Effects of Acute Sleep Deprivation on the Physiological Response to Woodsmoke and Exercise

Objective To evaluate sleep deprivation effects on the acute physiological response to a combined stressor of woodsmoke and exercise. Methods Ten participants completed two exercise trials (8 hours of sleep vs 4 hours) with woodsmoke. Trials were conducted in a crossover design. Key measures examined before and after each trial included heart rate variability, pulse wave velocity, blood pressure, pulmonary function testing, and oxidative stress. Results Acute sleep deprivation experienced before exercise and woodsmoke exposure did not impact metrics of heart rate variability, pulse wave velocity, pulmonary function testing, blood pressure, or oxidative stress. Conclusions Acute sleep deprivation did not amplify physiologic metrics in response to moderate-intensity aerobic exercise with inhaled woodsmoke. Although findings do not eliminate the negative impacts of inhaling woodsmoke, more research is needed to understand the acute effects of woodsmoke exposure on the cardiovascular system.1