DANGER OF SMOKING

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30154, 11 June 1963, Page 3

DANGER OF SMOKING

Heart Group’s Opinion

(N.Z P .A.-Reuter — Copyright) NEW YORK, June 8.

The American Heart Association today announced itself in favour of active steps to discourage cigarette smoking as harmful to health.

A report on smoking and cardio-vascular diseases prepared by a special committee of physicians and scientists said that a number of medical studies had demonstrated a statistical association between heavy cigarette smoking and increased mortality and morbidity from coronary artery disease.

A study in 1960 had shown that death rates in middleaged men from heart attack were from 50 to 150 per cent, higher among heavy cigarette smokers than among nonsmpkers. The report said that although the statistical association did not prove causal relationships, available data strongly suggested that heavy cigarette smoking contributed to, or accelerated, the development of coronary heart disease and its complications. In adopting the report, the Heart Association voted to work with other health groups in educational campaigns aimed at discouraging the general public, and particularly teen-agers and adults with high risk of coronary disease, from acquiring or persisting in the smoking habit.