Smoking Bans and PAP tests - You've Come a Long Way baby

Smoking Bans in public areas have become the norm. To see what effects this has had on general health, researchers looked at populations in both America and Europe.

Following the introduction of smoke-free policies, reductions of 10% were promptly seen in rates of premature birth. In addition, rates of pediatric asthma fell by 10%. 

California's extensive tobacco control program has had a 100-1 return on investment. Many other states still have a way to go, especially Nevada where we spend most of our time. Now if there was only a way to convince the casinos that it would improve profits.....

There is good and bad news concerning PAP tests. The current recommendation is that, in women who have not had a hysterectomy, PAP smears are unnecessary after the age of 65 after 3 normal ones. Unfortunately the statistics that this data was based on did not seem to take into account the higher rates of hysterectomy in older patients, and therefore underestimated the true rate of cervical cancer. It seems that we might have to continue screening at least to the age of 70.

The good news is that there is a DNA test for Human Papilloma Virus that can determine the risk of Cervical Cancer and eliminate those women who may not need further testing. The final recommendations are still in the works.