All That You Wanted To Know About Why Does Smoking Cause A Rise In Blood Pressure

Added: (Sat Mar 06 2010)

Pressbox (Press Release) - An increase in blood pressure is not caused by smoking alone. The constriction of the blood vessels is caused by the chemicals in cigarettes. When the blood vessels are narrowed, the heart needs to pump with greater force in order to circulate blood to all the tissues of the body. The heart rate will increase, besides a rise in the blood pressure.

The chemicals present in the cigarette will be replacing the oxygen in your system by displacing it as you smoke a cigarette and inhale nicotine. This means that there is less oxygen circulating in the body. The constriction or narrowing of the blood vessels is due to nicotine which is responsible for secretion of hormone adrenaline by the adrenaline gland. The heart has to work extra hard due to this to pump blood through the body which increases the blood pressure temporarily. Are you clear now as to why does smoking cause a rise in blood pressure?

The risk of getting a stroke, heart disease, cancer and many other health problems increases due to smoking. Nicotine which is found in tobacco of all forms, is known to temporarily increase blood pressure as well as heart rate with each use.

In case a person has high blood pressure or any form of heart disease, he needs to quit smoking immediately. Quitting smoking is especially important for those women who are using birth control pills. Any combination of birth control pills and smoking is responsible for increasing the risk of blood clots, stroke, high blood pressure as well as heart attack.

You can quit smoking with the help of various options available. Nicotine patches, nicotine gum, nicotine nasal spray, nicotine tablet and nicotine inhaler are some of these options. But people are generally looking for alternative methods which are highly effective besides being natural and having no side effects. Seeking support, putting it on paper and avoiding smoking triggers are certain other methods. Other options are to distract yourself and learn from your mistakes.

The main reason for people giving up quitting smoking is because of the difficulty in managing the withdrawal symptoms. Within four hours of having your last cigarette, the withdrawal symptoms begin to appear. It takes three to five days for the symptoms to peak in intensity, but they disappear after two weeks. Mental as well physical symptoms will be there. Some of the physical symptoms which you may have to face during the quitting process would include tingling in the hands and feet, headache, sweating, nausea as well as cramps.

In fact, accidents, suicides, homicides, drug overdoses, fire as well as AIDS are less fatal than smoking. Smoking is also responsible for 28% of all cancer deaths. Once you know the reasons as to why does smoking cause a rise in blood pressure, you would be eager to quit it as soon as possible