Has Your State Kicked The Habit?

Special to AOL

Our clothes smell better these days. As smoke-free ordinances have swept the country -- 25 states and more than 2,650 municipalities have some type of smoke-free regulations -- our throats also feel better, our eyes seem clearer, and our lungs are finally free of fumes.

That is, unless you live in one of the states or cities that hasn't yet enacted smoke-free legislation in public areas. The American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation estimates that 58% of the population is covered by at least one type of smoke-free law, but of course that means 42% isn't protected against second-hand smoke -- especially in restaurants and bars. While most states rely on local legislation to address the issue, ten states have completely snuffed out the smoke and require workplaces, restaurants and bars to be 100% smoke-free.

Need proof that the legislation makes a difference? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranked the states by death rate attributable to smoking, and of the ten states with the lowest death rates, nine have at least one smoke-free ordinance in the books. If you're a smoker, you might as well quit -- if not for your health, then because it will eventually be against the law!

LET'S CLEAR THE AIR

Breathe Easier
Smoking bans in public places can work for both patron and proprietor, according to studies. Restaurants and bars in New York City experienced a 90 percent reduction in secondhand smoke after adopting a smoking ban. (Some people still smoked, apparently--or maybe it's the fajitas?) And a recent study of California hotels found that the smoking ban has had no effect on revenue. So when you consider that secondhand smoke increases the risks of lung cancer, asthma, and heart disease, isn't it time to push for legislation that will empty ashtrays for good?

Pass a Law
Don't know how? The Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights organization, no-smoke.org, will help you draft a clean-indoor-air ordinance. And the organization will create an ad in your local paper. Get Clearing the Air: Citizen's Action Guidebook to find out how folks in other cities have already succeeded.

3 Reasons Why You Should Quit Now
QUIT NOW: Two days after you quit, nerve endings killed off by smoke start regenerating, and your ability to smell and taste is enhanced.
QUIT NOW: Within 20 minutes of that last cigarette, your blood pressure and pulse rate go down. If you can keep away from cigarettes for 24 hours, you'll automatically decrease your risk of heart attack.
QUIT NOW: After a year without cigarettes, you've cut your risk of heart disease in half. After 15 years, your risks of stroke and heart disease are similar to those of people who've never smoked, and your lung-cancer risk is cut in half.