Passive smoking: minor exposure can cause major problems
28 May 2010
Just one hour of exposure to passive smoking may result in potentially serious effects on the heart and lungs.
Researchers exposed 17 healthy Greek adults to one hour of standard passive smoking levels in an environmentally controlled chamber. Immediately after, they recorded significant declines in their power output on an exercise bike (Heart 2010; 96: 860-64).
Male volunteers had a 36 per cent decreased mean power output compared to pre-exposure, while female volunteers recorded a 38.7 per cent decrease. The effect persisted for up to 3 hours after the smoke exposure.
Recovery heart rate and blood pressure were significantly increased by passive smoking, and lung function markedly deteriorated.
Last Reviewed: 28 May 2010
- 1. Flouris AD, Metsios GS, Jamurtas AZ, Koutedakis Y. Cardiorespiratory and immune response to physical activity following exposure to a typical smoking environment. Heart 2010; 96: 860-64. Abstract available at: http://heart.bmj.com/content/96/11/860.abstract?sid=a9e472bb-b4a6-44c1-abfd-6b43da0f5cee
