November 15, 2005
Contact: Donna Viverette,
Tobacco Prevention Initiative
303-275-7555

Pueblo Heart Study Confirms Smoke-free Laws Produce Immediate Reductions in Heart Attacks

The Pueblo Heart Study observed an immediate and significant decline in heart attack admissions at Pueblo's major hospitals AFTER a citywide smoke-free workplace and public place ordinance went into effect.

Jefferson County Colorado Heart attacks rates declined nearly 30% at two Pueblo hospitals following the enactment of a citywide smoke-free workplace and public place ordinance. Researchers found that 399 heart attack patients were admitted to hospitals in the 18 months before the July 2003 smoke free law and only 291 after. The Pueblo Heart Study results were released November 14, 2005 by a consortium of healthcare and public health organizations in Colorado and are significant for tobacco prevention initiatives nationwide.

Jefferson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) is excited about the findings impact on communities currently pondering smoke-free ordinances in Jefferson County. "The Pueblo Heart Study offers fresh insight into the important public health and policy issues surrounding the elimination of secondhand smoke from workplaces and other public venues. This study reinforces the need for communities to pass smoke-free laws that cover all workplaces, including bars and taverns, in order to protect both workers and the public" said Rhea Staniszewski, JCDHE Community Secondhand Smoke Prevention Specialist.

Dr. Paul Connor, a Jefferson County cardiologist with the Rocky Mountain Heart Associates works with heart attack patients on minimizing their exposure to secondhand smoke. "The Pueblo Heart Study is the first study to confirm the rapid benefits communities can achieve through the use of a smokefree workplace law applied to all workplaces and all buildings open to the public. These new findings help substantiate what health professionals have been telling the public for years that secondhand smoke is deadly and that uniform smokefree workplace laws protect workers and the public from this unnecessary toxin." said Dr. Conner.

The Pueblo Heart Study attributes much of the sharp decline in heart attacks to a near-elimination of the rapid and harmful effects of secondhand smoke on blood platelets and the arteries that supply blood to the heart. The authors of the study also point out that smoke-free environments encourage smokers to stop or reduce smoking, which also reduces heart attack risk. Only one other study to date has evaluated the impact of smoke-free laws on public health. This study, conducted in Helena, Montana during 2002, and published in the British Medical Journal (2004), observed very similar and significant results. Based uponthe Helena Heart Study, the Office of Smoking and Health, a division of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that, "people at risk of coronary heart disease should avoid exposure to secondhand smoke."

Merry Williams, chair of Citizens Against Unhealthy Smokefilled Environments, (C.A.U.S.E.) in Jefferson County said, "We have known that long term exposure is deleterious to health and that short term exposure can trigger asthma and other respiratory distress in vulnerable people, but we now know that short term exposure can be lethal for those at risk. This study reinforces our belief that the only acceptable response to the danger of secondhand smoke is to pass laws making all workplaces and public places 100% smoke-free without exception. It is not acceptable to leave a segment of the workforce unprotected, such as bar workers or bingo parlor employees, or to install costly ventilation systems that are proven ineffective in removing the health-harming components of secondhand smoke." The coalition stresses the importance of implementing comprehensive smoke-free workplace laws like the Pueblo law, in order to protect workers and the public at all workplaces, including bars, restaurants, bowling alleys and other locations were workers and patrons are exposed to secondhand smoke.

Currently, many efforts are in place in Jefferson County to protect children, workers and the general public from secondhand smoke. Recently, Jefferson County Public Schools expanded their Tobacco-Free Schools Policy. Schools are now mandated to provide education about the harms of secondhand smoke and are encouraged to have all school fundraisers and other activities occurring off-campus in 100% smoke-free venues. Also in Jefferson County, the city of Arvada passed its smoke-free law nearly a year ago and included city parks, trails and athletic fields. Jefferson County's citizen coalition, C.A.U.S.E continues to meet regularly with citizens in Golden and Lakewood to address the smoke-free needs of these communities.

Upcoming Tobacco Prevention Events in Jefferson County

• Great American Smoke Out - Student Peer Counselors at Green Mountain High School will be hosting a week of awareness activities to encourage their fellow students to quit tobacco for the annual Great American Smoke Out on November 17th, 2005. On that date, students ready to quit will participate in a day-long quit challenge and will be given support and encouragement from peer counselors. Contact Peer Counselor
  Coordinator Jay Lang between at Green Mountain High School (303) 982-9401 or Fran Taffer, JCDHE Youth Tobacco Prevention Specialist at 303-275-7556.
• C.A.U.S.E. Meeting November 30 , 2005 from 6:00-7:30pm - Please join CAUSE to discuss Pueblo Heart Study findings and address strategies to reduce secondhand smoke exposure in workplaces and public places. Green Mountain Vitamin Cottage, 12612 W. Alameda Pkwy in Lakewood.

For more information about The Pueblo Heart Study and its findings or second-hand smoke and tobacco cessation, please contact JCDHE's Tobacco Prevention Initiative Donna Viverette at (303) 275-7555 or Rhea Staniszewski at 303-275-7558.

For more information about C.A.U.S.E. or other local efforts, visit www.SmokeFreeJeffco.org.

The Pueblo Heart study was performed by a group of Pueblo researchers who brought in experts from the Colorado Prevention Center to help with the statistical evaluation and presentation of the data on this groundbreaking study,including: The University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Parkview Medical Center and St. Mary Corwin Medical Center of Pueblo, Pueblo City-County Health Department, Centura Health of Denver, and the Colorado Prevention Center.

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