Research recently released in Italy which is based on new statistical data offers compelling evidence that having banned smoking in public places and workplaces may well have lowered the instance of heart attacks in Italy.

In 2005 Italy introduced their own Smoke Free law. In the surveyed period of time after this the University of Turin’s Dr Franceso Barone-Adesi reports a decline in heart attacks in those under sixty years old. The drop was a significant one, reaching eleven percent.

While it is too soon to conclude that the Italian smoking ban will have resulted in a longer term reduction in heart attack figures the University concludes that it certainly appear according to evidence gleaned so far that the short term effects appear positive.

Initial report published in the European Heart Journal, Oct 2006.