What You Should Know about Hypertension and Smoking
Smoking in the presence of hypertension (high blood pressure) can heighten the risk of more damage to your heart, particularly the blood vessels that feed the heart.
The big factor in hypertension is the narrowing of the blood vessels. With each puff from a cigarette, the blood vessels constrict even more, which will have a direct impact on high blood pressure, causing it to increase.
Risk factors for hypertension:
Family history, gender, age, race, high body fat, stress and smoking.
Smoking can help plaque to deposit and stick to the surface of the arteries, which results in a more narrow passage way for blood to travel through, resulting in the heart having to work harder.
This puts added strain on the heart muscle and vessels, which can lead to inflammation. Additionally, the heart can become enlarged, which will affect the pumping action and the heart's ability to circulate blood to the rest of the body.
How smoking affects you:
There are thousands of toxins in cigarettes which enter your body every time you smoke. This reduces the amount of oxygen present in your system.
Nicotine promotes the production of adrenalin in the adrenal gland, which restricts the blood vessels and increases blood pressure.
Chemical properties of cigarettes:
Benzene (petrol additive)
This hydrocarbon comes from petrol and coal and is used as a solvent. It has been associated with leukemia and is known as a carcinogen.
Formaldehyde (embalming fluid)
A colorless liquid, highly poisonous, used to preserve dead bodies - also found in cigarette smoke. Known to cause cancer, respiratory, skin and gastrointestinal problems.
Ammonia (toilet cleaner)
Used as a flavoring, frees nicotine from tobacco turning it into a gas, found in dry cleaning fluids.
Acetone (nail polish remover)
Fragrant volatile liquid ketone, used as a solvent, for example, nail polish remover - found in cigarette smoke.
Tar Particulate
Matter drawn into lungs when you inhale on a lighted cigarette. Once inhaled, smoke condenses and about 70 per cent of the tar in the smoke is deposited in the smoker's lungs.
Nicotine (insecticide/addictive drug)
An extremely addictive substance.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) (car exhaust fumes)
An odorless, tasteless, and poisonous gas, rapidly fatal in large amounts
Arsenic (rat poison),
Hydrogen Cyanide (gas chamber poison)
Your risk of heart attack is greater if you suffer from hypertension, and your blood pressure increases when you smoke. This makes the two of these together a deadly combination.
It is a good idea to consult with a doctor who can prescribe you with the appropriate course of action.