Acute effects of cigarette smoking on total respiratory resistance measured by partial airway occlusion

Acute effects of inhalation of cigarette smoke on total respiratory resistance (Rrs) were studied by the partial airway occlusion method in five normal subjects. It was found that all five normal subjects were responders, though in two subjects the response was relatively weak. The results also demonstrated that the partial airway occlusion method is sensitive enough to detect the effects of cigarette smoking on Rrs. From the scatter of the individual data, it seems that the variation, or instability of response, is larger immediately after smoking compared with control. Since one of the subjects complained of dizziness when his resistance was not significantly increased, it is possible that systemic absorption of nicotine from inhalation of cigarette smoke is not necessarily related to increased Rrs.