Smoking Ban Linked to Drop in Heart Attacks Sun Apr 4, 7:10 PM ET by Reuters Ireland's ban on smoking in pubs and restaurants could have added health benefits if research in the United States is anything to go by. Nearly two years before the emerald isle became the first country to outlaw smoking in public places, the city of Helena in Montana passed similar legislation and saw a sharp drop in heart attacks. Opponents subsequently had the U.S. law overturned but in the six months it was enforced, hospital admissions for heart attack fell by 40 percent in the city. The observations...suggests that smoke-free laws not only protect people from the long-term dangers of second-hand smoke but also that they may be associated with a rapid decrease in heart attacks, said Professor Stanton Glantz of the University of California, San Francisco. Smoking is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke but Glantz's research, which is published online by the British Medical Journal Monday, is the first to report a link between a ban and heart attacks. ............

The awareness of smoking hazards is increasing as governments are trying to find ways of reducing mortality directly related to smoking. If Ireland can impose such a ban in their pubs, Malaysia can do much better!

What are we doing to decrease smoking? The 'Tak Nak' campaign is one endeavour which costs the Government millions of ringgit and is on going. Its success is questionable. Why are we deluding ourselves that young adults are going to listen to advertising campaigns? They have been bombarded by so much information regarding the ills of smoking that their senses become immune. If they can defy the wishes of their parents, what makes us think that we can change that mentality???

I think the article above presents us with an obvious answer! It is time for concrete action not beating around the bush! The time for talking is over! We need to act to curb the rising trend of smoking despite the government's sincere efforts to stem it.

'Ban Smoking', I say!