Skip Navigation


Nicotine & Tobacco Research Advance Access originally published online on March 5, 2009
Nicotine & Tobacco Research 2009 11(2):126-133; doi:10.1093/ntr/ntp015
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Article Summary
Right arrow Article Summary
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
11/2/126    most recent
ntp015v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by An, L. C.
Right arrow Articles by Ahluwalia, J. S.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by An, L. C.
Right arrow Articles by Ahluwalia, J. S.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Symptoms of cough and shortness of breath among occasional young adult smokers

Lawrence C. An, Carla J. Berg, Colleen M. Klatt, Cheryl L. Perry, Janet L. Thomas, Xianghua Luo, Edward Ehlinger and Jasjit S. Ahluwalia

Lawrence C. An, M.D., Department of General Medicine,  University of Minnesota Medical School and university of Minnesota Cancer center, Minneapolis, MN
Carla J. Berg, Ph.D., Department of Medicine, University of  Minnesota Medical School and university of Minnesota Cancer center, Minneapolis, MN
Colleen M. Klatt, Ph.D., Department of General Medicine,  University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
Cheryl L. Perry, Ph.D., Division of Health Promotion and  Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Austin, TX
Janet L. Thomas, Ph.D., Department of medicine, University of  Minnesota Medical School and University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, MN
Xianghua Luo, Ph.D., Department of medicine, University of  Minnesota Medical School and University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, MN
Edward Ehlinger, M.D., M.S.P.H., Boynton Student Health  Service, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Jasjit S. Ahluwalia, M.D., M.P.H., Department of Medicine,  University of minnesota Medical School and University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, MN

Corresponding Author: Lawrence C. An, M.D., Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, University of Minnesota, 6-153 PWB, 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. Telephone: 612-624-6925. Fax: 612-624-3189. Email: lcan{at}umn.edu


  Abstract

Introduction: The perception of negative health consequences is a common motive for quitting smoking, but specific information on the immediate health effects of occasional smoking among young adults is limited.

Method: To examine the relationship between cigarette use and symptoms of (a) cough or sore throat and (b) shortness of breath or fatigue after regular activities among young adults, we performed online health screening of a random sample of 25,000 college undergraduates. The screening survey assessed demographic characteristics, smoking and related health behaviors, and respiratory symptoms in the previous 30 days.

Results: The response rate was 26% (6,492/25,000). Among individuals reporting no smoking in the prior 30 days and smoking on 1–4, 5–10, 11–20, or 21–30 days, the prevalence of one or more days of cough/sore throat increased from 62.5% to 68.3%, 72.0%, 71.4%, and 73.7%, respectively (p < .001). Similarly, the prevalence of shortness of breath/fatigue increased from 42.7% to 47.1%, 56.2%, 59.5%, and 64.6%, respectively (p < .001). After controlling for demographics, other important health behaviors (e.g., days consuming alcohol and getting adequate sleep), and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure, reporting symptoms of cough/sore throat was associated with smoking on at least 21 days, whereas shortness of breath/fatigue was associated with smoking on 5 or more days. Among those reporting symptoms, increased number of days with respiratory symptoms was associated with smoking on most days as well as ETS exposure.

Discussion: In conclusion, this cross-sectional study found that occasional smoking and ETS exposure were associated with an increase in the rate of respiratory symptoms (cough/sore throat and shortness of breath/fatigue) among young adults.

Received: December 10, 2007; Accepted: April 12, 2008
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.