title: Sidestream cigarette smoke and cardiac autonomic regulation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The literature has already demonstrated that cigarette influences the cardiovascular system. In this study, we performed a literature review in order to investigate the relationship between sidestream cigarette smoke (SSCS) and cardiac autonomic regulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Searches were performed on Medline, SciELO, Lilacs and Cochrane databases using the crossing between the key-words: "cigarette smoking", "autonomic nervous system", "air pollution" and "heart rate variability".
  
  
  RESULTS
  The selected studies indicated that SSCS exposure affects the sympathetic and parasympathetic responses to changes in arterial blood pressure. Moreover, heart rate responses to environmental tobacco smoke are increased in smokers compared to non-smokers. The mechanism involved on this process suggest increased oxidative stress in brainstem areas that regulate the cardiovascular system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further studies are necessary to add new elements in the literature to improve new therapies to treat cardiovascular disorders in subjects exposed to sidestream cigarette smoke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech Language and Hearing therapy, Faculty of Philosophy and Sciences, UNESP, Av, Higyno Muzzi Filho, 737, Marilia, SP 17,525-900, Brazil. vitor.valenti@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Vitor E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Valenti
authors.forename: Luiz Carlos M
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Vanderlei
authors.forename: Celso
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Fernando L A
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.forename: Fernando R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Fernando H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Luciano M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Carlos B M
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Adami
authors.forename: Rubens
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wajnsztejn
authors.forename: Luiz Carlos
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: de Abreu