Pulmonary Function in Military Divers: Smoking Habits and Physical Fitness Training Influence

Abstract

Pulmonary function (PF) tests are procedures that measure the function of the lungs, revealing problems in breathing, and therefore are highly important in diving. In this article, we studied the PF in military divers and defined the differences between (A) males (n = 32) and females (n = 27), (B) male smokers and nonsmokers, and (C) female smokers and non-smokers. PF was established by measuring: the large airway variables: inspiratory-vital capacity, forced-vital capacity, 1-second forced-expiratory volume, and 1-second forced-expiratory volume:forced-vital capacity ratio; and small airway variables: peak-expiratory flow, maximal-mid-expiratory flow, and maximal-expiratory flow after 50% and 75% of exhalation, all in absolute and relative (predicted for age and stature) values. The t test showed a significant (p < or = 0.05) difference between smokers and nonsmokers, but only in the relative inspiratory-vital capacity. A multivariate analysis of the variance revealed significant differences between smokers and nonsmokers in large airway variables for males and females. The possible explanations regarding the metrics, the variable relationships, and the influence of physical fitness training are discussed.

Substance use and misuse in the Croatian Army Special Forces: prevalence and influencing factors

“…For numerous reasons (smoking-related illness, increased injury risk, reduced physical fitness, increased healthcare costs, and lower productivity), it is crucial to reduce smoking behavior in military units [11,13]. Regardless of all efforts, smoking prevalence in the military forces has appeared to change little during the last decade [29].…”

“…It all constitutes an occupation-specific environment which indirectly "stimulates" SUM [7][8][9][10]. At the same time, studies on military subjects have defined a pronounced influence of SUM on decreased physical readiness, higher injury occurrence, and overall limited duties, lost productivity, and personnel shortages [11][12][13][14]. It is generally accepted that investigating predictors of SUM will assure effective prevention with the aim of decreasing the SUM prevalence [15][16][17][18][19].…”

Diving Health: Principles of medical & physical fitness

“…The investigation by Sekulic and Tocilj (2006) was concerned primarily with one of the major diving health issues, smoking habit. Sekulic and Tocilj studied a sample of military divers, because, in their view, diving is more demanding in the military community than it is for commercial and recreational divers.…”

“…Their research objective was to find evidence that a certain exercise regimen for divers could minimise VGE events and concomitantly DCS. In another study based article "Pulmonary Function in Military Divers: Smoking Habits and Physical Fitness Training Influence," Sekulic and Tocilj (2006) investigated the impact of physical fitness training among smoking and non-smoking divers. As a follow-up of a review of the aforementioned articles, we discuss some of the published opinions on diving health and diving diseases.…”

Comparison of VO2 Max Prediction Value, Physiological Response, and Borg Scale between 12-Minute and 3200-Meter Run Fitness Tests among Indonesian Army Soldiers

“…1,2 One of several efforts to maintain and increase the degree of physical condition of a soldier is by conducting a physical fitness test to monitor the soldier's physical fitness that the soldiers achieve strong physical endurance and are prepared for every duty. 3,4 One of the components of physical fitness that plays a very important role is the cardiorespiratory endurance or aerobic capacity.…”