Heart rate variability: a telltale of health or disease.

accompanied by cessation classes, was followed by apparent increases in smoking cessation by employees. Finally, it should be emphasized that in addition to skill building, nicotine replacement therapy, prescribing bupropion and social support one should realize that tobacco places an enormous burden on public health and society as a whole. A comprehensive strategy aiming at a smoking free society is necessary, including regulatory activities, protection of nonor ex-smokers at work and during leisure time activities (restaurants, public places, transport), de-legitimization of tobacco use and denormalization of the tobacco industry. Physicians and cardiologists should be at the forefront — leading the implementation of smoking cessation programmes in clinical practice. G. DE BACKER H. BOUDREZ Cardiac Rehabilitation Centre, University Hospital, Gent, Belgium References