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The study found that people who live in communities with comprehensive smoke-free workplace laws are 22 percent less likely to be hospitalized for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or emphysema. Living in a community with an established law also resulted in a 21 percent lower likelihood of experiencing hospitalization due to emphysema.
Kentucky has the nation's highest rate of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 9.3 percent of the population, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tobacco use is the primary cause of emphysema, but air pollution and genetics can also play a role.
The study matched 2003 and 2001 data on hospital discharges with communities that were part of the Smoke-free Ordinance database from the Kentucky Center for Smoke-free Policy, Ann Blackford reports for UKnow.
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| Dr. Ellen Hahn (Herald-Leader photo by Matt Goins) |
Lexington was the first Kentucky city to pass a smoking ban. "Lexington's smoking ordinance, which bans smoking in most indoor public spaces, doesn't specify that smokers be caught in the act. But that has become the default standard since the ban went into effect 10 years ago," Mary Meehan reports for the Lexington Herald-Leader. "As the smoking ban in Lexington has aged, the challenges have lessened. In many cases, Hahn said, the ban has been self-enforcing. Patrons at restaurants complain to management about smokers, or bar employees take it upon themselves to keep people from lighting up. Gradually, she said, smoking just isn't accepted or expected anymore. Non-smoking in most places has become the 'new normal.' There are now only a handful of businesses that receive citations. Most are small bars and strip clubs."
What a waste of taxpayer monies!!!!!!!!!!!! I' ve dealt with several of the Hea;th Dept officials, and those folks work hard weekly to ensure our public health whether it be swimming pools. mosquito control, rodent control and of course ensuring our restaurants are safe. Yet we in lexington pay for them to cite establishments for smoking which goes into a slush fund. Due to budgetary constraints, I know for a fact they do not get additional pay, yet have to take that excess work time off during the week. Therefore eliminating hours that could really be spent protecting our overall community health, instead of ruining the nights of a few who obviously dont care or they would not be at a strip club and well aware u can smoke in!!!!! THEY ARENT THERE FOR THEIR HEALTH U IDIOTS!!!! Quit Wasting our money!!!!!!!!!!!!! MAYOR!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a waste, could b protecting our health in restaurants, yet wasting tax money chasing people smoking in strip bars.... Geez,
ReplyDeleteEmphysema Treatment ought to include, obviously, eliminating exposure to emphysema-bringing about poisons. This includes more than the evasion of tobacco smoke. You ought to look at your everyday life and check for different wellsprings of poisons.
ReplyDeleteI'm 59 years old and female. I was diagnosed a couple of months ago with COPD and I was beyond scared! My lung function test indicated 49% capacity. After having had flu a year ago, the shortness of breath, coughing and chest pains continued even after being treated with antibiotics. I've been smoking two packs a day for 36 years. Being born without a sternum caused my ribs to be curled in just one inch away from my spine, resulting to underdeveloped lungs. At age 34 I had surgery and it was fixed. Unfortunately my smoking just caused more damage to my already under developed lungs. The problem was having is that I enjoy smoking and don't want to give up! Have tried twice before and nearly went crazy and don't want to go through that again. I saw the fear in my husband and children's eyes when I told them about my condition then they start to find solution on their own to help my condition.I am an 59 now with moderately severe COPD emphysema which I know was from my years of smoking. I started smoking as a teen in high school when smoking was socially acceptable. I remember when smoking was permitted in hospitals. It was not known then how dangerous cigarettes were for us, and it seemed everybody smoked, i was able to get rid of my COPD lung condition through the help of total cure herbal foundation my husband bought, totalcureherbsfoundation .c om has the right herbal formula to help you get rid and repair any lung conditions and cure you totally. I wish anybody who starts smoking at a young age would realize what will eventually happen to their bodies if they continue that vile habit throughout their life.
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