From Representative Roberto Alonzo
Capitol Report
According to the Mayo Clinic researchers have compiled more evidence that secondhand smoke kills and smoke-free workplace laws save lives. Their research suggests that the incidence of heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths was cut in half among Olmstead County Minnesota residents after a smoke-free ordinance took effect.
The population-based study showed that during the 18 months before Olmstead Countys first smoke-free law for restaurants was passed in 2002 the regional incidence of heart attacks was 212.3 cases per 100000 residents. In the 18 months following a comprehensive smoke-free ordinance in 2007 in which restaurants and workplaces became smoke-free that rate dropped to 102.9 per 100000 residents - a decrease of about 45 percent. Additionally during these two time periods the incidence of sudden cardiac death fell from 152.5 to 76.6 per 100000 residents - a 50 percent reduction.
After the ordinance took effect adult smoking dropped 23 percent during the same time frame as the rates of other risk factors for heart attack such as high blood pressure high cholesterol diabetes and obesity remained stable or increased.
In Texas approximately 17.9 percent of adults smoke according to 2009 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and 21.2 percent of high school students smoke according to 2009 data from CDCs Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System.
According to the CDC secondhand smoke contributes to heart disease lung cancer sudden infant death syndrome and other serious health problems. Twenty-eight states have adopted smoke-free workplace laws.
* Material Partially excerpted from the Texas Association of Health Plans (TAHP
Capitol Health Beat Newsletter Jan 2012 Edition
Quick Tips to Lower Your Heating Bills During the Winter Months
You do not have to shiver through the winter or wear your winter coat to bed just to save a few bucks on heating this winter. According to Electric Notes from the
Texas Co-op Power magazine (January 2012 edition) there are five easy ways to lower your energy bill and stay comfortable too. Those 5 include:
(1). TURN THE THERMOSTAT DOWN BY JUST ONE DEGREE. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that you can save 3 percent on your heating bill for every degree you set your thermostat back during the winter - as long as you leave it there.
(2). TURN OFF EXHAUST FANS IN THE KITCHEN AND BATHROOM as soon as the smell of steam is gone. It does not take long for those fans to flow all of the warm air out of your house.
(3). CLOSE THE FIREPLACE DAMPER when you are not burning a fire. An open damper is a hole in your house that sucks heated air out and invites cold winter air in.
(4). MOVE FURNITURE AND RUGS AWAY FROM HEATING VENTS so that so air can circulate freely. That will make your heating systems work a lot easier.
(5). OPEN CURTAINS OR BLINDS ON SOUTH-FACING WINDOWS on sunny days so the suns warmth can radiate into the house. Close them at night to help trap the heat indoors.
