Acute Mucociliary Clearance Response to Aerobic Exercise in Smokers.
BACKGROUND
Mucociliary clearance is the main defense mechanism of the respiratory system, and it is influenced by several stimuli, including aerobic exercise and cigarette smoking. We evaluated the acute response of mucociliary clearance to aerobic exercise in smokers and nonsmokers compared with that found after acute smoking and smoking combined with exercise. Also, we investigated whether there was a correlation between mucociliary clearance and the autonomic nervous system under these conditions.


METHODS
Twenty-one smokers were evaluated for mucociliary clearance by saccharin transit time (STT), and the response of the autonomic nervous system was evaluated by heart rate variability after aerobic exercise, after exercise followed by smoking, after acute smoking, and after rest. For comparison, 17 nonsmokers were also assessed during exercise. Repeated-measures analysis of variance with the Tukey test or the Friedman test followed by the Dunn test was used to evaluate the STT, autonomic response, and other variables to exercise and/or smoking in smokers. A paired t test or Wilcoxon test was used to analyze responses to exercise in nonsmokers. Correlations were evaluated using Pearson or Spearman coefficients.


RESULTS
The STT was reduced after exercise in both groups, with similar responses between them. Other stimuli also reduced the STT. The STT showed a negative correlation with sympathetic activity in smokers and a positive correlation with the parasympathetic system in nonsmokers.


CONCLUSIONS
Although impaired in smokers, mucociliary clearance responded to the stimulus of exercise, as demonstrated by similar STTs compared with nonsmokers. This response was correlated with the autonomic nervous system in both groups. In smokers, mucociliary clearance also responded to the stimuli of smoking and exercise followed by smoking.
Department of Physiotherapy ercy@bol.com.br ercy@fct.unesp.br.
Ercy M C
EM
Ramos
Department of Physiotherapy.
Luiz Carlos M
LC
Vanderlei
Department of Physiotherapy.
Juliana T
JT
Ito
Department of Physiotherapy.
Fabiano F
FF
Lima
Department of Physiotherapy.
Fernanda M M
FM
Rodrigues
Department of Pulmonology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)/Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM), São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Beatriz M
BM
Manzano
Department of Physical Education, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil.
Rômulo A
RA
Fernandes
Department of Medicine, Universidade do Oeste Paulista (UNOESTE), Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil.
Michel J
MJ
Cecílio
Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Alessandra C
AC
Toledo-Arruda
Department of Physiotherapy.
Dionei
D
Ramos
D000328:Adult; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D045853:Exhalation; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009079:Mucociliary Clearance; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*
D002248:Carbon Monoxide
aerobic exercise; airway; autonomic nervous system; mucociliary clearance; physical exercise; smoking