Smoking Ban in Ireland Bears Fruit

The results of the smoking ban in Ireland were just about as expected, but the report given at the recent European Society of Cardiology meeting reinforces the need for action in other countries or states. One year after the ban was instituted in Ireland there was a significant reduction in the number of hospital admissions for the acute coronary syndrome (ACS, comprising heart attack and/or ECG changes suggestive of inadequate blood flow to the heart muscle). The decline was 11%, based on data obtained from a registry of all patients admitted to hospitals in southwest Ireland . The reduction was seen mostly in men with one type of ECG change – non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Dr Cronin of Cork University said that smoking may produce a heart attack within 30 seconds of smoke inhalation; platelets become stickier and the cells lining the coronary arteries (the endothelium) functions less well, so that a thrombosis occurs. An additional effect of the ban is the more gradual reduction in the overall risk of heart attack due to improvement, or slower development, of coronary atherosclerosis.

Stopping smoking is still the most important thing a smoker can do for his health. More exercise comes next, and improving nutrition is third.