Smoking Bans: The Link to Reducing Heart Attacks
By Brooke Strickland
Writer for FEP International
Smoking bans in public places are becoming more and more common as people become aware of the significant health problems that breathing second hand smoke can cause. A now today, an even greater benefit has been proven. A new study conducted through the University of California San Francisco and published in Circulation, shows that smoking bans in public places can reduce heart attacks by as much as 36 percent. The research team compared data from 13 studies of smoking bans in Canada, the United States, and Europe and saw heart attack rates fall immediately after smoking bans were put in place, dropping by 17 percent in the first year and nearly 36 percent by the third year [1]. With secondhand smoke causing more and more deaths each year, this made researchers advocate for smoking bans be put in place across all workplaces and public places to encourage greater public health.
Heart disease has long been linked to smoking. But there are other causes and simple ways that you can help cut your risk of developing heart disease or having a heart attack.
* Regular exercise: Walking to work, jogging on your lunch break, or doing aerobics on a regular basis can lower your blood pressure and cut your risk of heart attack significantly.
* Increase potassium, decrease salt intake: Too much salt is not good for us. High sodium levels have been shown to increase risks of heart attacks or other cardiovascular problems. However, increasing your potassium intake has been linked to lowering blood pressure and keeping your heart healthy. An easy way to add more potassium into your diet is by eating a banana every day or adding in other food sources such as potatoes, orange juice, or vegetables.
* Don’t stress: Keeping a positive attitude and minimizing the amount of stress you put yourself under is an easy way to keep your heart happy. Find a way to manage the stresses of daily life so you and your health do not suffer.
* Minimize alcohol intake: In general, alcoholic drinks are high in calories and can easily become a regular part of daily consumption. Limiting yourself to two drinks a day is not only good for your heart health, but for the rest of your body as well.
* Manage your weight: People who are overweight have an increased heart attack risk, simply because their hearts are working harder. So give your heart a break and look for way so slim down through exercise and a diet filled with fruits, whole grains, lean fishes, and vegetables.
* Take care of your pearly whites: Gum disease has been linked to heart disease and the inflammation of arteries, so it is important to floss regularly to avoid developing periodontal disease.
So take note. Following some of these simple tips, you will keep your heart pumping and your body going strong.
References
[1] Smoking bans cut heart attacks by a third: study. Reuters.com. Accessed on the Web September 22, 2009. http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE58K4IQ20090922
[2] Eight easy ways to cut your risk of a heart attack. Sri Lanka Blood Donation Site. Accessed on the web September 22, 2009. http://www.findblood.org/action.php?page=0014
Heart disease has long been linked to smoking. But there are other causes and simple ways that you can help cut your risk of developing heart disease or having a heart attack.
* Regular exercise: Walking to work, jogging on your lunch break, or doing aerobics on a regular basis can lower your blood pressure and cut your risk of heart attack significantly.
* Increase potassium, decrease salt intake: Too much salt is not good for us. High sodium levels have been shown to increase risks of heart attacks or other cardiovascular problems. However, increasing your potassium intake has been linked to lowering blood pressure and keeping your heart healthy. An easy way to add more potassium into your diet is by eating a banana every day or adding in other food sources such as potatoes, orange juice, or vegetables.
* Don’t stress: Keeping a positive attitude and minimizing the amount of stress you put yourself under is an easy way to keep your heart happy. Find a way to manage the stresses of daily life so you and your health do not suffer.
* Minimize alcohol intake: In general, alcoholic drinks are high in calories and can easily become a regular part of daily consumption. Limiting yourself to two drinks a day is not only good for your heart health, but for the rest of your body as well.
* Manage your weight: People who are overweight have an increased heart attack risk, simply because their hearts are working harder. So give your heart a break and look for way so slim down through exercise and a diet filled with fruits, whole grains, lean fishes, and vegetables.
* Take care of your pearly whites: Gum disease has been linked to heart disease and the inflammation of arteries, so it is important to floss regularly to avoid developing periodontal disease.
So take note. Following some of these simple tips, you will keep your heart pumping and your body going strong.
References
[1] Smoking bans cut heart attacks by a third: study. Reuters.com. Accessed on the Web September 22, 2009. http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE58K4IQ20090922
[2] Eight easy ways to cut your risk of a heart attack. Sri Lanka Blood Donation Site. Accessed on the web September 22, 2009. http://www.findblood.org/action.php?page=0014
posted by MedRounds Publications at 5:57 PM
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