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Haemorheological changes in the very short term after abstention from tobacco by cigarette smokers
Author(s) -
Rothwell M.,
Rampling M. W.,
Cholerton S.,
Sever P. S.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1991.tb08062.x
Subject(s) - fibrinogen , blood viscosity , plasma viscosity , hemorheology , cigarette smoking , plasma volume , medicine
A study was made of the haemorheological changes that took place in the days immediately following tobacco withdrawal from cigarette smokers. In both males and females substantial and persistent reductions in blood viscosity occurred within 2 d, the fall at high shear rate corresponding to about 8% while at low shear rate it was approximately twice as much. These changes were due partly to a fall in packed cell volume (PCV), but also to reductions in total plasma protein and fibrinogen concentrations which led to reductions in plasma viscosity and rouleaux formation. These plasma protein‐related changes were less pronounced in the female group. The results indicate that, even in the very short‐term, abstention from cigarettes leads to substantial improvements in the haemorheological profile of heavy smokers.