Smoke affects functions of heart

Secondhand tobacco smoke and smoke from cooking oil and wood smoke affected cardiovascular function of men and women who were exposed to small doses of the smoke for as little as 10 minutes, according to a study from the University of Kentucky.

The study confirmed previous findings that tobacco smoke could possibly harm cardiovascular function. In addition, it extended those findings by showing that:

• cardiovascular responses during brief exposures were similar to those found during longer or higher-level exposures
• the response occurs with different types of smoke (tobacco, cooking oil and wood smoke)
• men respond to environmental tobacco smoke with a greater increase in indexes of sympathetic outflow to blood vessels than do women

The sympathetic nervous system produces the "fight or flight" response, which drives the heart and blood pressure and may cause damage if activated too long. Women respond with a greater parasympathetic response, dubbed "rest and digest," which acts as a brake on the heart and blood pressure.

The study, Autonomic responses of men and women to particulate exposures, was conducted by Joyce McClendon Evans, Abhijit Patwardhan, Ashwin Jayanthi and Charles Knapp of the University of Kentucky; Roger Jenkins and Ralph Ilgner of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory; and Eric Hartman of CustomKYnetics, Inc. Ms. Evans will present the findings during the 122nd annual meeting of The American Physiological Society, which is part of the Experimental Biology 2009 conference.

The meeting will take place April 18-22 in New Orleans.

The study found that, particularly among men, exposure to smoke changed breathing patterns, raised blood pressure oscillations in peripheral arteries and shifted control of heart rate toward sympathetic domination. The sympathetic nervous system becomes active during times of stress, but can cause harm to the heart and blood vessels if activated too often or too long.

Women did not have a strong sympathetic response to the pollutants, a healthier response in the face of frequent exposure. That men would respond differently is not a surprise: women tend to have stronger parasympathetic responses, which are more protective of the cardiovascular system, Ms. Evans said.

These results confirm results from earlier studies, but with exposures that were at lower levels and for shorter lengths of time. The study also extended the findings in several ways, including finding that men and women respond differently.


(Editor compiled and published Smoke affects functions of heart at HealthNewsTrack on April 18, 2009 sourced from American Physiological Society - http://www.the-aps.org/)

Smoking - recent articles and current news stories:

- Smoking linked to mental decline in men
- Nicotine patches and nicotine gum not effective in helping smokers quit long term
- Smoking causes stroke to occur 10 years before
- Stopping smoking boosts everyday memory
- Cigarette smoking implicated in half of bladder cancers in women

Smoking article/news source:

Read more health articles from American Physiological Society and health articles from USA.

Smoking - search related terms:

Breathing, Cardiovascular function, Heart, Secondhand tobacco smoke, Smoke, Smoking, Tobacco,
Smoking books,

Searched keywords: functions of the heart (5),

Subscribe to Health News by Email

List health news, Health organizations, Health news world, Glossary, Best health articles, Featured     Go to top

The information provided on Health Newstrack is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her physician. We comply with the HONcode principles for trustworthy health information, and Health News Track is hon code accredited, verify here.
About us, Site map Privacy policy, Disclaimer
© 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 HealthNewsTrack.com
1.45