Effect of passive smoking on angina pectoris.

The effect of passive smoking on exercis-induced angina in a well ventilated and in an unventilated room was evaluated in 10 patients with angina. Patients exposed to 15 cigarettes smoked within two hours in a well ventilated room or an unventilated room increased their resting heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and venous carboxyhemoglobin and decreased their heart rate and systolic blood pressure at angina. Patients exposed to passive smoking in an unventilated room had a larger increase in resting heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and venous carboxyhemoglobin and a greater reduction in heart rate and systolic blood pressure at angina. The duration of exercise until angina was decreased 22 per cent after passive smoking in a well ventilated room (P less than 0.001), and decreased 38 per cent after passive smoking in an unventilated room (P less than 0.001). Passive smoking aggravates angina pectoris.