Effects of Tobacco Smoking on Measures of Cold-Induced Pain

摘要

Nicotine's effect on human pain perception is uncertain. This study's purpose was to determine whether pain thresholds, pain tolerances, or ratings of pain intensity differ among smokers (S), non-smokers (NS), and abstaining smokers (AS). Twenty-nine male and female smoking and non-smoking subjects participated. Smokers were randomly assigned to either smoke 1 cigarette 15 minutes prior to testing (S group) or abstain from smoking for 10 hours prior to testing (AS group). Pain was induced by employing the cold pressor test. Pain threshold, pain tolerance, and a rating of pain intensity were measured and compared among groups. Pain threshold was the time from the beginning of the cold pressor test to the subject's report of pain. Pain tolerance was measured from the pain threshold to the subject's voluntary removal of the extremity from the cold pressor test apparatus. Pain intensity was measured using a visual analog scale. Pain tolerance and ratings of pain intensity did not differ among the three groups. The S group had a significantly higher pain threshold (x = 35.51 +/- 19.76 s) than the NS group (x = 16.32 +/- 8.96 s) (p = 0.013; alpha = 0.05). Nicotine may attenuate the sensation of pain in humans, suggesting that pain management may need to be adjusted for abstaining smokers. Further research is warranted.