Short term effects of smoking
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Consensus Meter
Short-Term Effects of Smoking: A Comprehensive Overview
Impact on Lung Function and Airway Hyper-Responsiveness
Decreased Lung Function in Asthma Patients
Short-term smoking has been shown to significantly decrease lung function in young adults with intermittent adult-onset asthma. A study conducted in Japan found that smoking less than 10 pack-years was associated with reduced postbronchodilator lung function and increased airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) in these patients. Daily smoking of 11 or more cigarettes was particularly detrimental, even after adjusting for other factors like age and body mass index.
Improvement After Smoking Cessation
Conversely, smoking cessation can lead to rapid improvements in lung function. In a study of smokers with asthma, those who quit smoking for six weeks showed a significant increase in FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume in one second) and a reduction in sputum neutrophils, highlighting the benefits of quitting even in the short term.
Effects on Body Weight and Metabolism
Weight and Insulin Resistance
Nicotine, a primary component of tobacco smoke, can increase energy expenditure and reduce appetite, leading to lower body weight in smokers compared to non-smokers. However, heavy smokers often exhibit greater body weight due to a combination of poor diet, low physical activity, and smoking. Additionally, smoking increases insulin resistance and central fat accumulation, raising the risk of metabolic syndrome and diabetes.
Cortisol Levels
Smoking has been found to elevate basal cortisol levels and increase morning cortisol rise. These effects are more pronounced in current smokers compared to former smokers. Interestingly, the effects on cortisol secretion patterns tend to remit after quitting smoking, suggesting that the impact of smoking on cortisol is more short-term.
Cognitive and Neurological Effects
Cognitive Impairments in Adolescents
Adolescent smokers experience both acute and chronic cognitive impairments. Short-term abstinence from smoking in adolescents leads to increased tobacco craving, nicotine withdrawal symptoms, and depressed mood. Chronic smoking in adolescents is associated with impairments in working memory and verbal memory, with more severe effects observed in those who started smoking at an earlier age.
Neuroprotective and Neurotoxic Effects
While nicotine can have short-term positive effects on certain cognitive functions like working memory and executive function, the overall exposure to tobacco smoke is linked to negative cognitive outcomes. These include increased risks for preclinical brain changes, cognitive decline, and dementia, driven by mechanisms such as oxidative stress and inflammation.
Cardiovascular and Hemodynamic Effects
Arterial Stiffness and Blood Pressure
In habitual smokers, smoking a single cigarette can cause a sharp increase in blood pressure and heart rate. This leads to increased arterial wall stiffness, which may heighten the risk of plaque rupture and subsequent cardiovascular events. However, no significant long-term effects on hemodynamic variables and arterial stiffness were observed, except for a higher heart rate in habitual smokers.
Mood and Craving During Abstinence
Nicotine Dependence and Withdrawal
Smokers with alcohol dependence (AD) exhibit more severe nicotine dependence and withdrawal symptoms compared to control smokers. During short-term abstinence, AD smokers report higher craving for negative affect relief, although overall craving and withdrawal-related negative affect do not differ significantly from controls.
Conclusion
The short-term effects of smoking are multifaceted, impacting lung function, metabolism, cognitive abilities, cardiovascular health, and mood. While some effects, such as decreased lung function and increased arterial stiffness, are immediate and severe, others like cognitive impairments and metabolic changes can have both short- and long-term consequences. Importantly, smoking cessation can lead to rapid improvements in many of these areas, underscoring the benefits of quitting smoking even in the short term.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic