Environmental tobacco smoke: association with cardiovascular function at rest and during stress

Chronic exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) contributes to cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality, and ETS alters cardiovascular performance during exercise stress. However, no study has examined whether those with ETS exposure have altered cardiovascular functioning during psychological stress, relative to those with no substantial ETS exposure. Seventy-eight healthy, nonsmoking adult men with either high levels of current ETS exposure at home and work or no current or significant lifetime ETS exposure were tested in a stress reactivity protocol. Blood pressure and heart rate were monitored during rest and during two psychological stressors. Those with high ETS exposure had significantly elevated heart rate and blood pressure at baseline, relative to those with no exposure. The groups did not differ on their cardiovascular stress responses. These data suggest that chronic ETS exposure is associated with altered cardiovascular functioning at rest, but not during stress. Results are discussed with regard to the role of ETS on the development of heart disease among nonsmokers.