Louisville, Ky. (WHAS11) -- Smoking is being banned in more and more places and a study in the journal 'Circulation' reports that restrictions really do lead to better public health.
Secondhand smoke can cause cardiovascular and respiratory disease and researchers found that anti-smoking laws brought about a 15 percent drop in hospitalizations from heart attacks and a 24 percent drop in hospitalizations from asthma and COPD.
The study found the greatest benefits when the laws included workplaces, restaurants and bars.
According to researchers, loopholes in the laws, like exemptions for casinos, mean more people end up in emergency rooms.
