A research team reported that imposing public smoking bans can significantly reduce the number of heart attacks.

One team found an immediate effect on cutting down the number of heart attacks by 17 percent in the first year, after smoking was banned in United States, Canada, and Europe. Another team discovered that the annual heart attack rate was reduced by 26 percent.

Both these findings support the initiation of public smoking bans to effectively reduce the rate of heart attacks.

Most of the countries have enacted public smoking laws and 32 States in America too have a ban on public smoking including some communities and workplaces. Though there are not enough initiatives taken aimed at adopting a national smoke-free law.

There are some areas which ban smoking in enclosed public places like restaurants and offices. Though imposition of this ban worries some businessmen who own casinos and bars since such a ban could run them out of business.

John Singleton, a spokesman for Reynolds American, the parent of R. J. Reynolds Tobacco says, "In venues such as bars, taverns and casinos that serve only adult customers, it should be up to the owners and operators to determine whether they should be able to accommodate smokers without the government coming in and imposing a one-size-fits-all kind of law".

Dr Sargent conducted an experiment by banning smoking and recording a downward rate in the number of heart attacks. He published the results which helped convince other communities to impose similar smoking bans."