Pulmonary function in young females of Kolkata, India - Revisited.

Rapid economic and industrial growths imposed significant impact on human health including the pulmonary health. Questions were raised regarding the validity of the existing prediction norms of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in a particular population. The present study was conducted to investigate the applicability of the existing norms for PFTs in young healthy non-smoking female university students of Kolkata, India. Significant difference was noted in vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) when the present data were compared with the earlier study in similar population. Correlation statistic revealed significant relationship of age and body height with all the PFT parameters. Body mass had significant correlation with VC, FVC, FEV1 as a percentage of FVC (FEV1%), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). Regression equations have been computed for predicting PFTs from age and body height. There has been a change of PFTs in the studied population for the last couple of decades due to increased environmental pollution in the course of economical and industrial developments. Regression equations computed in this study are not only recommended to predict PFT parameters in the studied population, but they are also considered more reliable owing to their substantially smaller standard error of estimate than those proposed in the previous study.

Endurance capacity and cardiorespiratory responses in sedentary females during different phases of menstrual cycle.

BACKGROUND: Alteration in physical work capacity of females during different phases of menstrual cycle has been reported in different populations. Pertinent data is unavailable in Eastern Indian population. OBJECTIVES: The present study was aimed to determine the endurance capacity and cardiorespiratory responses during different phases of menstrual cycle in young sedentary females of Eastern region of India. METHODS: Forty five unmarried young healthy sedentary females (21-25 years) were recruited in the present investigation. Duration of their menstrual cycle was 28-30 days. Cardiorespiratory parameters including the endurance capacity was determined by treadmill running with constant monitoring of heart rate by Polar heart rate monitor. RESULTS: The pre-exercise heart rate was significantly higher (P<0.02) in the luteal phase. The peak heart rate was significantly lower (P<0.02) in the flow phase than the follicular and luteal phases. VO2max, O2 pulse, maximum pulmonary ventilation and endurance capacity were significantly lower in the follicular phase. However, the endurance capacity was significantly lower in the flow phase. Pre-exercise systolic and diastolic blood pressure did not exhibit any significant variation in different phases of menstrual cycle. CONCLUSION: Therefore, from the present observations it may be concluded that pre-exercise heart rate and respiratory rate are significantly higher in the luteal phase whereas VO2max, O2 pulse, maximum pulmonary ventilation, endurance capacity and peak heart rate were significantly lower in the follicular phase.