Abstract:
This study aims to determine the chronic effects of smoking on psycho- physiological performance and vasomotor response in healthy male volunteers with 20-45 years of age and working at the Police General Hospital. The volunteers were divided without randomization into 2 groups, 10 smokers and 10 nonsmokers. Then, the left arm and left leg of both groups were stimulated by hot water (42* C), cold water (12* C), aerobic exercise and anaerobic exercise to legs. Vasomotor responses, physical performance, psycho-neurological performances and Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI) changes before and after the above stimulations were measured. The results focused on four main outcomes: 1) In 'Psycho-neurological performance' before Astand exercise and Wingate exercise there was not a significant difference between both groups in terms of visual reaction time (VRT), response time and tapping speed. However, after exercise, warned auditory reaction time of the right big toe, warned tactile reaction time of the right lateral malleolus stimulation and the level of the right index finger response and warned tactile reaction time at 7th cervical spine level of the right index finger response were significantly higher in smokers than nonsmokers; 2) 'Physical performance' in nonsmokers in relation to oxygen consumption and agility was significantly higher than in smokers: 3) 'Vasomotor response' of blood vessels of upper and lower extremities in nonsmokers was significantly greater than in smokers after stimulation by hot water, cold water and aerobic exercise; and 4) A significant reduction of 'Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI)' in nonsmokers after both exercises was found, which was similar to vasomotor response found by volumeter. In conclusion, smoking is associated with reduction in physical performance, psycho-neurological performance and vasomotor responses. This may explain smoking related atherosclerotic changes of blood vessels and the severity may depend on duration of smoking and its amount of smoking.
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