SHISHA SMOKING AND ITS EFFECT ON THE PULSE WAVE VELOCITY AND OTHER HEMODYNAMIC PARAMETERS

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effect of Shisha Smoking (ShS) on the pulse wave velocity (PWV) and other hemodynamic parameters.
Subjects and Methods:  In ten healthy men, age 31.2±8.5 years (mean ± SD). Arterial stiffness measurements were investigated by non-invasive applanation tonometry (Sphygmo-Cor) over the right radial and carotid arteries, while in seated position, after 15 minutes rest, during optimal conditions and at the same diurnal time. The baseline measurements were taken before (ShS), (after >12 hours of smoking cessation with a complete stopping of alcohol, coffee or tea drinking). The measurements for the Pulse Wave Analyses (PWA) for  radial (-ra) and aortic (-ao) blood pressure (systolic: SP, diastolic: DP, pulse: PP and mean: MP),  and (PWV) were repeated after the (ShS) session, which lasted 30 min. for smoking 5g of fruit-flavoured tobacco (Ma'assel).
Results: Compared with baseline, an increase after (ShS) was found in carotid-radial pulse wave velocity (brachial-PWV) (p=0.038), with a positive correlation between the PWV and DP (r=0.363 and p=0.021). Increases were found in SP-ra (p=0.082 NS), DP-ra (p=0.023) MP-ra (p=0.080 NS), non-significant (NS) increases in SP-ao, DP-ao (p=0.064) and MP-ao.
Conclusions: The results confirm that the Shisha smoking has a significant effect on arterial tone and acutely increases arterial blood pressure and stiffness.