[Comparative evaluation of oxygen supply during exercise in healthy persons in relation to smoking]

Seventy males aged 30-59 years who had no signs of coronary heart disease, as evidenced by the epidemiological criteria, and other risk factors were examined. The oxygen supply during exercise was comparatively assessed in relation to smoking. It was found that there were no significant differences in physical fitness parameters in terms of the volume of performed work, in the power of threshold exercise, and respective heart rate in smokers and non-smokers. However, the smokers displayed a double increase in oxygen debt, a substantial elevation of oxygen consumption per unit work at maximum exercise levels, prolongation of its recovery, a decrease in metabolic units, and a more substantial elevation of systolic and diastolic blood pressures. The oxygen and differential pulses were found to be significantly lower in smokers than in non-smokers.