Evaluation of Physiologic Responses to Woodsmoke Inhalation During Exercise in Blood Pressure-Sensitive/Chronotype-Stratified Individuals

Abstract

Introduction

We examined the physiologic alterations in respiratory and cardiovascular parameters during and after acute exercise under controlled woodsmoke inhalation conditions.

Methods

This study involved 20 recreationally active participants (10 males and 10 females) divided into groups based on their sensitivity to the cold pressor test (CPT⁺ vs CPT⁻) and their chronotype, as assessed by the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire. Participants completed a 120-min stationary cycling session at 50% VO₂max while exposed to woodsmoke at a concentration of 250 μg·m^–3. Assessments of heart rate variability, pulse wave velocity, blood pressure, pulmonary function testing, and oxidative stress were performed before, immediately after, and 24 h after exercise.

Results

In the CPT⁺ group, significant alterations were noted in the pulse wave velocity variable, augmentation index, and heart rate variability metrics of logarithmic transformation of high- and low-frequency powers of heart rate variability immediately following exercise, whereas no such changes were observed in the CPT⁻ group.

Conclusion

Classification of participants indicated a potentially susceptible subpopulation when exposed to a single acute exercise session in the presence of woodsmoke.