Manatee County Hospitals Become Tobacco-Free

Manatee Health System is proud to follow the example of other hospitals and health departments in Sarasota, DeSoto and Charlotte Counties who became tobacco-free in 2007, as well as other hospitals across the nation. The three Manatee County hospitals cite that health risks associated with tobacco use conflict with each of their objectives to provide a safe and healthy environment for patients, employees, physicians and visitors.

Establishment of this policy promotes the health, safety and comfort benefits of tobacco-free air and the special responsibility that hospitals have in maintaining and promoting a healthy and safe environment.

"The American Heart Association is an advocate for smoke-free workplaces at the state and local levels," said Dr. Bill Gower, past president of the American Heart Association's Greater Southeast Affiliate.

Risks of Tobacco According to the American Heart Association

Smoking increases the risk of coronary heart disease, increases blood pressure, decreases tolerance for physical activity and increases the tendency for blood to clot. It decreases HDL (good) cholesterol. Your risks increase greatly if you smoke and have a family history of heart disease. Smoking also creates a higher risk for peripheral artery disease and aortic aneurysm. It increases the risk of recurrent coronary heart disease after bypass surgery, too.

It's also important to avoid other people's smoke. The link between secondhand smoke and disease is known, and the connection to cardiovascular-related disability and death is also clear. Each year about 38,000 people die from heart and blood vessel disease caused by other people's smoke. Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25-30 percent.

Secondhand smoke kills an estimated 38,000 Americans annually, 35,000 of which are from heart disease. Thirty minutes of exposure to secondhand smoke stiffens coronary arteries, slowing the flow of blood to the heart muscle, making a person much more susceptible to a heart attack. Cigarette smoking is the most important preventable cause of premature death in the United States.

For more information, please contact Vernon DeSear, MMH Vice President of Marketing and Business Development, (941) 745-7306 or vernon.desear@mmhhs.com or Betty Chambliss, MMH Director of Promotions and Community Events, (941) 745-7545 or betty.chambliss@mmhhs.com.