ACUTE INFLUENCE OF THE TOBACCO IN THE BLOOD PRESSURE, HEART RATE AND POSTEXERCISE HYPOTENSION IN YOUNG MALE SMOKERS

Abstract

Introduction: It was investigated the impact of tobacco abstinence on blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) in response to an aerobic exercise session. Materials and Methods: Five smokers (23.6±1.9 years), previously sedentary, performed three treadmill exercise sessions lasting 30 minutes with intensity between 60 and 70% HRmax, maintaining abstinence from six hours (ABS), smoking a cigarette five minutes before exercising (FIM) or 1 hour after smoking a cigarette (F1H). A group of nonsmokers (23.2 ± 0.4 years) performed a control session (CON). HR and BP were monitored before, during and after exercise sessions. The data were presented as mean and standard error. ANOVA test was used, with Tukey post-hoc test to compare procedures. Results: HR and BP were similar during and immediately at the end of the exercise for all situations (p less than 0.05). However, 30 minutes after exercise, the diastolic BP was found to be increased by FIM (77.6±3 mmHg) compared with control (p less than 0.05), while in ABS, F1H and CON reduction occurred (68.5 ± 3, 71.6 ± 4 and 66.0 ± 6 mmHg respectively) with no significant difference. Conclusion: smoking abstinence does not alter the responses of HR and BP in smokers during exercise, but reduces the benefits of acute exercise on reducing post-exercise BP. DESCRIPTORS Blood Pressure. Physical Exercise. Tobacco. Nicotine.