Studies have identified a number of effects experienced by smokers during exercise that are not found among non smokers. This implies that the identified effects are usually caused by indulgence in smoking which harms rather than benefit the body. Some of these effects include fixation of carbon dioxide in smokers’ blood system which reduces the amount of oxygen within the blood. Oxygen is greatly demanded in the body of either smokers or nonsmokers and when their amount is deficient, the body encounters difficulties to endure during exercise.
Hence, smokers take shorter time periods in exercise as they get tired quickly as compared to nonsmokers. This weakness is presented in form of fatigue whereby smokers’ muscles wear off with increased smoking instances, hence becoming weak. This makes smokers to experience lower resistance to fatigue and end up becoming highly susceptible to injuries during exercise. Other effects are those related to airways resistance where the space available in airways reduces considerably to a point that it allows minimal amounts of oxygen compared to the situation with non-smokers.
THE EFFECT OF SMOKING ON PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE DURING EXERCISE Introduction There are a number of effects that human beings experience when they indulge in smoking practice including inefficient physical performance. When someone smokes a cigarette its effects are immediately experienced in his his/her physical capability. This is caused by situation where carbon dioxide is inhaled and on getting in someone’s body, it attaches itself on blood cells. Studies have shown that an oxygen decrease of four percent is experienced by young adults who smoke.
Smoking does not only interfere with blood transportation but also compresses blood vessels making them hold minimal amounts of blood. This hinders appropriate distribution of oxygenated blood within muscles while undergoing exercises. The metabolic process is in turn affected and its impact is presented in accumulation of an acid known as lactic inside the cells which makes exercising difficult. These form the main effects to exercise resulting from smoking that are experienced immediately smoking takes place but there are others that occur after a longer period of indulging in smoking. (Thaulow, 1999)
Reduced Endurance Smokers experienced low endurance levels while exercising where they find it difficult to last for a considerably longer period compared to non smokers. Studies have shown that there is a difference of seven point two percent between the endurance level experienced by smokers and that experienced by non smokers. A decrease in endurance level makes smokers to quit exercise as the practice continues to become tough. Exercising requires some large amounts of oxygen in order to support body movement but this required oxygen level is not available within individuals who smoke.
The operational trends of oxygen normally move in opposite directions for smokers while exercising. That is; exercise training increases by about twenty percent in its oxygen uptake while on the other hand, smoking reduces this particular practice where oxygen is taken in by about ten percent. This means that the oxygen amount that will be made available for use during exercise will be little than what is required, hindering smokers from taking a longer period in exercise. Another effect that makes smokers to encounter reduced endurance when exercising is that they normally experience instances of fatigue.
Fatigue discourages someone from continuing with exercise as it is characterized with low energy levels caused by minimal oxygen in bodies of smokers. The situation where smoking leads to decreased levels of physical activity also tampers with the control of body weight. For one to maintain a healthy status, it is important for him/her to ensure that body weight is well managed in order that it does not increase beyond the appropriate one compared to his/ her height. Many smokers have an irregular body weight which makes it difficult for them to freely engage in exercise.
Studies also show that smokers use about thirty thousand lesser energy calories compared to that used by nonsmokers in a single day. This is because this category of people is not in a position to last long in exercise which helps in usage of calories. Calories usage is of great benefit to one’s body as it serves as a means through which fat is reduced within the body, preventing people from suffering from over weight. On the contrary, body fact contained in smokers undergoes an improper circulation which results to devastating health implications that is presented in reduced endurance levels. (Thaulow, 1999)