Acute Mucociliary Clearance Response to Aerobic Exercise in Smokers

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Mucociliary clearance is the main defense mechanism of the respiratory system, and it is influenced by several stimuli, including aerobic exercise and cigarette smoking. We evaluated the acute response of mucociliary clearance to aerobic exercise in smokers and nonsmokers compared with that found after acute smoking and smoking combined with exercise. Also, we investigated whether there was a correlation between mucociliary clearance and the autonomic nervous system under these conditions. METHODS: Twenty-one smokers were evaluated for mucociliary clearance by saccharin transit time (STT), and the response of the autonomic nervous system was evaluated by heart rate variability after aerobic exercise, after exercise followed by smoking, after acute smoking, and after rest. For comparison, 17 nonsmokers were also assessed during exercise. Repeated-measures analysis of variance with the Tukey test or the Friedman test followed by the Dunn test was used to evaluate the STT, autonomic response, and other variables to exercise and/or smoking in smokers. A paired t test or Wilcoxon test was used to analyze responses to exercise in nonsmokers. Correlations were evaluated using Pearson or Spearman coefficients. RESULTS:The STT was reduced after exercise in both groups, with similar responses between them. Other stimuli also reduced the STT. The STT showed a negative correlation with sympathetic activity in smokers and a positive correlation with the parasympathetic system in nonsmokers. CONCLUSIONS: Although impaired in smokers, mucociliary clearance responded to the stimulus of exercise, as demonstrated by similar STTs compared with nonsmokers. This response was correlated with the autonomic nervous system in both groups. In smokers, mucociliary clearance also responded to the stimuli of smoking and exercise followed by smoking.

Protective Effect of Aerobic Exercise on the Nasal Mucosa of Rats Against the Histopathologic Changes in Cigarette Smoke Exposure

“…However, no histopathological effect was reported in that study. 20 Although there are many studies showing that the effects of cigarette smoke on lung tissue can be prevented by regular aerobic exercise, there is no study evaluating the effect on the nasal mucosa, which is in the entry to the airways. [21][22][23] To the best of our knowledge, this is the first experimental animal study in the literature to demonstrate that regular aerobic exercise can prevent the harmful effects of smoking on the nasal mucosa.…”

Qualidade de vida de tabagistas e sua correlação com a carga tabagística

“…CO has affinity for hemoglobin in the blood, which carries oxygen to all tissues in the body. Therefore, chronic CO intoxication resulting from prolonged exposure may cause cumulative toxic effects such as headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, respiratory diseases, cardiac ischemia, heart disease, and even decreased physical capacity [22][23][24] .…”

Relações entre atividade física, tabagismo, transportabilidade mucociliar nasal e função pulmonar

“…Essa teoria foi comprovada clinicamente no estudo de Ramos et al [35], em que foi avaliado o transporte mucociliar nasal de 37 indivíduos (tabagistas e não tabagistas), após uma sessão de 20 minutos de caminhada em esteira ergométrica a aproximadamente 60% da capacidade máxima de exercício. Os autores observaram que o transporte mucociliar nasal foi acelerado imediatamente após o exercício aeróbio, tanto em tabagistas como em não tabagistas [35].…”

“…Em indivíduos não fumantes já foram observadas modificações do transporte mucociliar após estímulo aeróbio agudo, como verificou o estudo de Ramos et al [35]. Contudo, em relação aos efeitos crônicos do exercício sobre a transportabilidade mucociliar, não foram encontradas evidências.…”