What Researchers Did
Researchers measured how gas levels change in muscle and skin tissue of smokers versus non-smokers during hyperbaric oxygen exposure.
What They Found
This physiological study measured tissue gas levels in smokers and non-smokers during two hyperbaric oxygen protocols at 2 ATA, finding that smokers released nitrogen from muscle tissue more slowly than non-smokers in both protocols (p equals 0.02 and p equals 0.022). There was no significant difference between smokers and non-smokers in how much oxygen loaded into muscle or skin tissue during hyperbaric oxygen exposure. Carbon dioxide levels decreased over time while breathing oxygen at 2 ATA in both protocols, but increased while breathing air at 2 ATA. All tissue gas levels changed significantly as pressure and breathing gas were altered (p equals 0.00001).
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
The study measured tissue gas tensions in a small physiological setting rather than clinical outcomes, and the abstract does not report the number of participants involved.