attack, even among nonsmokers, because exposure to secondhand smoke has been reduced.
The report was produced by the Institute of Medicine for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and it shows that since smoking has been banned from workplaces, restaurants and bars the rate of cardiovascular-related health problems has been reduced.
CDC director Dr. Thomas Friedan said, "Secondhand smoke kills. What this report shows is that smoke-free laws reduce heart attacks in nonsmokers."
"But still, most of the country lives in areas that don't have comprehensive smoke-free laws covering all workplaces, all restaurants and all bars," he added.
It is great that nonsmokers are suffering fewer health problems, but it is forgotten that smokers are still being ostracized, and it really won't ever matter as long as the non-smokers are fine.
[Via: Telegraph.co.uk]
Smokers are fighting an uphill battle to maintain even a little of their freedom of rights, from West Virginia to the West Coast, and seems that officials might be listening. Some smoking bans have even been rescinded of postponed. In some cases, this occurs more often than officials actually declining to implement a ban.
Those against smoking feel that these so-called set backs are only a result of the struggling economy. They feel that local government are afraid to impose new costs and are wary of burdening bars or restaurants which might already be struggling.
U.S. regional director of the Citizens Freedom Alliance, Gary Nolan says, "The economy is in a slump, and these bans almost always hurt the shot-and-beer-type bars and some restaurants." He added, "If times are trying now in the hospitality industry, you're compounding that by telling bar owners they can't cater to their own crowd."
But even with these worries on the detrimental aspect of smoking bans, they are still going forward in most parts of the country and now they are even moving outdoors, to parks and beaches, which is awkward to say the least.
As associate director of Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights Bronson Frick says, "For opponents, it's never a good time to do this, whether the economy is bad or good, the smoke-free initiative is continuing, though."
[Via: seattlepi.com]
E-cigarettes have seen a huge success rate since they hit the market about three years ago, and this is because they basically simulate the real process of smoking, including the added bonus of a hit of nicotine.
These cigarettes produce smoke that evaporates quickly and does not leave behind an odor the way real cigarettes do. This cigarette really captures the smoking experience and is still able to evade the laws imposed by government as it has not been proven to be harmful to the health of others.
Those who use this form of cigarette find it very enjoyable as each e-cigarette contains a removable cartridge which delivers vapors to the lungs of a smoker, and they can be bought in a variety of flavors and with or without nicotine.
People who use these cigarettes have even been given a new name - "vapers." Smoker turned vaper Bonnie Martin says, "I can say I enjoy (vaping), even if it's zero nicotine. There may come a time when I lose interest in it, but right now I enjoy the way that it tastes. A combination of a tobacco blend and caramel is my everyday vape."
However, there may also soon come a time when activist groups decide that e-cigarettes are just as harmful as regular cigarettes. Concerns have already surfaced that this type of cigarette will probably lead to more teens and children getting hooked on smoking. But the positive sides of this cigarette replacement need to be weighed before there is any upheaval.
[Via: UPI.com]
Recently Michael Jordan was an honorary assistant for the U.S. at the Presidents Cup golf tournament. During a practice round at Harding Park, despite a San Francisco ban on smoking on golf courses, he dared to light up and smoke a cigar.
Photos of Jordan were published in newspapers last Tuesday. The PGA Tour was asked to remind Jordan that what he was doing was against the law and that he was not permitted to smoke even as an assistant at the Presidents Cup.
Phil Ginsburg, Recreation and Park General Manager said, "It was sort of a gentle nudge reminding them that smoking is illegal and that we would appreciate their support."
When it comes to the $100 fine for this illegal act, the information is not clear and Dennis Herrera, spokesman for City Atty says he is still not sure of how that is going to play out, and at this point no one has had the guts to ask him for it. But if laws like this are really going to go into effect, then Michael Jordan could be the poster boy for it.
[Via: LA Times]
Earlier it had been said that a plan to ban smoking in the parks and beaches needed to be looked at, but Mayor Bloomberg stated he is going to push ahead anyway.
Bloomberg told the Bay Terrace Community Alliance at a campaign forum in northeast Queens on Wednesday night, "The public is overwhelmingly in favor of banning it in parks as well, so, you know, we'll get that done."
Initially, the mayor balked at the idea proposed by Health Commissioner Thomas Farley as he felt that enforcement of the ban would be too difficult.
But this Wednesday, Bloomberg's opinion seemed to have changed, "If you're in the middle of a park by yourself in the middle of the night, I suppose nobody else is breathing that smoke, but if you're there with other people playing around, those people breathe it."
The change of heart seems to come after Bloomberg's opponent Controller William Thompson told the group that if he were elected he would pursue the ban.
Thompson said, "The concept of a smoke-free park makes sense to me." Does it really? In that sense a concept for car-free roads makes even more sense. This is so stupid…
[Via: nydailynews.com]
