Effect of freeway travel on angina pectoris.

Exposure of 10 men with angina to heavy winter freeway driving increased their mean expired CO and mean COHb. These decreased at 2 hr after exposure. The mean CO in the car was 53 +- 6 ppM. Mean exercise performance was decreased by freeway driving (measured before and immediately after). Systolic pressure and heart rate at the time of angina were decreased. Increase in COHb was less than that expected from cigarette smoking. The effects were not from freeway stress as proven by the volunteers breathing filtered compressed air in similar tests. EKG changes in 3/10 patients were disturbing. The experiment was not double-blind but results were still consistent.

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