According to the research published in Annals of Internal Medicine on Monday, banning indoor tobacco use from bars, restaurants and workplaces has lowered the rate of heart attacks by one-third in Olmsted County, Minn.
Sudden cardiac death rates in Olmsted County have also been reduced by 17 percent since the ban was put into place.
The study showed that though the boost in tobacco taxes and anti-smoking campaigns between 2002 to 2007 caused many Minnesota citizens to quit smoking, it was not completely responsible for the drop off in heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths.
Public smoking bans appear to have lowered the effects of secondhand smoke, which is now yielding the improvement of health in the residents of Olmsted County.
The study also noted that while secondhand smoke has been greatly reduced in public areas, it can still be found in casinos, cars and apartment complexes, which share ventilation systems that can carry smoke to neighboring apartments.
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