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19/05/2003
Passive smoking is damaging to health says HPA
There is no doubt that passive smoking poses a serious risk to our health the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland stressed today.
Dr Brian Gaffney, Chief Executive of the Health Promotion Agency spoke out following the publication of research in the British Medical Journal questioning the health risks associated with passive smoking.
He said: “Reliable evidence shows that passive smoking causes lung cancer and heart disease. In addition, children are particularly susceptible to the effects of passive smoking and are more likely to develop serious respiratory and ear infections as a result.
"The statistics speak for themselves, every year in the UK at least 1,000 people die and 17,000 children are admitted to hospital with health problems because of passive smoking.
“Once again the public are receiving mixed messages and at the Health Promotion Agency we would like to clarify that passive smoking is indeed very damaging to health. The BMJ paper is based on outdated, unreliable and according to the British Medical Association, fundamentally flawed research.”
The Health Promotion Agency said it would continue to call for a ban on smoking in public places to provide further protection from tobacco smoke to non-smokers and children in Northern Ireland. Research shows that most people, including smokers, would welcome such a ban.
(MB)
Dr Brian Gaffney, Chief Executive of the Health Promotion Agency spoke out following the publication of research in the British Medical Journal questioning the health risks associated with passive smoking.
He said: “Reliable evidence shows that passive smoking causes lung cancer and heart disease. In addition, children are particularly susceptible to the effects of passive smoking and are more likely to develop serious respiratory and ear infections as a result.
"The statistics speak for themselves, every year in the UK at least 1,000 people die and 17,000 children are admitted to hospital with health problems because of passive smoking.
“Once again the public are receiving mixed messages and at the Health Promotion Agency we would like to clarify that passive smoking is indeed very damaging to health. The BMJ paper is based on outdated, unreliable and according to the British Medical Association, fundamentally flawed research.”
The Health Promotion Agency said it would continue to call for a ban on smoking in public places to provide further protection from tobacco smoke to non-smokers and children in Northern Ireland. Research shows that most people, including smokers, would welcome such a ban.
(MB)
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15 May 2003
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The Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland has urged local hospitals to unite in banning all smoking from their buildings following the news that Altnagelvin provides smoking rooms for staff and patients.
Agency urges hospitals to stub out smoking
The Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland has urged local hospitals to unite in banning all smoking from their buildings following the news that Altnagelvin provides smoking rooms for staff and patients.
03 June 2003
Report finds almost half NI population are overweight
Over half a million adults in Northern Ireland are overweight and a further 250,000 are obese, the Health Promotion Agency has revealed. The statistics also raised serious concerns about obesity in children here with a third of boys and a quarter of girls aged 12 carrying excess weight.
Report finds almost half NI population are overweight
Over half a million adults in Northern Ireland are overweight and a further 250,000 are obese, the Health Promotion Agency has revealed. The statistics also raised serious concerns about obesity in children here with a third of boys and a quarter of girls aged 12 carrying excess weight.
05 January 2005
HPA highlights dangers of passive smoking
The Health Promotion Agency (HPA) in Northern Ireland has launched a new campaign highlighting the dangers of passing smoking. Commenting on the issue, Chief Medical Officer for the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Dr Henrietta Campbell said she could not stress enough that “passive smoking kills”.
HPA highlights dangers of passive smoking
The Health Promotion Agency (HPA) in Northern Ireland has launched a new campaign highlighting the dangers of passing smoking. Commenting on the issue, Chief Medical Officer for the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Dr Henrietta Campbell said she could not stress enough that “passive smoking kills”.
09 November 2004
Nothing passive about second hand smoke: report
The Health Promotion Agency (HPA) today launched a hard hitting public information campaign tackling the subject of passive smoking in Northern Ireland. The campaign is the first such scheme in the province which aims to send out the clear message that there really is nothing passive about it – “passive smoking is harmful to health”.
Nothing passive about second hand smoke: report
The Health Promotion Agency (HPA) today launched a hard hitting public information campaign tackling the subject of passive smoking in Northern Ireland. The campaign is the first such scheme in the province which aims to send out the clear message that there really is nothing passive about it – “passive smoking is harmful to health”.
27 September 2004
Helpline receives 10,000 quit smoking calls
Around 10, 000 calls have been made to Northern Ireland’s smokers’ helpline since it was established last year, the Health Promotion Agency (HPA) said today. The figure was highlighted during the launch of the HPA’s 13th Annual Report today.
Helpline receives 10,000 quit smoking calls
Around 10, 000 calls have been made to Northern Ireland’s smokers’ helpline since it was established last year, the Health Promotion Agency (HPA) said today. The figure was highlighted during the launch of the HPA’s 13th Annual Report today.
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