Abstract
BackgroundSedentary lifestyle combined with smoking, contributes to the development of a set of chronic diseases and to accelerating the course of aging. The aim of the study was to compare the hemodynamic and nutritional parameters between elderly persons practicing regular physical activity, nonsmokers and ex-smokers.MethodsThe sample was comprised of 40 elderly people practicing regular physical activity for 12 months, divided into a Nonsmoker Group and an Ex-smoker Group. During a year four trimestrial evaluations were performed, in which the hemodynamic (blood pressure, heart rate- HR and VO2) and nutritional status (measured by body mass index) data were collected. The paired t-test and t-test for independent samples were applied in the intragroup and intergroup analysis, respectively.ResultsThe mean age of the groups was 68.35 years, with the majority of individuals in the Nonsmoker Group being women (n = 15) and the Ex-smoker Group composed of men (n = 11). In both groups the variables studied were within the limits of normality for the age. HR was diminished in the Nonsmoker Group in comparison with the Ex-smoker Group (p = 0.045) between the first and last evaluation. In the intragroup analysis it was verified that after one year of exercise, there was significant reduction in the HR in the Nonsmoker Group (p = 0.002) and a significant increase in VO2 for the Ex-smoker Group (p = 0.010). There are no significant differences between the hemodynamic and nutritional conditions in both groups.ConclusionIn elderly persons practicing regular physical activity, it was observed that the studied variables were maintained over the course of a year, and there was no association with the history of smoking, except for HR and VO2.
Highlights
Sedentary lifestyle combined with smoking, contributes to the development of a set of chronic diseases and to accelerating the course of aging
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), smoking is one of main causes of avoidable death and contributes to the morbidity and disability associated with many chronic illnesses
There is high association between obesity and arterial hypertension [15] and Body Mass Index (BMI) values above normality are related to the increase in mortality due to cardiovascular diseases [16,17]
Summary
Sedentary lifestyle combined with smoking, contributes to the development of a set of chronic diseases and to accelerating the course of aging. A sedentary lifestyle, combined with other risk factors such as smoking, contributes to the development of a set of chronic diseases and to accelerating the course of aging [1]. The alterations of aging itself reduce the aerobic capacity and make the elderly more prone to developing arterial hypertension, with smoking being a factor that aggravates this situation [5]. Obesity is another risk factor for developing cardiovascular diseases, and in this case smoking has a protective effect as regards putting on weight, probably because tobacco causes loss of appetite. The association between the smoking habit and mortality due to cardiovascular diseases has been acknowledged, and the protective effect of smoking against putting on weight in no way indicates protection against the risk of cardiovascular diseases [2,4,6]
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