The Implications of Sidestream Cigarette Smoke for Cardiovascular Health

The relationship between sidestream cigarette smoke and the physiological parameters of work capacity, heart rate, blood pressure, and blood carbon monoxide levels were determined for 32 women categorized into four smoking groups: nonsmokers, light, moderate and heavy smokers. Six tests per subject were conducted, utilizing three smoke exposures (20 ppm CO) and three nonexposure sessions during 15 minutes of treadmill exercise. During smoke exposure, heart rate increased at rest, six and nine minutes of exercise. Non-smokers experienced significantly greater blood pressure response than smokers during smoke exposure. Light smokers and nonsmokers had a larger oxygen consumption during recovery and the nonsmokers gained an average of 1.5 percent COHb during exposure sessions compared with a mean loss of 1 percent COHb for all smokers. Work capacity was decreased as a result of sidestream cigarette exposure.