So much effect so soon?
I'm no fan of smoking, but I have to admit to being skeptical of this, and with no good reason, except that it seems like too big a drop too soon after the smoking ban went into effect to take seriously. Either I don't understand smoking, or I don't understand heart attacks, or both. Maybe the Unabomber made me doubtful of all science-related publication coming out of Montana.

"A study published in today's British Medical Journal suggests that banning smoking in a community can result in an almost immediate drop-off in the number of heart attacks in that community.

The study, which was originally presented at the 52nd Annual College of Cardiology Scientific Session in 2003, examined the number of people in Helena, Mont., who were admitted to the hospital for a heart attack before, during and after a local ordinance banned smoking in public and workplaces. During the six months that the law was in effect -- June through November 2002 -- the number of heart attack admissions dropped by 40 percent compared to the same months the years before and after the law. There was no significant drop in admissions for people living outside Helena."

Helena has reversed its ban, by the way, pending review. So if the heart attack numbers go back up, then I'll have no choice but to believe this, right?