DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v05i09.006

Pages: 3493-3501

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable premature morbidity and mortality in both developed and developing countries around the world. Cigarette smoking directly affects lungs whose normal functioning is essential for our survival. It is responsible for 90% of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema and lung cancer. This study is undertaken to highlight the effect of smoking on lung functions of smokers and thereby lead them in abstaining from smoking. To compare the lung functions of asymptomatic smokers with that of non-smokers. A total 300 healthy adult male subjects (150 non-smokers and 150smokers) of age group 20‐60 years were taken. FVC manoeuvres were recorded by spirowin2 spirometer. Parameters such as Forced Vital Capacity, Forced expiratory volume in 1st second, the ratio of FEV1/FVC, FEF 25‐75% and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate were assessed and analysed using the students ‘t’‐test and ANOVA (Analysis Of Variance) for multiple groups. Smoking had an negative impact on lung functions when compared to non-smokers and smokers showed a significantly greater percentage decline in FVC, FEV1, Ratio of FEV1/FVC, FEF25‐75% and PEFR. Our results suggest that smokers within few years of starting to smoke developed changes in pulmonary functions indicating early peripheral airway narrowing and that these effects worsen progressively with continued smoking.