Smoking a single cigarette may have immediate effect on young adults

It is well known that smoking leads to a reduction in levels of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), which is a marker for airway inflammation.

However, there is limited knowledge about smoking-induced changes in the production and exchange of nitric oxide (NO) in young adults.

In a study of eight women and eight men with a mean age of 23 years and a smoking history of less than eight pack-years, Greek researchers found that after smoking a single cigarette, the airway tissue concentration of NO increased by 26%, and the FeNO levels decreased by 15.6%.

This reduction can lead to a limited flux of NO in the airways of young adults, significantly impairing health.

This research, presented at CHEST 2011, the 77th annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), demonstrates the negative impact of smoking even one cigarette, especially in young people.