The effect of smoking cigarettes on the peripheral blood flow

Abstract

The effect of smoking cigarettes on the peripheral blood flow was studied by means of a method with which the average amount of blood allotted to the periphery can be measured in c.c./M 2/Min. Peripheral blood flow was measured in ten normal male subjects. Effects on the electrocardiogram, basal metabolic rate, blood pressure, and pulse rate were also recorded. Studies were made before, during, and after the smoking of regular cigarettes, commercially denicotinized cigarettes, and cigarettes made from cornsilk. Observations were made on ten male subjects whose ages ranged from 19 to 36 years. Four observations relating to fully denicotinized cigarettes were made on three of the subjects. Measurements were made also when two of the subjects smoked cigarettes through a water pipe. 1. 1. As a result of smoking, a decrease in peripheral blood flow occurred in every instance, regardless of the type of cigarette smoked. After cessation of smoking, the peripheral blood flow continuedto decrease in some cases and began to return toward control levels in others. In all, a return toward normal had begun by the end of thirty minutes after smoking had stopped. 2. 2. An increase in blood pressure and pulse rate of essentially the same magnitude and duration resulted from smoking every type of cigarette. 3. 3. The average skin temperature decreased in all but five experiments. The hand temperature fell in every instance except two. The foot temperature always decreased. The decrease in foot temperature was greater than that in hand temperature on all but two occasions. 4. 4. Rapid reses in rectal temperature occurred in all experiments except one. These rapid rises in rectal temperature were considered an important index to peripheral blood flow. 5. 5. As the result of smoking, small increases in basal metabolic rate were observed about twice as often as small decreases. The change had no relationship to the kind of cigarette, and was of about the same amount and duration as the changes which occur when normal subjects lie in bed for the same length of time without smoking. 6. 6. The changes in the electrocardiogram were slight and probably of no significance. 7. 7. Since these changes occur after smoking cigarettes which do not contain nicotine as well as those which do, they are not to be attributed to nicotine. It is suggested that sympathetic stimulation brought about by the irritating effect of smoke upon the respiratory tract may be responsible for the changes we have observed. 8. 8. It appears that smoking not only regular cigarettes, but also denicotinized cigarettes or cigarettes of any type should be avoided in the presence of peripheral vascular disease.