ESSAY

BAY AREA PHYSIO Title: The Effects of Smoking on Vital Capacity Abstract: Introduction: ​It is no secret that smoking has negative effects on the body and is a risk factor that leads to other diseases. This study investigates whether smoking influences Vital Capacity in the lungs. Objectives: ​To test if smoking directly impacts Vital Capacity in the lungs. Methods: ​The study takes spirometry data sets from four scientific articles and one data set from physiology students at CCSF. Each participant underwent a variety of tests such as completing questionnaires, COPD Assessment Test, and respiratory function tests with the spirometer. Results:​ There were positive correlations in the decrease in lung vital capacity between those who smoked versus non smokers. The data set found by students differed from the other data sets by finding some cases where lung vital capacity increased. Conclusions: ​Although the data set found from physiology students differed slightly from the results of the four scientific articles, all of the other studies came to the conclusion that lung vital capacity along with other pulmonary functions decreased when the individual was regularly smoking. The irregular findings by the students may be due to factors of inexperience inputting data, human error, or participants answering the questionnaire incorrectly.

Introduction:

​ Smoking has a major impact on the vital capacity. In addition, the main issue with smoking today is that the rate of smoking among youth is gradually increasing day by day (1). Similarly, smoking causes fatal health issues with the respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses being the main cause of death among the youths. Due to the negative impact that smoking has on our bodies, we decided to conduct research that would in finding out more about the impact of smoking on the vital capacity. Research Question: What effect does daily smoking have on the vital capacity of those that smoke daily?

According to many scientists, smoking has a major impact on the pulmonary function of individuals (1). Smoking mainly decreases the pulmonary function involved in forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume (FEV) in a second. Cigarettes tend to lead to deficits in FVC and FEV which leads to airway disease in adults and in smokers (1). In addition, according to Sergio and his colleagues, the impacts of cigarette smoking found in youths may result in issues with the respiratory system. Smokers do not present any effects of smoking until they are in the 50s or 60s (2). The patient will display a reduced FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio. FEV1 is the forced expiratory volume in a second and FVC refers to the forced vital capacity.

These effects are most prevalent in socioeconomically deprived individuals who are people who have the highest prevalence of smoking (2).

In addition, according to the researchers, there is a reduction in pulmonary function in smokers that did not carry out any physical exercise. The real rate of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), can be identified through evaluating salvia cotinine levels. The effect of smoking on health can be assessed through correlation with accurate ETS exposure rates. Smoking has been proven to fatally affect the pulmonary and cardiovascular function is mainly associated with chronic illnesses in the systems, pulmonary conditions can be identified by evaluating a number of respiratory set points such as the vital capacity, the tidal volume, as well as the ration of forced expiratory volume in a second to Vital capacity.

Generally, the FEV/FVC ratio is normally lower in smokers in comparison to non-smokers and ex-smokers. In addition, females tend to have a higher FEV and FVC ratio. Cigarette smoke contains toxic elements that can lead to asthma and respiratory infections in adults and children. Smoking makes one vulnerable to a number of respiratory issues. Basically, our main aim in this study is to identify the effects of smoking on the vital capacity. Therefore, on the basis of our research, we will have a reverse standpoint with CCSF student data which is about 102 students and 16 students smoking daily or several times per week and students who only have low effect with FEV and FVC.

Experimental Design and Methods: The information we have about the subjects is age, gender, height in centimeters, weight in kilograms if they smoke, and physical activity. Each of the 102 students in CCSF all contributed to the data set using a spirometer to measure lung capabilities that were used to measure their total lung capacity (TLC) (liters) which is a summation of their inspiratory reserve volume (IRV), tidal volume (TV), and expiratory reserve volume (ERV). Smoking features a direct effect on the systema respiratorium. The experiment is to be carried out with two different groups (smokers and non-smokers) to evaluate prolonged smoking effects on lung function and capacity. To measure the pulmonary capacity and performance, the groups should undergo tests in order to determine the forced vital capacity (FVC), maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV), and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) using a spirometer. The data should be recorded and then analyzed using statistical methods to correlate the association of smoking and lung capacity (3). According to a study to determine the consequences of smoking on chest expansion, lung function, and respiratory muscle strength of youths by the Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, all respiratory function tests demonstrated significant differences between the smoking and non-smoking groups (3). Smokers started smoking between the ages of 15 and 18. The foremost common smoking time was 1-3 years, and young people were less dependent on nicotine. Previous studies have shown

that smoking affects pulmonary function in adults. They found that smoking reduced lung function, including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, and forced expiratory flow of 25-75% (FEF25-75%). Smoking can result in FEV1/FVC and FEF25-75 deficiency, which indicates that adult smokers have airway obstruction and small airway disease (3). In the study, a respiratory function test was conducted which consisted of the measurement of chest expansion, the lung function test using spirometry, and respiratory muscle strength (3). To measure the circumference and diameter of the chest circumference, subjects were instructed to inhale and exhale completely in a standing position. The difference between full inspiratory and expiratory was recorded as chest distention. The diameter of the chest was measured with a caliper in the anteroposterior and medial directions of the sternum junction. The micro plus spirometer is used to measure lung function. The parameters of pulmonary function were expiratory volume in the first second (FEV 1) and forced vital capacity (FVC). Before the measurement, the subjects were instructed to quickly and completely inhale. The test demonstration included correct posture, head slightly raised, mouth position, and exhaled with maximum force. All parameters were recorded in three experiments, with the best values for one used in the analysis. In the results, the chest expansion of the non-smoker group was significantly greater than that of the smoker group (3). Results: ​A direct relationship was shown between the amount of time smoking and decreased pulmonary function. The graph in figure 1a displays how after more than 10 years of smoking pulmonary function accelerated downwards, showing that more regular smokers had far more decreased lung function.

(1a)

(1b)

(1c) DISCUSSION: Though there is data that supports our hypothesis, however, our conclusions from the data from CCSF is contradictory. The CCSF student data that was provided did not contribute to our hypothesis. The data concerns 102 students from CCSF and only 16 of those students were either “Daily Smokers” or smoked “several times per week”. From those 16 students, many had vital capacities that were lower than normal, however, 5 of those students had abnormally high vital capacities, ranging from 115% to 152%. It seems that these data percentages are outliers in comparison to the resources that we found, because current understanding in the field provide ample evidence that supports our hypothesis: that people who smoke have decreased vital capacity. The data sample from CCSF does not include enough smokers versus non-smokers and thus, gives us a skewed result.

Over the years, scientific studies have found that smoking decreases vital capacity (1-4) and “greater limitation of activity” (New England Journal). There are also studies that cover smoking within youth communities that also show a “direct effect on the respiratory system (2). Works Cited:

1. Tommola, M., Illmarinen, P., Tuomisto, L., Haanpaa, J., Kankaanranta, T., Niemela, O., Kankaanrantu, H. The effect of smoking on lung function: a clinical study of adult-onset asthma. European Respiratory Journal​,​ 2016;​ 4​ 8​. Available from ​​DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00850-2016

2. Sergio, R., Jorge, M., Mariana, M., Sergio, C., Esperanza, S., Julain, C. Effects of

Smoking and Physical Activity on the Pulmonary Function of Young University Nursing Students in Cáceres (Spain). Journal of Nursing Research. 2019; 27(5). Available from Doi: 10.1097/jnr.0000000000000322

3. Tantisuwat A, Thaveeratitham P. Effects of smoking on chest expansion, lung function, and respiratory muscle strength of youths [Internet]. Journal of physical therapy science. The Society of Physical Therapy Science; 2014 [cited 2020Sep28]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3944281/

4. Echeveste S, Vidor D, Santos K. Association between Lung Function and Vocal

Affections Arising from Tobacco Consumption. International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2020Sep25];18(01):011–5. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273375708_Association_between_Lung_Functi on_and_Vocal_Affections_Arising_from_Tobacco_Consumption

5. Woodruff PG, Barr RG, Bleecker E, Christenson SA, Couper D, Curtis JL, et al. Clinical

Significance of Symptoms in Smokers with Preserved Pulmonary Function. New England Journal of Medicine [Internet]. 2016 [cited 2020Sep25];375(9):895–7. Available from: ​https://www-nejm-org.ccsf.idm.oclc.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa1505971