Association between lung function and vocal affections arising from tobacco consumption

Abstract

Introduction Smoking is a major risk factor for numerous diseases; it is necessary to analyze the impact that the habit can have on vocal health. Objectives To determine the influence of smoking on changes in vocal production and lung vital capacity compared with nonsmokers. Methods This cross-sectional study compared smokers and nonsmokers (24 subjects each). Each participant underwent a vocal and spirometric evaluation to measure vital lung capacity. Results The results showed a worsening in lung vital capacity and other parameters of voice in smokers compared with nonsmokers. Furthermore, the decreased pulmonary vital capacity affected the evaluated voice parameters, and decreased carrying capacity was closely related to smoking. The time and amount of consumption had a direct relationship with the vocal and maximum phonation time. Conclusions This study showed that smoking causes voice disorders due to lung weakness. Thus, voice changes are affected both directly by interference of smoking on vocal structures and indirectly by increased weakness, which impairs lung vocal production. Copyright © 2014 by Thieme Publicações Ltda, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.