The Comparative Effects on Circulation of Smoking Tobacco and Lettuce Leaf Cigarettes

Abstract

A comparison of the changes in pulse rate, blood pressure, and skin temperatures during and after smoking of 2 tobacco cigarettes and 2 lettuce leaf cigarettes was carried out in 10 healthy subjects. The average maximal increases in pulse rate and systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 22 beats/min. 9 mmHg and 10 mm Hg and 4 beats/min. 4 mmHg and 5 mm Hg with the tobacco and lettuce cigarettes, respectively. These differences between responses were statistically significant (p<0.05). Average finger skin temperature decreased to a maximum of 4.5[degree]C with the tobacco and 3.1 [degree]C with the lettuce cigarettes. Smoking of lettuce leaf cigarettes had less effect on the circulation than smoking of tobacco cigarettes, when measured by these parameters.