Smoking ban has prevented thousands of heart attacks

In the first 12 months since the smoking ban there was 1,200 fewer people admitted to hospital following a heart attack than in the previous year. Experts claim the findings prove the law is saving lives, according to the Daily Telegraph.

It translates to a 2.4% drop and, despite being much more modest than the figure reported in some areas where similar bans were introduced, the BBC reports that it may still have saved the NHS over £8 million. The Daily Mail reported that it prevented almost 200 deaths.

Professor John Britton, from the Royal College of Physicians, said the figures showed "once again the importance of preventing passive smoking". He said: "We urge the government to take further steps to close the remaining loopholes in the existing smoking laws, and to act to prevent the continued exposure of children to passive smoking in the home."

However, the conclusion drawn by the research was challenged by smoking rights campaigners. Simon Clark, director of Forest, a freedom organisation for smokers rights, said: "The number of emergency heart attack admissions had been falling for several years, even before the smoke-free legislation, so what we are seeing is part of a trend that has nothing to do with the smoking band. This study is designed to show the benefits of prohibition. What it doesn't show is the misery that has been heaped on hundreds of thousands of people by an unnecessarily harsh and divisive piece of legislation."

"It's brilliant news that an average three fewer people a day are admitted to hospital suffering a heart attack," commented Betty McBride from the British Heart Foundation. She said: "Banning smoking in public places was a bold step and now we have evidence showing that was absolutely right."

The team behind the research believe that both smokers and those subjected to passive smoke benefited. It's another example of the health benefits that are gained when someone conquers their nicotine addiction. Stop smoking hypnotherapy is an effective aid to quit the habit - it deals with the reasons behind cravings rather than relying on willpower to ignore them.