Smoking key to shocking new heart disease figures

Campaigners from SmokeFree Liverpool have responded to a recent study which has linked high levels of smoking across Merseyside to an increased risk of serious heart disease amongst the region's pensioners - a third more than the national average.

The study, which was undertaken by Heart of Mersey, revealed that on average men across Merseyside smoked 1.6 more cigarettes per day than the national average of 14.5, whilst women smoked 14.2 per day, compared to the national average of 13.3 cigarettes. This was augmented by the fact that these figures rose by an average of 1.2 cigarettes in less affluent areas of the region.

Making for grim reading, these levels contributed towards the fact that male pensioners from Merseyside have a 10.7% higher chance of developing cardiovascular disease, including angina, stroke and high blood pressure. In total the study revealed 44.6% of men aged 65-74 across Merseyside developed serious heart disease, compared to the national average of 33%.

Andrea Crossfield, Programme Co-ordinator with SmokeFree Liverpool, said: "The link between smoking and heart disease is well documented, however we feel that it is important to point out that there is also a very strong link between passive smoking and the development of cardiovascular disorders."

"That is why we have been working extremely hard to ensure that all places of work, including those cafés, pubs and social clubs where a lot of Merseyside's older people spend a great deal of their time are smokefree."

At least 100 people die every year in Liverpool alone as a direct result of second hand tobacco smoke at their workplace, whilst numerous others develop a host of serious respiratory and coronary disorders.

Cigarettes contain over 4,000 chemicals with at least two of these; carbon monoxide and nicotine thought to be directly involved in causing coronary heart disease. As a result cigarette smokers are twice as likely to have a heart attack as non-smokers and for those smokers with high blood pressure and high cholesterol, the risk is eight times greater.

Councillor and member of the City Council's Social Care and Health Select Committee, Ron Gould said: "These recent figures have shown that smoking is one of the key contributory factors towards the high levels of heart disease across Merseyside. With one of the most marked levels of health inequality anywhere in the UK, we will continue to work extremely hard to ensure that these issues are addressed, including the push towards totally smokefree workplaces."

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For further information please contact Darren Nugent at Kenyon Fraser on 0151 706 9983 / 07970 131318

Note to Editors:

1. The SmokeFree Liverpool campaign supports the Liverpool Bill, which was initially delivered to Parliament in October 2004 and has recently undergone its second Parliamentary reading. The Bill is due for consideration by a Lord's committee in the autumn and from there expected to progress to the House of Commons and to be passed into law in the summer of 2006.

The legislation is being supported by SmokeFree Liverpool, a partnership between health groups, Heart of Mersey, Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, TUC in the North West and the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.

Under the Liverpool City Council (Prohibition of Smoking Places in Places of Work) Bill, any individual or business in breach of the new law will face fines of up to £5,000. The legislation is similar to laws already in force in Ireland, New York, Norway and Los Angeles.