Both Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard and Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels are to be congratulated for favoring new limits on smoking in public places. Smoking is a major cause of cardiovascular disease. Secondhand smoke increases an individual’s risk of heart disease by 30 percent.

 In communities such as Bloomington, where smoking bans have been enacted, the risk of heart attacks and death from heart disease has declined by 25 percent within the first six months of implementation.

In a society where the vast majority of citizens don’t smoke, it makes no sense to subject them to this potentially fatal and preventable risk. One million heart attacks and strokes could be prevented nationally over the next five years through simple preventive measures, such as smoking ban legislation to promote smoke-free air policies (http://millionhearts.hhs.gov), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates. Secondhand smoke increases an individual’s risk of heart disease by 30 percent, and Indiana is disproportionately affected because Hoosiers have the second-highest smoking rate in the nation.

Stopping smoking, or never starting, is the best defense against developing cardiovascular disease. But for the majority of citizens who are nonsmokers, their best defense would be comprehensive, effective and timely smoking bans in Indianapolis and throughout the state.

John S. Strobel, M.D.

President

Richard J. Kovacs, M.D.

 Immediate past-president

Edward T.A. Fry, M.D.

President-elect

American College of Cardiology, Indiana Chapter

Bloomington