This is a pilot study on the acute effects of nicotine-free hookah (herbal/steam stones) smoking on the sympathetic neural control of the human cardiovascular system. Hookah smoking is known to transiently increase blood pressure and heart rate while decreasing heart rate variability suggesting - but not proving - sympathetic mediation. The contribution of nicotine to these effects is unknown. Here the investigators will directly measure the acute effects of nicotine-free Hookah smoking on sympathetic nerve activity with microneurography (intraneural microelectrodes) and quantify associated regional changes in vasomotor tone.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
9
Subjects will smoke waterpipe in a controlled research environment
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, California, United States
Change in sympathetic nerve activity
Multi-unit recordings of sympathetic nerve activity will be obtained with single-use sterile tungsten microelectrodes inserted selectively into muscle or skin nerve fascicles of the peritoneal nerve.
Time frame: Change from baseline in sympathetic nerve activity at 1 hr
Change in regional myocardial perfusion
Myocardial contrast echocardiography will be used to measure regional myocardial perfusion (i.e. capillary blood volume) and coronary flow reserve.
Time frame: Change from baseline in regional myocardial perfusion at 1 hr
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