According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), every eighteen seconds an elderly person is brought into the emergency room because they have fallen. Every 35 minutes, a person aged 65 or older dies because of a fall. More often than not, falls go unreported and injuries resulting from falls go untreated as most of those who fall do not seek medical treatment. Rather they try and treat themselves, resulting in further injury. Falls may also lead to possible infections, rapid declines in health, and eventually even death.
Falls are very costly. In the year 2000, the U.S. health care system paid over $19 billion dollars because of falls among the elderly. As people get older, the chance of falling increases, as does the cost to treat injuries resulting from falls. By the year 2020, projected costs may reach $55 billion dollars. Costs include fees for health care in hospitals as well as nursing homes and rehabilitation centers, doctors, community-based service, use of medical equipment, medicine, home changes, and insurance processing. These are known as direct costs. Direct costs, however, do not take into account long-term effects of fall injuries. Long-term effects may include disability, dependence on others, lost time from work, lost time from household duties, and most costly, reduced quality of life.
There are many ways to prevent falls, and they are all very easy to do. First of all, elderly people should begin a simple exercise routine. Exercise increases strength so that falls are less likely to happen. Exercise also helps to feel better and helps with balance. Simple tasks such as walking every day, or small strengthening movements may prove very beneficial to an elderly person’s health. Ask a doctor before beginning any sort of exercise program. Another way to prevent falls is to make your home safer. In order to make a home safer:
-Remove things that may trip you (such as books, clothes, shoes, etc.) from walkways and stairs
-Remove rugs, or use double sided tape to keep the rugs from slipping
-Keep items that are often used within reach (in low cabinets, places in which a step stool is not necessary)
-Install grab bars in the bathroom next to the toilet and bathtub or shower
-Use non-slip mats in the bathtub or shower
-Improve the lighting in the home in order to see better
-Have handrails and lights in all staircases
-Wear supportive shoes that have thin, non-slip soles. Avoid slippers and athletic shoes with deep tread
A third way to prevent falls, is to have your vision checked. As people get older their vision changes and may get worse. You may have to get glasses or get your prescription changed. Poor vision may very well increase the chances of a fall, so by getting your vision checked may catch some impairments in your sight and then those impairments can be fixed or helped. Also, have a health care provider review the medications you take. As you get older, the way some medicines work in the body may change. Some medicines, or a combination of medications, can make a person drowsy or light-headed leading to a possible fall.
There are four easy ways to prevent a fall: Exercise, make safe changes in the home, have your vision checked, and have a health care provider review your current medications. Follow these tips, and lead a healthier, upright life!
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (2010). Costs of falls among older adults, Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Falls/fallcost.html.
Chang, J., and Bunn, J. (2008, November 08). Prevent falls for the elderly. Good Morning America, Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/story?id=6173302&page=1.
Recreational water illnesses (RWIs) are caused by germs spread by swallowing, breathing in mists or aerosols of, or having contact with contaminated water in swimming pools, hot tubs, water parks, water play areas, interactive fountains, lakes, rivers, or oceans.
Recreational water illnesses (RWIs) can be a wide variety of infections, including gastrointestinal, skin, ear, respiratory, eye, neurologic and wound infections. The most commonly reported RWI is diarrhea.
What are the common RWIs agents?
The most common illnesses are caused by germs such as Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Shigella, norovirus and E. coli O157:H7.
Where are Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs) Found?
Recreational water illnesses (RWIs) are caused by germs spread through contaminated water in swimming pools, water parks, water play areas, hot tubs, decorative water fountains, oceans, lakes, and rivers.
How are Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs) Spread?
Swallowing water that has been contaminated with containing germs can cause Recreational water illnesses (RWIs)
Why Doesn't Chlorine Kill RWI Germs?
Chlorine used in swimming pools and hot tubs kills the germs that cause Recreational water illnesses (RWIs), but the time it takes to kill each germ varies.
Below is a table which shows the time it takes for chlorine to be effective against common Recreational water illnesses (RWIs):
Agent
Disinfectant Times for Fecal Contaminants in Chlorinated Water
E. coli 0157:H7
less than 1 minute
Hepatitis A
approximately 16 minutes
Giardia
approximately 45 minutes
Cryptosporidium
approximately 15,300 minutes (10.6 days)
Notes:
1 mg/L (1ppm) free chlorine at pH 7.5 and 25° C (77° F)
Who is most likely to get Ill from a Recreational Water Illness (RWI)?
·Children
·Pregnant women
·People with weakened immune systems (AIDS patients, organ transplants, or people receiving chemotherapy)
Cryptosporidium can cause life-threatening infections in people with weakened immune systems. These high risk individual should consult with their health care provider before they can participate in activities that would place them at a risk for contracting Recreational water illnesses (RWIs).
ILLNESSES:
Cryptosporidium:
Cryptosporidium is a germ causing agent that causes diarrhea. Cryptosporidium is found in fecal matter of people who are infected by cryptosporidium. The germ has a tough outer shell that allows it to survive for a long time in the environment and also in properly chlorinated pools. The disease caused by infection with the germ cryptosporidium is called cryptosporidiosis. Cryptosporidium is microscopic, so it can’t be seen with the naked eye.
Giardia:
Gardia is a germ that causes diarrhea. It is also found in the fecal matter of a person who is infected by Giardia. It can survive for up to 45 minutes in properly chlorinated pools. The disease caused by infection with the germ Giardia is called Giardiasis.
Hot Tub Rash (Pseudomonas Aeruginosa):
Hot tub rash, or dermatitis, is an infection of the skin. Hot tub rash is often caused by infection with the germ Pseudomonas Aeruginosa. Hot tub rash can occur if contaminated water comes in contact with skin for a long period of time.
Legionella:
Legionella a germ that can cause a type of pneumonia called legionellosis, more commonly known as Legionnaires’ disease. Commonly found in hot tubs and other place with hot water.
MRSA:
MRSA is a germ that often lives in the nose or on the skin of healthy people. MRSA, short for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a type of staph germ that is resistant to certain antibiotics. MRSA can be easily transmitted to other people through infected water.
GENERAL PREVENTION:
According to the CDC the basic Six "Steps" for Protection against Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs)
Don’t swim when you have diarrhea, this is especially important for kids in diapers.
Don’t swallow the pool water.
Practice good hygiene.
Take your kids on bathroom breaks often.
Change diapers in a bathroom and not at poolside.
Wash your child thoroughly (especially the rear end) with soap and water before swimming.
According to the CDC the basic three “Steps” for all swimmers for protection against Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs)
Don't swim when you have diarrhea. You can spread germs in the water and make other people sick.
Don't swallow the pool water. Avoid getting water in your mouth.
Practice good hygiene. Shower with soap before swimming and wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers. Germs on your body end up in the water.
12 Steps for RWI Prevention for Pool Staff
·Lead your staff – Lead by example, make Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs) an important part of the safety protocol. Make sure there is a strategic plan to counter Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs).
·Develop partnerships- Form a coalition with other important health agencies in your area, if there is an outbreak work together and combat the situation.
·Educate pool staff- Educate the staff on the risks of Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs) and proper pool maintenance.
·Educate swimmers and parents- Educate swimmers and parents about Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs), put up posters and fliers on how to prevent them and what they can do to stop the spread of Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs).
·Maintain water quality and equipment- Constantly check up on the water quality and your equipment.
·Evaluate aquatic facility design- Make sure there aren’t any flaws in the aquatic facility’s design. Small flaws can also lead to the increase of the risk of Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs).
·Institute disinfection guidelines- Keep record of all incidents at the pool, including ph level and chlorine levels.
·Evaluate hygiene facilities- Clean up the facilities properly. Stress the importance of a clean facility to your staff.
·Develop a bathroom break policy- have some kind of bathroom break policy for little children, use bathroom break time as chlorine check time.
·Create a special policy for large groups of young children- have a Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs) awareness session for large groups of children.
·Post and distribute health information- post information from the local health department or the CDC on information regarding Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs) and other water borne illnesses.
·Develop an outbreak/emergency response plan- have an effective plan in case of an emergency. Train your staff in this response plan.
Chlorine:
People feel like chlorinated water will protect them from all diseases; this is not true as many diseases can survive in chlorinated water for many days. The recommended amount of available free chlorine is 2.0 parts per million in water and the recommended pH level is 7.5. Most bacterial causing Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs) such as E. coli will die in under a minute under these conditions but some disease causing agents such as Cryptosporidium are highly chlorine resistant and live in recreational water for days. The effectiveness of chlorine is greatly reduced by the presence of feces; hence the water needs to be immediately treated if there is any incident.
Testing for RWIs:
According to the CDC the following method can be used to test recreational water for Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs):
Testing the strips at home before visiting the pool can help you learn how to properly use and read them.
In order to test at home, you will need:
3 containers
13 cups of regular tap water
3 drops of liquid chlorine bleach
Allow tap to run for about 2 minutes
Fill container 1 with 1 cup of water
Fill containers 2 and 3 with 6 cups of water each
Add 1 drop of liquid chlorine bleach to container 2
Add 2 drops of liquid chlorine bleach to container 3
Test each container of water utilizing the strips and the manufacturer's instructions
Warning! Warning! Do You Know if You Are Having a Heart Attack?
Heart disease can mean a lot of different things but can be life threatening. Heart disease is an over arching term that refers to a range of diseases that can affect your heart. Some of these these diseases include coronary artery disease, various heart rhythm problems, and conditions that affect the heart muscle or valves. The term "cardiovascular disease" is also an interchangeable word for heart disease. In 2006, there were an estimated 81,100,000 cases of heart disease in the United States. Of those cases, 73,600,000 were related to high blood pressure, being the greatest cause. Coronary heart disease, stroke and heart failure were following causes of heart disease in the United States.
In Missouri, it is estimated the 85.6% of the population cannot correctly identify the warning signs of heart attack. Therefore, it is important to educate the public in the signs and symptoms of possible heart attack. According to the American Heart Association, the warning signs of heart attack are as followed: chest discomfort, shortness of breath, and discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Other signs include: cold sweats, nausea, and lightheadedness. The Mayo Clinic explains that cardiovascular disease can sometimes be diagnosed prior to heart attack if a person discusses any chest pains, shortness of breath, and/or pain, numbness, weakness or coldness in the legs or arms with their doctor. Even though the common warning signs of heart attack were listed before, it is possible that men and women experience different symptoms. Men often feel the chest pain and discomfort where as women tend to experience more shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain than men. However, this does not mean any person, male or female, cannot experience certain symptoms. It is possible to feel all or just a few.
When a person is having a heart attack there are two ways the heart attack can present itself. The first way is sudden and intense. There is very little doubt that a person is having a heart attack with this type of heart attack. On the other hand, most of the time a person experiences chest pain that comes on slowly. Often the person is confused as to what may be going on. This is the most dangerous part. It is important to act quickly if you think you are experiencing a heart attack.
If a person thinks they are experiencing a heart attack the most important thing to do is seek medical attention. A person should dial 9-1-1 immediately if they are experiencing chest pains with one or more other symptoms. EMT's are able to deliver lifesaving treatments quickly. It is important to know not to drive yourself to the emergency room (ER) or doctor's office if you think you are experiencing a heart attack. Also, never let someone else who thinks they are experiencing a heart attack drive. Always call 9-1-1 rather than driving.
Though it is important, if not lifesaving, to know the warning signs of heart disease, it is also important to know how to prevent heart disease and heart attack. If you can take measures to prevent heart attack then you will decrease your chances of experiencing a heart attack. The Mayo Clinic suggests the following five measures to prevent heart disease and heart attack: (1)do not smoke or use tobacco products, (2)get active, (3)eat heart healthy, (4)maintain a healthy weight, and (5)get regular health screenings.
The use of tobacco products is currently the leading preventable cause of disease in the United Sates. From 1964 to 2004, there were about 5.5 million deaths from cardiovascular disease linked with cigarette smoking. There are two main reasons why smoking cigarettes contribute to heart disease. The first is that there is more than 4,800 chemicals in cigarettes that cause damage to the heart and blood vessels. The second is that the nicotine in cigarettes cause the heart to work harder by raising blood pressure and and increasing the heart rate.
According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, inactivity is the greatest risk factor for heart disease. Getting 30 to 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise daily helps maintain a healthy weight and reduce the chances of doing damage to your heart. Inactivity can aid in the development of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. These three conditions can increase your risk for heart disease. Exercising and eating right are great ways to decrease risks for heart disease. To eat heart healthy, here are eight tips that can help: limit saturated and trans fats as well as cholesterol, choose low-fat protein (or lean meats), eat more fruit and veggies, get whole grain, reduce salt usage, control portion sizes, create menus, and do not over eat sweets.
Seeing a doctor for regular health screening can decrease the risk of heart disease because conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure can be detected early. Adults should have their blood pressure checked at the very least every two years. Cholesterol levels should be checked every five years or more frequently if there is a strong family history.
Heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the United States. Knowing the warning signs and symptoms of heart attack and dialing 9-1-1 could save your life. Do not add to the statistic, follow the five steps to prevention listed above!
Helping to prevent falls is one of the best things a person can do for their loved one. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), in 2007 18,000 older adults died from preventable falls.
It is very disheartening to know that so many people can die from such an easily preventable cause of injury or death. Knowing the facts about fall prevention can help you and your loved one get on the track to a fall-free life.
The CDC states that in the year 2000, the total amount of falls for that year cost $19 billion in medical bills. Falls can cause a lot to trouble down the road for older adults and having to pay higher medical bills will always be in the equation. The CDC writes about direct costs of falls,“Direct costs are what patients and insurance companies pay for treating fall-related injuries. These costs include fees for hospital and nursing home care, doctors and other professional services, rehabilitation, community-based services, use of medical equipment, prescription drugs, changes made to the home, and insurance processing.’
Falling can cause a any number of bones to break which results in surgery and that can lead to an infection from the operation and it can all just snowball from there. The CDC states,”Most fractures among older adults are caused by falls.9 The most common are fractures of the spine, hip, forearm, leg, ankle, pelvis, upper arm, and hand.” With the possibility of fracturing any of the aforementioned body parts older adults should always take extreme precaution when they are walking around in an unsafe area. Along with being in an unsafe area, there are health problems that are associated with falls. Fallprevention.org lists the common health problems associated with falls as:
• 4 or more medications
• foot problems, unsafe footwear
• blood pressure drops too much on standing up/dizzy
• problems with seeing
• tripping hazards in your home
Fallprevention.org also provides a table to use when gauging your liklihood to fall as measured by how many health problems you have:
http://www.fallprevention.org/pages/fallfacts.htm
If you have any concerns about your or your loved one’s likelihood of falling, you can visit CDC.gov or fallprevention.org for more information
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2010) Falls among Older Adults: An Overview
Retrieved from:
http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Falls/adultfalls.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2010) Costs of Falls Among Older Adults
Retrieved from:
http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Falls/fallcost.html
Conneticuit Collaboration for Fall Prevention (2010) Facts About Falls
Retrieved from:
http://www.fallprevention.org/pages/fallfacts.htm
It is important for parents to ensure the health of their children. Parents play a big role in shaping children’s eating habits. When parents eat a variety of foods that are low in fat and sugar and high in fiber, children learn to like these foods as well. So parents should learn to make smart food choices and help their children to develop a positive relationship with healthy foods. For many parents, helping children develop healthy eating habits is a challenge. With hectic pace of many families’ lives and with more women working full time, many parents are struggling to teach desirable eating habits to their children. Working parents can also help shape children’s eating and activity habits with the help of child care providers. Child care provider can offer well-balanced meals and snacks, as well as plenty of active play time.
With increasing childhood obesity, parents should be concerned about what their children eat. The rapid change in diet and decreasing physical activity is affecting the child health. So parents should guide their children to make healthy food choices for them. It is best to start training children about foods during the preschool years since they are most influenced by their families during this period. This lowers the risks presented by unhealthy diets that start in childhood and that might build up throughout life. Additionally, research has shown that heart and blood vessel disease can begin very early and that hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis or atherosclerosis) can be associated with a high-fat diet.
Parents should carefully read food labels to check nutrients and ingredients. Most kids are attracted to the advertising and packaging of food, including highly sugared cereals. Parents are also suggested to involve young children in the food preparation process. For example, teach children how to set the table during their preschool years. Take them grocery shopping. Developing children's attitude toward food should be similar to teaching them how to handle money; by giving them growing responsibility along with sensible access. Parents whose child is already in school should find out more about the school’s breakfast and lunch programs. It is also recommended to help one’s child to pack a lunch that includes a variety of foods.
If children are properly prepared, they are more likely to make healthy food choices once they enter school. They will probably experiment some, but they will have a preference for fresh foods like fruits and vegetables along with foods like french fries and fast foods.
Reference
National Institute of Health. Helping your child. March 2004. 6 October 2010 .
World Health Organization. Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. 2010. 3 October 2010 .
Sleep is free right? That may be what we have heard people say when they are trying to convince us to get more of it. Those of us who have worked the night shift and have families or other obligations may disagree. As we all know time is precious, because we need more of it in our day we may be cutting our sleep down to make room for things we see as more important such as work, kids, house cleaning, etc.
There are studies showing (done by people who also need more sleep) what can happen to our bodies and especially our minds when we lack sleep that is needed. Every one of us is different, some may need as little as 6 hours a day and others may need 10 hours. We have all experienced sleep-deprivation starting with the first signs of moodiness and irritability. This is when we should pay attention to our bodies. Psychologists and scientists who have studied sleep patterns have noticed that a lack of sleep can directly or indirectly cause abnormalities in several systems in your body from the central nervous system, immune system, cardiovascular, and metabolic systems. Epidemiological studies suggest self-reported sleep complaints are associated with an increased relative risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Less sleep can also affect decision making skills. We want to stay healthy, but if our body does not get the rest it needs we are more susceptible to come down with colds, catch the flu or many other diseases.
Twenty percent of the population are night shift workers, about 60 to 70 percent of those workers have difficulty sleeping and/or problem sleepiness. They are one of the leading groups of people who are at a higher risk than others for sleep deprivation. One study shows that shift workers are two to five times more likely than employees with regular, daytime hours to fall asleep on the job. Working at night can be hard enough getting a sleep schedule in order, but when the majority of the population is asleep and the world runs on a daytime schedule, things may seem more out of whack to them. There are many reasons night workers do not get enough sleep, once they leave work they may have things they need to do like take care of the children who are just getting up or running errands because everything may be closed after they get their sleep or some have classes to attend. Many night shift workers have families who are probably on a different schedule then they are. When night workers get off work they may have a hard time falling asleep because others are getting up or they want to spend time with family.
Another problem for all people is stress. According to the sleep experts, stress is the number one cause of short-term sleep difficulties. There are many forms of stress that can plague sleep from our jobs, school, marriage, family or illnesses. Another health risk associated with not getting enough sleep that has been increasing over the years are traffic accidents. According to the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research and reports from the National Highway Safety Administration, car crashes can be attributed to a severe lack of sleep. According to the Department of Transportation, up to four percent of all highway crashes are due to sleepiness, especially in rural areas. So keep in mind why sleep can be so important, from functioning properly to keeping us safe sleep works with our bodies to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Do you find yourself driving home from work at 6 or 7 in the morning? Are you a shift worker that has to work nights just to make ends meet? Well then you must know the feeling of driving home when all you what to do is go to sleep right then and there. You may not have the ability to change this situation but you can control the environment you sleep in and adopt habits to promote better sleep.
The first helpful habit you can adopt is creating a regular sleep schedule. Make sure that you go to sleep at the same time each night and wake up at the same time. You should continue to do this on your days off and on weekends to maintain this cycle. Eating large meals or drinking lots of liquids actually keeps you from sleeping. Your body starts to digest the food and liquids causing you to wake up for trips to the restroom. If you need to eat before you go to sleep it is recommended that you eat a small meal two hours before you go to bed.
Many people reach for caffeine or a cigarette to keep them awake during work, but this actually causes you to get less sleep and leave you sleep deprived for the next day. It is recommended that you do not drink caffeine for 8 hours before you go to sleep and nicotine should not be consumed for several hours before sleep. Other people believe that reaching for a glass of wine or any alcoholic beverage will help them sleep. This could not be farther from the truth. Alcohol disrupts sleep by putting you to sleep quickly and then during the second half of your sleep cycle it causes you to awaken from dreams, toss and turn and have difficulty getting back to sleep.
Exercising is a great way to increase sleep. Regular aerobic exercise (Running, jogging, biking etc.) can help you to fall asleep faster and get a more restful sleep. Naps are also encouraged. If you are unable to sleep enough during the day taking a 30 minute nap before work or during a break can help improve alertness and work performance. Healthy foods are also a better choice than fatty foods. When your body has to digest all the fat and grease from fast food it causes stomach problems or heartburn that can keep you awake.
The environment you sleep in is very important to the quality of your sleep. The room that you sleep in should be as dark as possible. Your body wants to sleep at night and daylight causes restless sleep. Dark curtains and sleep eye masks can help solve this problem. Your house phone should not be in your bedroom and your cell phone should be turned off. Alert people in your house to what your sleeping schedule is and ask them to leave you alone during your sleep. The room you sleep in should be a comfortable temperature and your bed and pillows should be comfortable as well.
After you get home from work do something to wind down such as taking a bath/shower, reading a book or listening to music. These relaxing activities can ease the transition between wakefulness and sleepiness. If these activities are repeated every night your body will develop this routine and know it is time to go to sleep. After doing something restful lay down to go to sleep with the lights off. If you do not go to sleep within 15-20 minutes get up and do something else. If you sit there and stress over not being able to get to sleep you will keep yourself awake.
If none of these tips help you, you might want to talk to your doctor about obtaining sleeping pills. This should only be done as a last resort and should never be attempted without asking your doctors advice first.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines Secondhand Smoke as “a mixture of gases and fine particles that includes smoke from a burning cigarette, cigar, or pipe tip; smoke that has been exhaled or breathed out by the person or people smoking, which has at least 250 toxic chemicals, including more than 50 that can cause cancer.” In simple words, if you are a non-smoker and you happen to inhale the smoke a smoker exhales out, it is called secondhand smoke. Nevertheless, we cannot assume it to be less serious than the firsthand smoke.
The health effects of secondhand smoke in non-smokers are as pronounced as those of smoking in smokers. Primarily, it increases the risk factors for heart and lung diseases in children and adults. Children and elderly are at more risk due to the environmental smoke. There is an estimated number of 150,000 to 300,000 new cases of bronchitis and pneumonia among the children of age of 18 months and younger due to the secondhand smoke exposure. Not only children, but among non-smoking adults as well, it has caused an estimated 46,000 heart disease deaths and 3400 lung cancer deaths annually.
Despite the fact that there are 88 million Americans exposed to this, and even though, it has been decades we are trying to convince people not to smoke, they all have turned deaf ears whenever they hear the words such as “smoke” or “health”. No matter how much we try to convince people by showing “the fear factor” of smoking, people have become immune to such claims. Thus, now, we health educators should approach this in a slightly different way: demonstrating and emphasizing on the positive points of not smoking.
If we have something like the following to spread the positive message, then people might seriously consider stopping smoking:
If you stop smoking:
i.In 20 minutes, your blood pressure and pulse rate will drop down to normal, and your body temperature increases.
ii.In 8 hours, the carbon monoxide (toxic gas) levels will drop by half and oxygen levels return to normal
iii.In 24 hours, your chance of having a heart attack will decrease.
iv.In 48 hours, all the nicotine will leave your body, and your sense of taste and smell will be normal
This is just a sample of how we can start on positive messages; there are more to this list like the emotional and social benefits of not smoking.
Above mentioned is about benefits of non-smoking which directly affects the number of people being exposed to the smoke they exhale out, that is, secondhand smoke. For reducing secondhand smoke, we can either change the behavior of the smokers or bring smoke-free laws to existence. The latter is more popular nowadays, and thus, there are many places which have gone smoke-free, which has greatly reduced the secondhand smoke in their surroundings.
To date, 22 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, have a law in effect that requires 100% smoke-free workplaces, restaurants and bars. These cover about 47.5% of the total US population, which is a huge deal. Since nearly half are enjoying the benefits of not being exposed to second-hand smoke, why not everyone?
When asked this question, people usually argue about businesses going down in their sales and revenues. In contrast, this has been proven false. There have been a decent number of studies and surveys done in these states which do not show any decline in the revenues of the restaurant and bar business, but rather show slight increases in the profits in some. Like for example, in Massachusetts, after a smoking ban in 2005, the sales and employment at the restaurants throughout the state slightly increased during the first six months disproving the common fear and predictions that the hospitality industry will be negatively impacted. This is just one example, but there are many out there and many to come.
Taking these in mind, there is no doubt we can approach to an effective solution to the slew of problems we have due to smoking and second-hand smoke.
References:
Americans for Non Smokers’ Rights. (2010). Going smoke free. Retrieved from
