[Influence of smoking on nasal airway resistance].
OBJECTIVE
To discuss the influence of smoking on nasal airway resistance (NAR).


METHODS
The unilateral and total NAR of 40 normal controls, 41 slight smokers and 42 heavy smokers were evaluated by anterior rhinomanometry before and after nasal decongestion.


RESULTS
Before nasal decongestion, the unilateral and total NAR of heavy smokers increased significantly (P < 0.05) compared with that of normal controls. After decongestion, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05). Whenever before or after decongestion, there was no significant difference between slight smokers and normal controls (P > 0.1).


CONCLUSIONS
Long-time and heavy smoking can enhance the NAR, which may be due to the chang of blood vessels in nasal mucosa.
Liu
Z
Z
Department of Otolaryngology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical University, Wuhan 430030.
Gao
Q X
QX
Cui
Y H
YH
Wang
C F
CF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D025363:Rhinomanometry; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*