Adverse Effects of Cigarette and Noncigarette Smoke Exposure on the Autonomic Nervous System
Key result
Smoke exposure increases sympathetic nerve activity and blunts baroreflexes, though cessation may restore autonomic function.
Why the study?
Does exposure to cigarette and noncigarette smoke adversely affect autonomic function?
Design
Review
Authors
Discussion
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Member takes
Key expert perspectives
Captured external expert commentary on this paper, strongest first. Original sources are linked where available.
LSLawrence SinowayDirector, Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute
“When the sympathetic nervous system fires, like with MSNA, your blood pressure rises and then a series of things happen to buffer that increase, to try to attenuate it. We think that in smokers, that buffering — the baroreflex — is impaired.”
JCJian CuiAssociate professor of medicine, Penn State
“The greater rise in blood pressure in response to MSNA may contribute to a higher resting blood pressure level in smokers without hypertension. It's possible that this higher response to MSNA could also contribute to the eventual development of hypertension.”
JMJoyce McClendon EvansResearcher, University of Kentucky
“I was surprised we got statistically significant results with this low level of exposure. If we can detect these effects with smaller exposures, then the public health hazard from cigarettes and other particulate exposures may have been underestimated.”
Implication
Smoking cessation counseling should emphasize autonomic recovery; supports consensus on benefits but leaves mechanistic interventions open for trials.
Key Points
- This review aims to understand how exposure to cigarette and noncigarette smoke affects autonomic nervous system function.
- Summarizes mechanisms of smoke exposure effects on the autonomic system
- Focuses on sympathetic nerve activity and baroreflex function
- Explores implications for various smoke sources including tobacco and air pollution.
- Increased sympathetic nerve activity is correlated with nicotine and particulate matter exposure.
- Baroreflex sensitivity is reduced in habitual smokers, allowing unchecked sympathetic activation.
- Smoking cessation can restore baroreflex sensitivity and improve autonomic function.
Structured PICO
Does exposure to cigarette and noncigarette smoke adversely affect autonomic function?
P
Population
Individuals exposed to cigarette and noncigarette smoke (including habitual smokers)
E
Exposure
Exposure to cigarette and noncigarette smoke (including marijuana, waterpipes, electronic cigarettes, and air pollution)
C
Comparator
Non-exposure or smoking cessation
O
Outcome
Autonomic function and sympathetic nerve activitysurrogate
This review highlights the mechanisms by which smoke exposure increases sympathetic nerve activity and suppresses baroreflex sensitivity, reinforcing the cardiovascular benefits of smoking cessation.
Cite This Study
Middlekauff et al. (2014) conducted a review in Smoke exposure. Cigarette and noncigarette smoke exposure was evaluated on Autonomic function and sympathetic nerve activity. Cigarette and noncigarette smoke exposure increases sympathetic nerve activity and attenuates baroreflex suppression, though autonomic function may be restored after smoking cessation.