Study of Autonomic Functions in Cigarette Smokers

Abstract

Introduction: Smoking is one of the most ancient and widespread man activities. The present study was chosen to determine sympathetic and parasympathetic activity in cigarette smokers and compare it with healthy age matched controls in order to find out what influence does smoking have on baroreceptor sympathetic and parasympathetic control mechanisms and to find out for any co-relation between duration of cigarette smoking and autonomic dysfunction.
Materials and Methods: Fifty cigarette smokers and fifty normal, healthy, nonsmokers were selected as age matched controls to study autonomic functions. Sympathetic functions were carried out by Cold Pressor Response test and Hand Grip test. Parasympathetic functions were tested by Determination of Heart Rate with change in posture and Sinus Arrhythmia.
Results: Smokers revealed more pronounced rise both in systolic as well as diastolic blood pressure as compared to normal healthy controls during cold pressor test. Smokers revealed more pronounced rise in both SBP and DBP as compared to nonsmokers during hand grip test. There was increased heart rate in initial 10 seconds when there is postural change i.e. lying down to standing in both the groups. There was an increase in heart rate during inspiration and decrease during expiration (sinus arrhythmia) both in smokers and healthy controls.
Conclusion: Cigarette smoking affects cardiovascular functions as indicated by rise in blood pressure in smokers than nonsmokers reflects the sensitivity of sympathetic activity to nicotine due to smoking. Thus the study concludes that smoking possibly has an effect on neurocardiovascular regulation system altering the sensitivity of ANS activity in habitual smokers.