Levels of maximum end-expiratory carbon monoxide and certain cardiovascular parameters following hubble-bubble smoking

OBJECTIVE: The physiological effects of cigarette smoking have been widely studied, however, little is known regarding the effects of smoking hubble-bubble. We examined the acute effects of hubble-bubble smoking on heart rate, systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure and maximum end-expiratory carbon monoxide.

METHODS: This study was carried out in the student laboratory, School of Medicine, Department of Physiology, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan, during the summer of 1999. In 18 healthy habitual hubble-bubble smokers, heart rate, blood pressure, and maximum end-expiratory carbon monoxide was measured before, during and post smoking of one hubble-bubble run (45 minutes).

RESULTS: Compared to base line (time zero), at the end of smoking heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial blood pressure, and maximum end-expiratory carbon monoxide were increased 16 ± 2.4 beats per minute, 6.7 ± 2.5 mm Hg, 4.4 ± 1.6 mm Hg, 5.2 ± 1.7 mm Hg, and 14.2 ± 1.8 ppm, (mean ± standard error of mean, P<.05).

CONCLUSION: Acute short-term active hubble-bubble smoking elicits a modest increase in heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial blood pressure and maximum end-expiratory carbon monoxide in healthy hubble-bubble smokers.