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Just One Cigarette Stiffens Arteries
Reported October 30, 2009
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Canadian researchers say smoking even one time
significantly stiffens the arteries and negatively influences the body's
ability to cope with physical stress.
Young adults ages 18 to 35 who smoke as little as one cigarette increase the
stiffness of their arteries by 25 percent, a new study suggests, increasing
risk of heart disease and stroke.
Researchers measured the arterial stiffness of both young adult smokers
(five to six cigarettes daily) and non-smokers with a test that measured
arteries' response to the stress of exercise. An initial test was given to
both groups to establish baselines, where smokers were asked not to smoke
for 12 hours prior to the test. Smokers were then asked to smoke one
cigarette before the test, and chew one piece of nicotine gum before a third
test.
During the baseline test, non-smokers reduced their arterial stiffness by
3.6 percent after exercise. Even with a 12-hour tobacco abstinence window
before the test, smokers still increased their arterial stiffness after
exercise by 2.2 percent. When exercising after one piece of nicotine chewing
gum, stiffness increased by 12.6 percent. One cigarette raised stiffness by
24.5 percent.
“In effect, this means that even light smoking in otherwise young healthy
people can damage the arteries, compromising the ability of their bodies to
cope with physical stress, such as climbing a set of stairs or running to
catch a bus,“ Dr. Stella Daskalopoulou was quoted as saying. “It seems that
this compromise to respond to physical stress occurs first, before the
damage of the arteries becomes evident at rest."
In addition to stiffening arteries, smoking increases plaque buildup in the
arteries, increases risk of blood clots and high blood pressure, reduces
oxygen in the blood and doubles the risk of ischemic stroke.
SOURCE: Presented at the 2009 Canadian Cardiovascular Congress by Dr. Stella
Daskalopoulou |
