Smoking and High Blood Pressure: An Overview
Smoking does not cause
high blood pressure. Smoking will temporarily raise a person's
blood pressure, but after the chemicals are removed, the blood pressure will return to its "normal" level.
What Is the Concern About Smoking and High Blood Pressure?
While smoking does not directly cause high blood pressure (also known as
hypertension), smoking is a big risk factor for
heart disease. This is because smoking not only causes a narrowing of blood vessels from the chemicals in the cigarettes, but it also speeds up the process of
atherosclerosis, which is the narrowing of blood vessels. So people who smoke are at an increased risk of a
heart attack or
stroke.
If you smoke, quit. If you don't smoke, don't start. Once you quit, your risk of having a heart attack is reduced after the first year, so you have a lot to gain by quitting.
Smoking and High Blood Pressure: Reasons to Quit
As mentioned, even though smoking does not cause high blood pressure directly, there are many benefits to quitting smoking.
If you quit smoking:
- You will reduce your chances of having a heart attack or stroke
- You will have fewer wrinkles
- You will be free of your morning cough
- You will reduce your chances of getting lung cancer, emphysema, and other lung diseases
- You will have better-smelling clothes, hair, breath, home, and car
- You will climb stairs and walk without getting out of breath
- You will reduce the number of coughs, colds, and earaches your child will have
- You will have more energy to pursue physical activities you enjoy
- You can treat yourself to new books or music with the money you save from not buying cigarettes
- You will have more control over your life.
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