Does smoking affect blood pressure?
Nov 08, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Tian Hongbo
Introduction
In general, smoking affects blood pressure. Nicotine in tobacco enters the body and stimulates the sympathetic nervous system to release catecholamines such as norepinephrine, which increase heart rate and myocardial contractility, thereby increasing cardiac output and subsequently elevating blood pressure. Additionally, damaged endothelial cells can trigger inflammatory responses.
Generally speaking, smoking has an effect on blood pressure. The specific analysis is as follows:
Nicotine in tobacco enters the body and stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, prompting it to release catecholamines such as norepinephrine. These substances increase heart rate and myocardial contractility, thereby increasing cardiac output, which subsequently raises blood pressure. Moreover, damaged endothelial cells can trigger inflammatory responses, leading to vasoconstriction and increased peripheral vascular resistance, which also contributes to elevated blood pressure.
In addition, long-term smoking can disrupt blood pressure regulatory mechanisms, making it difficult for the body's nervous and endocrine systems to effectively maintain blood pressure within a normal range, thus being detrimental to blood pressure control.
In daily life, to maintain normal blood pressure and overall health, smoking should be avoided as much as possible. If someone already suffers from hypertension, he or she should avoid alcohol and smoking to prevent adverse effects on recovery.
