Evaluation of the effects of addiction levels and physical activity capacities of smokers on carbon monoxide level

T Tobacco harms human health both through the toxic substances it contains and its smoke, affecting almost all systems in the human body and causing nearly 50 chronic diseases and nearly 20 fatal diseases. Carbon monoxide is one of the toxic gases contained in cigarette smoke, and the degree of toxicity is determined by the duration of exposure and the amount of carbon monoxide in the environment. It is stated that adequate physical activity protects us from many diseases and the risk of death due to these diseases, and that the risk of death increases by 20 to 30% in people who do not have sufficient physical activity compared to those who do. This study, which we planned to investigate the effects of smokers' addiction levels and physical activity capacities on carbon monoxide levels, is a descriptive cross-sectional type and 146 smokers, aged 18 and over, who applied to Hacettepe University Family Medicine outpatient clinics between 28.03.2023 and 23.05.2023 were included in the study. Fagerström nicotine addiction test and 6-minute walk test were applied to the participants, and the relationship of the data with CO level was examined. In the data we obtained, it was observed that the addiction score evaluated by the Fagerström nicotine addiction test had a positive, moderately statistically significant effect on the CO level (r=0.483 p<0.001). Although the percentage of physical activity capacity assessed by the 6-minute walk test appeared to have a very weak negative relationship with the CO level, it was found to be not statistically significant (r=-0.112 p=0.177). With the data we obtained, it has been seen that smoking addiction has many harms such as increasing carbon monoxide in the body, and quitting smoking and following healthy lifestyle recommendations is an important necessity for a healthier life. Keywords: Smoking, Nicotine Dependence, Carbon Monoxide, Physical Activity