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How Does Smoking Raise Blood Pressure?

  1. Narrow Blood Vessels

    • Smoking tobacco causes blood pressure to rise in several different ways. One way that smoking tobacco raises blood pressure is by causing blood vessels to become more narrow. When blood vessels are narrow, the blood flow is constricted and the heart must work more vigorously to pump the blood through the vessels. When the heart works harder, blood pressure increases.

    Oxygen Shortage

    • Smoking also raises blood pressure by decreasing the amount of oxygen available in the blood. The carbon monoxide in the cigarette smoke is responsible for decreasing the oxygen in the blood. Without adequate oxygen in the blood, the heart must pump harder to supply the oxygen needed throughout the body. Thus, blood pressure escalates.

    Plaque and Inflammation

    • Additionally, smoking tobacco can cause dangerous plaque to build up in heart blood vessels, and it may also damage vessel linings. The plaque buildup constricts blood flow, causing blood pressure to rise, and the damaged vessels cause inflammation, which also contributes to high blood pressure.

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