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Thursday, January 14, 2009                                                   

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Rep. Tyler Olson

515-281-3221

New Study Shows Decrease in Heart Disease Since

Passage of Smokefree Air Act

DES MOINES, IA – State Representative Tyler Olson of Cedar Rapids was pleased to learn today that heart disease admissions in Iowa have decreased 24 percent since the Iowa Smokefree Air Act passed the Iowa House in 2008.

“I’m proud the Iowa Smokefree Air Act improved the health of Iowans and saved lives.  I’m glad the act is having the effect we anticipated when it was passed two years ago” said Olson.

A study conducted by the American Cancer Society examined data submitted to the Iowa Department of Public Health summarizing the number of monthly hospitalizations between July 2005 and June 2009 for cardiovascular diseases caused or made worse by smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke.  The 24 percent comes from comparing the hospitalizations since the Smokefree Air Act was passed to the previous three years.

“[The 24 percent] represents 2,324 fewer Iowans dealing with this condition; a result no one can ignore.  In less than two years, we are already seeing the public health benefits of this landmark piece of legislation, and for that our legislators and the governor should be commended,” said Dr. Christopher Squier of the Department of Oral Pathology at the College of Dentistry, University of Iowa.

The study also shows an eight percent decrease in hospital admissions for heart attacks and a five percent decrease in admissions for strokes.

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