Smoking habits, chronic bronchitis and shortness of breath and physical fitness

Relationship between cardiovascular fitness (heart rate response to a submaximal step-test) and smoking habits, chronic lung disease, and ventilatory lung function was studied in 3,400 males and females (ages 16 to 69). It was observed that male smokers had significantly higher heart rates 1 min. after exercise than non-smokers, (P = 0.05). Female smokers had significantly higher heart rates at rest and following exercise. Male chronic bronchitics had significantly higher heart rates during exercise and recovery. Differences were not significant for female subjects. In the comparison of the heart rates in exercise or rest for those subjects with shortness of breath a significant difference was found in the recovery heart rates of males and at rest for females. In the comparison of the heart rate responses to exercise of subjects with high or low F.E.V.1.0 values, the differences across all ages were not significant. Age specific analyses indicated significant differences at particular age ranges.