Effects of Acute Exercise and Cigarette Smoking on Autonomic and Neuromuscular Responses to a Cognitive Stressor

Abstract
The effects of smoking and acute aerobic exercise as coping responses to stress were studied in 12 male sedentary smokers. Changes in heart rate, skin conductance, and electromyographic activity were assessed during the coping responses and a mental arithmetic stressor. Analysis showed smoking and exercise increased heart rate and skin conductance, while exercise reduced electromyographic activity. No reliable effects of the coping responses on heart rate, skin conductance levels, or electromyographic changes to the stressor were observed.