Immediate Effects of Smoking on Healthy Young Men

• Published in: Public health reports (1896) Vol. 84; no. 2; pp. 121 - 126
• Main Authors: Fodor, J T, Glass, L H, Weiner, J M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States United States Public Health Service 01-02-1969
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Blood Coagulation Tests; Blood lipids; Blood Pressure; Carbon dioxide; Cigar smoking; Cigarette smoking; Cigarettes; Educational Measurement; Electrocardiography; Expired air; Fatty Acids - blood; Health Education; Heart diseases; Heart Rate; Humans; Index numbers; Male; Oxygen Consumption; Physical Exertion; Pretests; Smoking; Spirometry; Triglycerides - blood
• ISSN: 0094-6214; 2327-6258
• DOI: 10.2307/4593519

This study was made to attempt to identify the immediate effects of smoking on healthy young college men. In the first phase of the study, 200 smokers were compared with 200 nonsmokers concerning their differences in knowledge about smoking and health and in religious activities, academic experiences, and social relationships. Pretest differences were found in certain clinical tests. The smokers had higher levels of triglycerides and fatty acid type 18:1 than the nonsmokers. The smokers also had different patterns of expired air before smoking than the nonsmokers. The immediate effects of smoking that were observed included changes in the heart rate and in the T-wave of electrocardiograms, and changes in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure while smoking and during exercise. Smokers had faster blood clotting times after smoking than nonsmokers and were less efficient during work tasks; however, the differences in clotting time and in work efficiency between smokers and nonsmokers were not statistically significant.